Avenue Q Goes to the Smithsonian 

Marcus David
May 2019

AVENUE Q, the musical that has given so much, is closing on May 26, 2019. For the last 15 years the cast has been belting out great show tunes, chronicling just how crappy life can be when you have no money and are living on Avenue Q. Life on Avenue Q is bleak but it doesn’t all suck thanks to a group of beloved puppet characters also living there. Over the years we have grown to love these puppets and sing along with them, songs of existential angst, racism, and the inner turmoil of same sex attraction. They even taught us that porn can save the day! The show’s popularity grew over the years, and with that the puppets’ presence also grew, allowing them to jump off the stage and deep into the public’s imagination.

Seeing Rod and Ricky talk about marriage equality on MSNBC or hearing about them tying the knot on July 24, 2011 – the first day same sex couples could be legally married in the state of New York – are spectacles that will be sorely missed now that the show is closing.

But don’t fret, there is still a way to get your fix.

On April 27th Rick Lyon, who conceived and designed the show’s furry cast of characters, was present to induct three puppets– Kate Monster, Nicky and Rod – to the permanent Popular Entertainment collection at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC.

“I’m very pleased to announce that three of my original AVENUE Q puppets are now part of the Smithsonian’s permanent collection,” Mr. Lyon states.  “When they’re not on display, Kate Monster, Rod and Nicky will be sharing storage lockers with some of popular culture’s most famous puppet denizens, such as Edgar Bergen’s Charlie McCarthy, Mister Moose and Bunny Rabbit for ‘Captain Kangaroo,’ and Jim Henson’s original Kermit.  They join other iconic artifacts from Broadway history, including Zero Mostel’s costume from FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Carol Channing’s read dress from HELLO, DOLLY!, Elphaba’s costume from WICKED and a pair of Lola’s KINKY BOOTS.”

Hats off Avenue Q for creating puppet stars!

AVENUE Q
New World Stages
340 West 50th Street, NYC

AvenueQ.com