AVENUE Q revival to open on West End in March 2026

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 7:48am

Jason Moore returning as director with the same puppets, sets, & orchestration. Will open March 20 at Shaftesbury Theatre

[DeNada]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 9:09am

Interesting - Jamie Wilson, not Cameron Mackintosh, co-producing this time.

Not sure this is a sound idea.  The original London run went for four years, true, but made very little money during that time, and lots of the tickets sold were £25 or so which would be almost unthinkable now.  It's also done the rounds on tour and had quite a few amateur productions.  Good luck to them, I guess? It's a fun show.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 9:35am

Who is this for? What audience? It's a fun show, sure, but it's dated as hell and I just can't think of a good reason that it needs to be revived.

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 9:58am

"Who is this for? What audience? It's a fun show, sure, but it's dated as hell and I just can't think of a good reason that it needs to be revived."

Everyone. How many shows can be for people of all ages like this one. In its original form it is dated but I would think they could update it fairly easy. The "coming out" part of the show could be changed to the LGBTQ+ world we live in today. Replace the "Gary Coleman" character with a more current actor from this generation. You know at the end when they do "For Now", one of the answers would be "Trump" which would get wild applause/laughs. There are other things, I am sure that could reflect the current times.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 10:10am

Zeppie2022 said: ""Who is this for? What audience? It's a fun show, sure, but it's dated as hell and I just can't think of a good reason that it needs to be revived."

Everyone. How many shows can be for people of all ages like this one. In its original form it is dated but I would think they could update it fairly easy. The "coming out" part of the show could be changed to the LGBTQ+ world we live in today. Replace the "Gary Coleman" character with a more current actor from this generation. You know at the end when they do "For Now", one of the answers would be "Trump" which would get wild applause/laughs. There are other things, I am sure that could reflect the current times."

Sure, if they revise the show, I could understand the desire to bring it back. But this announcement says nothing about updates. Are they going to do any of those things that you suggested? It doesn't seem like it. Replacing an entire character seems like something is especially unlikely to happen.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 11:29am

They had a reunion concert that sold out pretty fast, so I think that's the reason to bring it back. Seems like there is some demand for it. 

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 11:35am

RippedMan said: "They had a reunion concert that sold out pretty fast, so I think that's the reason to bring it back. Seems like there is some demand for it."

Hopefully the producers have more than just that to go on -- selling out a reunion concert isn't the same as sustaining a full run of a show. Nor is it an endorsement of the material -- reunion concerts are more about the specific performers revisiting roles that many have nostalgia for (and combined with the material, to some extent).

This will be going into the Shaftesbury which will be undergoing renovations at the same time -- they're closing off the balcony, which is a good thing, because it's a huge theater to fill. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 12:10pm

Things are cheaper to produce in London and this show is already pretty cheap to produce. I'd imagine the producers know. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 12:44pm

With a revival that uses puppets, does that mean all the puppetry will be new or will they be the same puppets used in the off-bway or tour?

[Kad]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 12:48pm

Wick3 said: "With a revival that uses puppets, does that mean all the puppetry will be new or will they be the same puppets used in the off-bway or tour?"

Do you mean the same puppet designs or the same physical puppets? If the latter, I would imagine that due to wear and tear, they will be newly constructed for this. 

[tacotheatrelover]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 2:06pm

Kad said: "Wick3 said: "With a revival that uses puppets, does that mean all the puppetry will be new or will they be the same puppets used in the off-bway or tour?"

Do you mean the same puppet designs or the same physical puppets? If the latter, I would imagine that due to wear and tear, they will be newly constructed for this."

Rick Lyon is credited with the puppets in the press release, He's been posting regular updates on his Instagram page about fixing and restoring his rental puppets for the show. They'll probably be newly built for the show, but new puppets are always a delight to see. I hope there'll be some kind of tour or revival in America, I've always wanted to see this, as a freak who's obsessed with puppetry.

[Bobster159]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 2:12pm

Zeppie2022 said: ""Who is this for? What audience? It's a fun show, sure, but it's dated as hell and I just can't think of a good reason that it needs to be revived."

Everyone. How many shows can be for people of all ages like this one. In its original form it is dated but I would think they could update it fairly easy."

Call me a prude, but Avenue Q was never a show for all ages. Sure, you can bring older children, but it was explicitly designed to be puppetry for adults, sex scenes, and all. I'm also confused as to who this is for. So much of this is rooted in the early 2000s. It's a period piece now. Nostalgia for elder millennials?

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 2:29pm

I don't find a revival of Avenue Q any more improbable than a lot of other offerings in NYC or London, particularly if the envisioned run is a reasonable length with reasonable prices.

While obviously not an apples-apples comparison, The Book of Mormon still continues to sell reasonably well in both cities. 

If you want a musical filled with lots of laughs, they are in limited number. I'll be happy to see it again and time will tell how many others feel the same.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 2:51pm

Songs like a Little Bit Racist are just so face palmingly cringe. I feel its hard to sincerely enjoy most of this show now.

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 6:22pm

Bobster159 said: Call me a prude, but Avenue Q was never a show for all ages. Sure, you can bring older children, but it was explicitly designed to be puppetry for adults, sex scenes, and all.

Agree, not remotely for children/families!  We're probably all desensitized because we know the show, but if you see it with fresh eyes and ears, it's still quite graphic, vulgar, etc. 

I'm also confused as to who this is for. So much of this is rooted in the early 2000s. It's a period piece now. Nostalgia for elder millennials?"

Exactly.  Like many other shows that were set in "present day" when they came out (Rent, Hair, Bye Bye Birdie, etc. etc.), it should be treated like a period piece now, because it's too rooted in that specific time and place.  It's not just about changing a few lyrics - you'd have to change a principal character (whose lines and interactions are all very much specific to that particular real-life person), replace whole songs that don't make sense in 2025 (Mixed Tape, The Internet is Porn, etc.), and alter the entire sensibility of the show.  But what's wrong with doing it as a period piece?  Audiences are smart enough to understand why A Little Racist was funny in 2003, even if it's not funny to a lot of people now.  There are parts of Rent, Grease, etc. that are very cringe for a modern audience, but it's appropriate/accurate for the time and place in which it's set. 

[joevitus]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 6:53pm

TheGingerBreadMan said: "Who is this for? What audience? It's a fun show, sure, but it's dated as hell and I just can't think of a good reason that it needs to be revived."

Then I suggest you not purchase a ticket. 

[joevitus]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 6:56pm

Surprising amount of pearl-clutching in this thread. Makes me think, rather than dated, the show is as relevent as ever. 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 7:15pm

Rentaholic2 said: "
Exactly. Like many other shows that were set in "present day" when they came out (Rent, Hair, Bye Bye Birdie, etc. etc.), it should be treated like a period piece now, because it's too rooted in that specific time and place. It's not just about changing a few lyrics - you'd have to change a principal character (whose lines and interactions are all very much specific to that particular real-life person), replace whole songs that don't make sense in 2025 (Mixed Tape, The Internet is Porn, etc.), and alter the entire sensibility of the show. But what's wrong with doing it as a period piece? Audiences are smart enough to understand why A Little Racist was funny in 2003, even if it's not funny to a lot of people now. There are parts of Rent, Grease, etc. that are very cringe for a modern audience, but it's appropriate/accurate for the time and place in which it's set."

Because comedies don't really have a point if you're not laughing and Avenue Q is explicitly a comedy with little else to offer. Rent and Grease actually have something there for you outside of the dated comedy. Rent is a drama and Grease is romantic comedy. There's also not really uncomfortable  comedy in Grease, it's just dated. Still cute and funny. Comedy ages very quickly, any comedian will tell you that. So if it was considered edgy back then, it's just cringe now. 

joevitus said: "Surprising amount of pearl-clutching in this thread. Makes me think, rather than dated, the show is as relevent as ever."

This isn't pearl clutching, it's discussion. What we're supposed to be doing. 

Updated On: 11/6/25 at 07:15 PM

[joevitus]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 7:54pm

TheatreFan4 said: "Rentaholic2 said: "
Exactly. Like many other shows that were set in "present day" when they came out (Rent, Hair, Bye Bye Birdie, etc. etc.), it should be treated like a period piece now, because it's too rooted in that specific time and place. It's not just about changing a few lyrics - you'd have to change a principal character (whose lines and interactions are all very much specific to that particular real-life person), replace whole songs that don't make sense in 2025 (Mixed Tape, The Internet is Porn, etc.), and alter the entire sensibility of the show. But what's wrong with doing it as a period piece? Audiences are smart enough to understand why A Little Racist was funny in 2003, even if it's not funny to a lot of people now. There are parts of Rent, Grease, etc. that are very cringe for a modern audience, but it's appropriate/accurate for the time and place in which it's set."

Because comedies don't really have a point if you're not laughing and Avenue Q is explicitly a comedy with little else to offer. Rent and Grease actually have something there for you outside of the dated comedy. Rent is a drama and Grease is romantic comedy. There's also not really uncomfortable comedy in Grease, it's just dated. Still cute and funny. Comedy ages very quickly, any comedian will tell you that. So if it was considered edgy back then, it's just cringe now.

joevitus said: "Surprising amount of pearl-clutching in this thread. Makes me think, rather than dated, the show is as relevent as ever."

This isn't pearl clutching, it's discussion. What we're supposed to be doing."

No, it's purely coming from a place on intolerance and offense, which has very little to do with discussion. There isn't much back and forth in an exchange of ideas, and apart from something like the Gary Coleman reference being dated, no one's explaining why the show as it was written can no longer work in performance. 

[Bobster159]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 8:33pm

joevitus said: "No, it's purely coming from a place on intolerance and offense, which has very little to do with discussion. There isn't much back and forth in an exchange of ideas, and apart from something like the Gary Coleman reference being dated, no one's explaining why the show as it was written can no longer work in performance."

Have you looked at the lyrics lately? Offensiveness is largely not the problem; it's fairly milquetoast content compared to where a lot of satire is today. It's just about a time we no longer live in. Take say 'The Internet is for Porn'. It's satire for a different time and moment. That doesn't make it bad, but without a considerable rewrite, it no longer makes sense. It's not like Book of Mormon, which is far less time-specific. Avenue Q is about coming of age in an NYC that no longer exists. I loved Avenue Q back in the day. I take nothing away from how brilliant it was by suggesting it might not work twenty-plus years later. Some shows age gracefully, and some do not. I hope whatever they do with it reinvigorates, and I'll get to love it all over again. I just have my doubts.

[joevitus]

Posted: 11/6/25 at 11:46pm

Bobster159 said: "joevitus said: "No, it's purely coming from a place on intolerance and offense, which has very little to do with discussion. There isn't much back and forth in an exchange of ideas, and apart from something like the Gary Coleman reference being dated, no one's explaining why the show as it was written can no longer work in performance."

Have you looked at the lyrics lately? Offensiveness is largely not the problem; it's fairly milquetoast content compared to where a lot of satire istoday. It's just about a time we no longer live in. Take say 'The Internet is for Porn'. It's satire for a different time and moment.That doesn't make it bad, but without a considerable rewrite, it no longer makes sense. It's not like Book of Mormon, which is far less time-specific. Avenue Q is about coming of age in an NYC that no longer exists. I loved Avenue Q back in the day. I take nothing away from how brilliant it was by suggesting it might not work twenty-plus years later. Some shows age gracefully, and some do not. I hope whatever they do with it reinvigorates, and I'll get to love it all over again. I just have my doubts."

Ah, yes, almost no one looks up porn on the internet anymore. *rolls eyes* I can't tell if you don't know what the world is like today or if you don't actually get the joke of the song. You could say about Company what you say about Avenue Q, actually. It's about reaching maturity in a New York City that no longer exists. And? How does that relate to it still being funny and revivalable? I'd say the experience of having no money because you are just starting out, finding trouble getting a job a all, let alone one that isn't mind-numbingly boring, making mistakes with money and love are all pretty much still norms for young adults. 

Updated On: 11/7/25 at 11:46 PM

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 11/7/25 at 1:51am

TheGingerBreadMan said: "Who is this for? What audience? It's a fun show, sure, but it's dated as hell and I just can't think of a good reason that it needs to be revived."

How do I put this lightly as a millennial…let me give it a shot: I WILL F*CKING CUT YOU IF YOU GO AFTER THIS REVIVAL!

…but I digress, we are all entitled to our opinions 😌

Updated On: 11/7/25 at 01:51 AM

[binau]

Posted: 11/7/25 at 2:05am

idk I think the show IS funny and relevant..."the internet is for porn" will be especially hilarious after the UK just passed their laws requiring ID to watch porn. It would only take 30 seconds to write a joke in there to emphasise this and the audience will go crazy for it (but they don't even have to and the subtext will still be there).

For "Everything's a Little Bit Racist" - well the UK is currently in a lot of political turmoil and conflict between groups on these issues right now. I think people will appreciate the relief from it all. 

The themes of the show are timeless and universal, maybe some of the execution is dated but as discussed they can just update some of the references. I think they always have anyway - when I last saw the show maybe 10 years ago they obviously had updated the lines in "For Now" etc. 

Also, do remember that this is a west end not Broadway production. Despite the best efforts of the US to export their culture to every English speaking country in the last 5-10 years (much of it humourless and angry) the British are not all like this, they do have a sense of humour, they can laugh. 

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 11/7/25 at 2:14am

Ah, yes, almost no one looks up porn on the internet anymore. *rolls eyes* I can't tell if you don't know what the world is like today or if you don't actually get the joke of the song. You could say about Company what you say about Avenue Q, actually. It's about reaching maturity in a New York City that no longer exists. And? How does that relate to it still being funny and revivalable. I'd say the experience of having no money because you are just starting out, finding trouble getting a job a all, let alone one that isn't mind-numbingly boring, making mistakes with money and love are all pretty much still norms for young adults."

Everything you said…but you forgot to add, what do you do, with a BA in English 🙋🏽‍♂️

This show is for people like me: people who rushed this show in their late teens and early twenties and adored it.  We’re now, hopefully, in a position to see a new(ish) production in London.  But also for kids in that same age who could benefit from those same lessons.

This ginger guy is clearly not going to London to see this: so why do you even care about why it’s being revived?

 

 

 

Updated On: 11/7/25 at 02:14 AM

[joevitus]

Posted: 11/7/25 at 6:26pm

LOL, I too have a BA in English.