Howie Michael Smith to Replace Foa in Bway Avenue Q

Howie Michael Smith has been announced as the next performer to play purpose-seeking Princeton and fellow puppet Rod in the Broadway production of Avenue Q; he will replace Barrett Foa, who leaves the day before, on July 3rd.

Smith has served as understudy in the roles of Princeton and Rod for over a year; Foa is departing Avenue Q to begin a run in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on July 25th.  The actor, who is making is Broadway debut in the show, has also appeared regionally in productions of A Christmas Carol, The Tempest and Carousel, among others.

Avenue Q blends puppets and people in a charmingly R-rated tale of friendship, love, sex and the search for purpose. The show, which opened on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre on July 31st 2003 and won Tony Awards for Best Book (by Jeff Whitty) and Best Score (by Robert Marx and Jeff Lopez), also currently stars Mary Faber, Evan Harrington, Ann Sanders and Haneefah Wood, as well as original cast members Rick Lyon and Jennifer Barnhart.  Avenue Q also features Jonathan Root and Matt Schreiber. 

The show, which has run for over 1,200 performances, has also been seen in a Las Vegas production and opens on June 28th in London (original cast member Ann Harada is among the stars).

Visit www.avenueq.com for more information.