Smith Leads Ogunquit Playhouse's AVENUE Q, Runs 5/25-6/18

The season opens when "Sesame Street meets South Park" in the Tony Award Best Musical of the Year, smash-hit, Avenue Q. This delightful parody that dares to ask the question, "What do you do with a B.A. in English?" is on stage May 25 to June 18. Avenue Q garnered three Tony Awards in 2004 for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book of a Musical. This funny and irreverent show conveys life's tough lessons through the trials and tribulations of Princeton, a bright eyed college graduate, who is anxious to discover his purpose in life; but first, he must find an apartment and a job, with no work experience -- just like the other characters living on Avenue Q! Join Princeton along with the Broadway puppets for this toe-tapping, hilarious and often moving musical that the New York Times declared to be "a breakthrough musical of a very different stripe...savvy, sassy and delicious!" BUT, BE FOREWARNED, due to adult situations, like full-puppet nudity, Avenue Q may be inappropriate for children under 17.

The Ogunquit Playhouse production of Avenue Q features Broadway's Howie Michael Smith, who will head the cast as Princeton (and Rod) reprising his Broadway role; Kate Monster and Lucy The Slut will be played by Ashely Eileen Buckman who is coming to Ogunquit fresh from the Avenue Q National tour and Rebecca Larkin will play Christmas Eve, reprising her role from the national tour as well.

Director/Choreographer for the Ogunquit production of Avenue Q is Keith Andrews, who was last seen in Ogunquit as director and choreographer for The Full Monty starring Sally Struthers and Hunter Foster. Keith recently directed Avenue Q for the Gateway Playhouse in Bellport, NY. His many stage credits include the National Tours of The Full Monty and Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh, as well as productions for regional theatres across the U.S. As a performer, Keith has toured all over the world with shows such as: West Side Story, Mame, Jesus Christ Superstar and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. In educational theater, Keith directs and choreographs student industry showcases at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City.

Avenue Q has long been the darling of both Broadway and off-Broadway theatres, selling out to delighted audiences consistently since its inception. The irreverent take on the joys and travails of making it on your own strike a chord with audiences young and old alike. Don't miss this hilarious show!

The season continues the east coast premier of Summer of Love, a groovy new show featuring the powerful music of the late 1960s, on stage June 22 through July 16; the critically acclaimed Broadway classic, The Music Man marches into town July 20 to August 20; the all singing, all dancing, feel-good musical comedy Legally Blonde the Musical, is on stage August 24 through September 17 with our heroine Elle, her Chihuahua, Bruiser and the bull-dog-toting-hairdresser Paulette, played by none other than Emmy-Award-winning, Playhouse favorite Sally Struthers; then the fall ushers in one of the most stunning Broadway blockbusters of all time, Miss Saigon, an epic love story that will touch your heart and haunt your memory, on stage September 21 through October 23.

Tickets are on sale now, however you can lock in the best seats at a bargain price by buying a season subscription today! The Ogunquit Playhouse is America's Foremost Summer Theatre, a 501c3 not-for-profit organization, producing the finest Broadway musicals each season, with performances Tuesday through Sunday, from May 25 to October 23, 2011. For a complete list of show times, pricing and more information about the season, visit www.ogunquitplayhouse.org. Tickets on-line or by calling 800-982-2787, for Subscriptions, Flex-Passes and Gift Certificates call the box office at 207-646-5511.

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