Avenue Q Sneak Peak

Wondering what to expect from the musical Avenue Q? Luckily, our guest blogger, Jacob Matsumiya, has seen the Tony Award-winning show and he's offered his take on the puppets, story and tunes. Avenue Q visits the Center March 31 - April 12. After you've seen the show, let us know what you think and your thoughts may end up here too.

Jacob writes:

Avenue Q is a hilariously irreverent look at grown-up life. The story centers on a group of friends in an outer-outer borough of New York City and is filled with a riotous cast of characters that include humans, puppets, monsters and, yes, even Gary Coleman. The songs, which at times are both heartwarming and hysterical, relate the trials of these characters, but also offer insightful looks into adult life. Basically not only are you crying your eyes out in laughter at these songs, but you are also learning something in the process.

Sounds like a cute and wholesome musical, right? Wrong. Witty, topical, poignant it may be, but this show is anything but cute and wholesome. From songs like, “You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want (When You’re Making Love),” to one of my favorite characters Lucy the Slut, Avenue Q is an uproariously funny night of adult theater. We learn that “The Internet is for Porn” and “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist.” These two hilarious songs and the life lessons they offer are just the tip of the iceberg of what Avenue Q has in store for its audience in terms of insightful send-ups of modern society. But what makes Avenue Q truly an amazing show – and deserving of the Tony Award it won for Best Original Musical – is that behind each biting critique are messages of determination, friendship, generosity, acceptance, and love. The characters, as outrageous and X-rated as they may be, offer the audience honest glimpses in to what life holds for all of us and what we can do to make our world a better place.

A true original, Avenue Q is an excellent night of theater that offers a perfect antidote to the constant barrage of depressing economic news and will literally have you doubled-over in laughter. This show is not to be missed. I have had the pleasure of seeing it several times and when it comes to the Center in two weeks I will definitely be paying another visit to Avenue Q.