Tanarez Joins London Avenue Q as Christmas Eve, April 16

London Theatre Guide reports that Jennifer Tanarez will join the London cast of Avenue Q as Christmas Eve on April 16th.  She replaces Naoko Mori in the role, which was played by original Broadway cast member Ann Harada when the hit musical opened in the West End last year.

Tanarez is a recent graduate of the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, where her performing credits included Nunsense, Follies, As You Like It, and Richard III.

Avenue Q opened at the Noel Coward Theatre on June 28th, 2006 after beginning previews on June 1st.  The show was originally slated for a run through September 30th, 2006, but is now playing an extended booking period through January 31st, 2008.

The London production also stars Jon Robyns as Princeton and Rod, Simon Lipkin as Nicky and Trekkie Monster, Julie Atherton as Kate Monster and Lucy The Slut, Clare Foster as Mrs T., Sion Lloyd as Brian and Giles Terera as Gary Coleman.

"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!...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," state press notes. 

Avenue Q has Tony Award-winning music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, a Tony Award-winning book by Jeff Whitty, based on an original concept by Lopez and Marx; and is directed by Jason Moore.

The show features puppets conceived and designed by Rick Lyon; musical supervision by Stephen Oremus, and choreography by Ken Roberson. Avenue Q's scenic design is by Anna Louizos, costume design by Mirena Rada, lighting design by Howell Binkley, and sound design by Acme Sound Partners.

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

Visit www.avenueqthemusical.co.uk for more information.