What's Avenue Q About?
Recent college graduate Princeton arrives on Avenue Q, a shabby New York City street where dreams come cheap and purpose proves elusive. Armed with a useless English degree and dwindling savings, he encounters an eccentric community of neighbors—both human and puppet—who wrestle with remarkably similar challenges.
Meeting the Neighbors
Kate Monster, the kindergarten teaching assistant next door, captures Princeton's attention while nursing her own professional frustrations. Their budding romance unfolds alongside the stories of Rod, a conservative closeted Republican struggling with his identity, his best friend Nicky, struggling comedian Brian and his Japanese immigrant wife Christmas Eve, internet-obsessed Trekkie Monster, and the enigmatic Lucy.
The Quest for Purpose
Through a series of comedic misadventures involving financial crises, romantic complications, and existential questions, Princeton searches desperately for his "purpose." The journey reveals uncomfortable truths about prejudice, sexuality, internet culture, and the gap between youthful expectations and adult realities.
Finding Community
Eventually, the residents of Avenue Q discover that finding purpose matters less than finding community and accepting that uncertainty itself is perfectly normal. The musical validates struggles that society often dismisses, acknowledging that adult life rarely resembles what we're promised while celebrating the importance of connection and self-acceptance.
Songs That Stick With You
The show features unforgettable numbers including "It Sucks to Be Me," "If You Were Gay," "Everyone's A Little Bit Racist," "The Internet is for Porn," "There's a Fine, Fine Line," and the surprisingly touching "For Now." Each song balances crude humor with genuine insight, creating moments that are simultaneously shocking and profoundly relatable.
The Music
Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx
Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx created a brilliantly subversive score that channels the melodic simplicity of children's educational television while addressing decidedly adult themes. The musical numbers combine earworm melodies with shocking lyrics, creating cognitive dissonance that generates both laughter and reflection. The songwriting demonstrates remarkable range—from cheerful opening anthems to tender romantic ballads to audaciously crude comedy numbers.
A Score That Changed Musical Theatre
Avenue Q's success helped pave the way for shows like The Book of Mormon (also by Robert Lopez) and proved that musical theatre could push boundaries while maintaining broad appeal. The score won the Tony Award for Best Original Score and has influenced a generation of musical theatre writers who learned that sophisticated storytelling can coexist with deliberately inappropriate humor.
Creative Team
Jason Moore - Director
This anniversary revival reunites key members of the original creative team. Director Jason Moore returns, bringing his experience from the original Broadway production as well as his work directing Pitch Perfect and Shrek the Musical. Moore's direction balances energetic concert sequences with intimate dramatic moments.
Rick Lyon - Puppet Design
Rick Lyon's original Broadway puppets return for this production. His groundbreaking work established Avenue Q's distinctive visual style, with visible performers seamlessly blending human and puppet interactions. The decision to use the original puppets connects this mounting directly to the show's theatrical heritage.
Stephen Oremus - Musical Arrangements
Stephen Oremus's orchestrations and Anna Louizos's set design recreate the authentic downtown New York atmosphere, while choreographer Ebony Molina brings fresh energy to the production while respecting the original staging that made Avenue Q a phenomenon.
Performance Schedule
- Monday-Saturday: 7:30pm
- Thursday & Saturday: 2:30pm matinee
- Running Time: 2 hours 15 minutes including interval
Running Dates
Avenue Q plays at the Shaftesbury Theatre from 20 March through 29 August 2026 for a strictly limited season. This anniversary engagement offers fans five months to experience the revival, but given the show's cult following and limited run, advance booking is strongly recommended.
Age Guidance
Recommended for ages 14+
Avenue Q contains strong language, adult themes, sexual references, and politically incorrect humor throughout. While puppets deliver much of the material, the content addresses mature subjects including sexuality, prejudice, and explicit discussions about internet pornography. The show intentionally pushes boundaries for comedic effect, which may not suit all audiences despite its appealing visual style. This is emphatically NOT a children's show.
Getting There
- Tube: Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly, Bakerloo lines) - 5 minute walk
- Alternative tubes: Leicester Square, Tottenham Court Road
- Buses: Routes 14, 19, 38 stop on Shaftesbury Avenue
- Parking: Q-Park Theatreland (5-minute walk), NCP Cambridge Circus
The Shaftesbury Theatre
This historic West End venue combines Edwardian grandeur with modern technical capabilities. During Avenue Q's run, the theatre operates at reduced capacity while undergoing careful restoration work, creating an intimate atmosphere for this beloved musical. Capacity: 1,400 (reduced during refurbishment).
Accessibility
The Shaftesbury Theatre offers wheelchair accessible seating, hearing assistance systems, and accessible restroom facilities. While the theatre undergoes refurbishment during Avenue Q's run, accessibility features remain fully operational. Contact the box office directly to discuss specific requirements and ensure optimal seating arrangements.
