Christy Carlson Romano Joins 'Avenue Q' Tonight, 9/29

Christy Carlson Romano -- the popular actress and recording artist who starred on Broadway in BEAUTY AND THE BEST and received an Emmy-nomination for her performance as the title character on the Disney Channel's popular animated series "Kim Possible" -- joins the Broadway cast of the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q for eight weeks starting tonight, September 29 to November 23 at the Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street).

In AVENUE Q -- winner of three 2004 Tony Awards including Best Musical -- Ms. Romano will perform the dual roles of the puppet characters Kate Monster and Lucy. She will be taking over the role from Carey Anderson, who will assume the roles of Kate Monster and Lucy in the National Tour of AVENUE Q - performing in such cities as Memphis, TN; San Antonio, TX; Indianapolis, IN; Madison, WI; Nashville, TN; Detroit, MI. Ms. Anderson will return to the Broadway company of AVENUE Q following Ms. Romano's 8-week engagement. Ms. Romano joins the cast that also includes Christian Anderson, Jennifer Barnhart, Nicholas Kohn, Carla Renata, Ann Sanders and Howie Michael Smith.

In addition to having played Belle in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST for eight months on Broadway, Christy Carlson Romano has also appeared on Broadway in the musicals PARADE directed by Hal Prince, THE SOUND OF MUSIC directed by James Hammerstein and Will Rogers FOLLIES directed by Tommy Tune. Along with having voiced the title role of "Kim Possible," for which she received an Emmy nomination for Best Performance in an animated series, Ms. Romano has played starring roles in the ABC Family television series "The Cutting Edge 2," "The Cutting Edge 3" and "Campus Confidential," along with "Cadet Kelly" and "Even Stevens" on the Disney Channel and "The Many Trials of Tammy B." on Nickelodeon.

Her film roles include "Everyone Says I Love You," directed by Woody Allen, and "Henry Fool," directed by Hal Hartley. A solo recording artist and author, she wrote the book "Grace's Turn" (Random House), which was designated "Teenage Book of the Year" by the New York Public Library in 2007.

AVENUE Q -- which celebrated its 5th anniversary on Broadway earlier this summer -- is a musical about 20-somethings who move to the city with big dreams and tiny bank accounts. AVENUE Q has music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, book by Jeff Whitty and is directed by Scott Moore. Based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, AVENUE Q has puppets conceived and designed by Rick Lyon.

The musical is produced on Broadway by Kevin McCollum, Robyn Goodman, Jeffrey Seller, The Vineyard Theatre and The New Group.

For performance and ticket information to AVENUE Q, call Tele-charge at 212-239-6200 (www.telecharge.com) or visit the website www.avenueq.com.

Christy Carlson Romano

Howie Michael Smith and Christy Carlson Romano

Photos by Carol Rosegg