Mason, Mayes, Pedi, Wopat Join Avenue Q Swings, June 27

By: BWW News Desk Jun. 06, 2005

Karen Mason, Sally Mayes, Christine Pedi, Tom Wopat and the Q Trio will join the previously-announced Billy Porter, Billy Stritch, Toxic Audio, Jason Robert Brown, Marc Shaiman and Sherie René Scott to sing and swing out the hits of Avenue Q. Avenue Q Swings! will be hosted by co-creators and co-writers Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, with the concert taking place at the Lucille Lortel Theatre on Monday, June 27th at 7:30pm.

Two 50 year-old Steinway grand pianos at the Greenwich House Music School will be replaced with proceeds from the one-night-only performance, which will put Avenue Q songs through a number of new jazz, classical and other arrangements. Mary Ann McSweeney, who plays bass for Avenue Q and is also a composer/arranger, will provide musical direction for the show.

Lopez studied piano at the Greenwich House for 15 years, and even wrote much of Avenue Q's score with Marx at the school. The R-rated puppet musical would open on July 31st 2003 at the Golden Theatre to win three Tonys--the triple crown of Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book (Jeffy Whitty). John Tartaglia, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Rick Lyon, Ann Harada and Jennifer Barnhart were among the original cast members of the show.

Mason's Broadway credits include Mamma Mia!, Sunset Boulevard (as a standby for Norma Desmond) and Jerome Robbins' Broadway. Mayes is currently a standby for M'Lynn and Truvy in Steel Magnolias. Previously, she was seen on Broadway in Urban Coyboy, Welcome to the Club and received a Tony nomination for her performance as Ilona in the 1993 Roundabout revival of She Loves Me. Pedi is best-known for her multiple appearances in the Forbidden Broadway series, and she has also appeared on Broadway in the 1998 revival of Little Me and in the 2002 Actor's Fund Benefit Funny Girl concert. Wopat is currently starring in Glengarry Glen Ross, and he previously appeared on Broadway in 42nd Street, Chicago and opposite Bernadette Peters in the revival of Annie Get Your Gun The Q Trio is the Greenwich Music School's String Trio.

Since its creation in 1905, Greenwich House Music School has provided affordable music lessons and musical events for students and audiences of all ages. A distinguished faculty teaches beginners as well as those who are returning to musical study either as an avocation or with professional aspirations. The School also continues the tradition of providing a performance series for the community. In the Renee Weiler Concert Hall, one can hear classical music and opera as well as ethnic, jazz, contemporary and folk music.

Tickets to Avenue Q Swings! range from $150 to $250 (the $75 ones are sold out), with the $250 tickets gaining the buyer access to a special post-show reception with the cast. Tickets are available through Ticket Central beginning June 1, 2005--call 212-279-4200. The Lucille Lortel Theatre is located at 121 Christopher Street.

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Mason, Mayes, Pedi, Wopat Join Avenue Q Swings, June 27

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