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From Broadway to the West End, and the West End to Melbourne…the wait is over and AVENUE Q fans can rejoice that the Tony Award Best Musical winner will finally be enjoyed in Australia. AVENUE Q will have its Australian premiere at the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne on 4 June 2009, with preview performances commencing on 29 May, 2009. The production of Avenue Q will then tour to Sydney, Canberra, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Wellington and Auckland.

“I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for AVENUE Q to finally get to Australia,” said creator, Robert Lopez. “Not just because I've never been and I've always wanted to die in a Great White shark attack, but because I've always suspected that Aussies would really love AVENUE Q!”

Writer, Jeff Marx said: “I am really excited to see AVENUE Q opening in Australia. I am sure that the famous Australian sense of humour will be a perfect match for our irreverent show.”

AVENUE Q is not the most upmarket of New York streets, and is about as far away from Park Avenue as you can get, but it is home to some lively and off the wall characters performed by an unholy comedic alliance of humans and puppets.

Princeton, a bright-eyed college graduate, has just moved to this neighbourhood as he desperately tries to follow his dreams and discover his ever-elusive purpose in life. A tiny bank balance, the distraction of a busty blonde and a variety of weird and wonderful friends and neighbours lead Princeton on a hilarious story of self-discovery.

Life may suck on AVENUE Q but being jobless, homeless, politically incorrect, having sex (whether hetero, homo or porno…and that’s just the puppets) are just some of the topics featured in the terrific songs of this show. For those weaned on Sesame Street, the AVENUE Q puppets may look familiar, but with musical numbers like "Everyone's A Little Bit Racist" and "If You Were Gay," this send-up of political correctness isn't for the kiddies.

AVENUE Q, written by Jeff Whitty, with music by Robert Lopez and lyrics by Jeff Marx, first debuted in 2002 with an off-Broadway run. The show went on to beat favourite WICKED to win three of the top Tony Awards in 2004: Best Musical, Best Original Score of a Musical and Best Book of a Musical. It remains one of Broadway's hottest tickets and most original shows in recent memory.

"In gratitude for giving the world Mad Max, Hugh Jackman, and the combine harvester - but most especially Mr Jackman - I hope Australia will accept our humble token of AVENUE Q," said writer, Jeff Whitty

The Australian production of AVENUE Q, produced by Arts Asia Pacific in association with Power Arts, will be directed by talented director, performer and Helpmann Awards host, Jonathan Biggins. Other members of the creative team include David Skelton as Musical Director, Nathan Wright as Choreographer, Set and Costume Design by Richard Roberts, and Lighting Design by Richard Pacholski. Sue Giles, from Melbourne’s own Polyglot Puppet Theatre, will provide expert puppetry consultation and training to the actors.

“As an emerging producer looking to find our place in the performing arts landscape of Australia, it’s rather appropriate to be producing AVENUE Q – a new breed of musical, whose characters in their own way are searching for their place in the world.”, stated Torben Brookman, Co-Managing Director of Arts Asia Pacific, “AVENUE Q has everything that we wanted in a musical – it’s innovative, intelligent, fresh and most importantly is the most fun that you’ll ever have at the theatre!”


AVENUE Q TOUR DATES

Melbourne from June 2009
Sydney from August 2009
Canberra from October 2009
Perth from November 2009
Adelaide from December 2010
Brisbane from February 2010
Wellington from April 2010
Auckland from May 2010

More information please visit www.avenueqthemusical.com.au