Avenue Q Companion Book Released Early

[goldenstate5]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 8:29pm

http://www.amazon.com/Avenue-Q/dp/140130298X/sr=8-2/qid=1161735568/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/102-2133371-8764966?ie=UTF8&s=books

^Originally to be released November 1st, it just arrived on my doorstep (pre-ordering ROCKS!) today. And can I say, for any Ave Q fan...it is what the Grimmerie was to Wicked fans: MUST HAVE. So much intresting information, I literally poured through the book in wonderment. The only downside is that the book/lyrics portion is way too extravagant to be even considered an actual script, and it would be a bit nice if a more formal book for that would come out. But, besides that...WOW! Cut scenes, secrets, early versions, sketches...

Q-fans, buy this immediately! You won't regret it!...

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 8:30pm

Eeek! I am so going tomorrow to get it!

Edit: Arg! I just called and Barnes and Noble and they don't have it yet.

Updated On: 10/24/06 at 08:30 PM

[JamesMacon]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 8:37pm

Ooooh! I am excited!

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 8:39pm

Loving it so far.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 8:44pm

I got mine two days ago. LOVE the inside. Hate the outside. The orange fur sheds EVERYWHERE.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 8:44pm

YaY! They ordered it for me!!

They said 4-7 days which, in a way is good because I have a ton of work to do the rest of the week and if I got it tomorrow, no work would get done.

30$ though! Meh, whatever, Avenue Q is worth it!

[JamesMacon]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 8:44pm

Does it just have OBC? Is there anything with replacements or even Las Vegas/London casts?

[goldenstate5]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 8:46pm

Just to give you an extra head's up: the book and lyrics is the new Broadway version, not the one that premiered in 2003...and yes, it does mention the Vegas cast [and Bway replacements] but not London...(Cameron might have something to do with that)...
Updated On: 10/24/06 at 08:46 PM

[emo_geek]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 8:48pm

It does a nice job of having many photos of replacements and Vegas...though does include OBC a pinch more.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 8:48pm

I know it's cheaper on Amazon but if you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for it?

Is it like...a reading/story book or more like...the Broadway yearbook (but, obviously, all Q)

So it has Howie Michael Smith, and that Evan guy? (the new Brian)

Updated On: 10/24/06 at 08:48 PM

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 8:51pm

I saw it at Barnes and Noble on Friday, nice and fuzzy.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 9:07pm

I can definitely see me purchasing this. Of all the shows on Broadway, I would imagine this has the most interesting facts of all.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 10/24/06 at 9:58pm

It has much more to read then I thought it would. It def. is not just a picture book.

[CrazyMutha29]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 6:50pm

Okay, this may be a silly question, but I got my book from amazon today and on (what would appear to be) the front cover is a black circle with the Avenue Q logo. So, I orient the book with that facing me right side up, open it up and it's the back of the book with all the pages upside down. Is this intentional or is my book (for lack of a better word) defective? In other words, did my covers get attached on the wrong sides of the book upside down?

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 6:51pm

If your book is "different/defective," keep it! Collector's item!

[emo_geek]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 7:15pm

I would return it.

[TWSFan4Ever]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 7:27pm

I haven't seen the show yet, so what is the difference between the new version and the one that premiered in 2003?

[BDrischBDemented]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 7:55pm

I also say return it if it's defective. Nothing about having an improperly attached cover makes it more valuable.

[CrazyMutha29]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 8:05pm

If it's a defect, I'm definitely returning it (pain in the neck to return to Amazon not withstanding). I just wasn't sure if it's intentional. It sounds like an Avenue Q-ey sort of joke. I even flipped through a few pages upside-down to see if there were any Bad New Bears laughing about my idiocy...

[bwaybabe3]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 8:21pm

I'M SO EXCITED! I've been saving my gift card FOREVER for this!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 12:54am

Released EARLY? EARLY? I'd say it's about two years LATE.

[goldenstate5]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 3:47am

"I haven't seen the show yet, so what is the difference between the new version and the one that premiered in 2003?"

There's a few script changes, including a rewrite of the second act open leading into "Life Outside Your Apartment", and a severly cut Money Song. A few lines here and there as well. Not incredibly important, but it's still not the original script, and this puts in stone that this is the version that will be released with the rights (if they ever are released [Rick Lyon will have to make a lot, lot, lot of puppets for theatres to rent...and those don't come cheap!])...

...I think the reason this is finally being made could be probably because the tour is upcoming, and that probably sparked intrest for an item like this. (that, and it's really, really cool) Remember, Avenue Q is not a full-commercial show, like Wicked or Hairspray (whose companion books were released fairly early into their runs), so it's understandable that something like this would take a while.

I have to make a comment about how inventive this book is, and how much it automatically created so much more about these characters...it makes me want the television show to be made more and more! Though those illustrations with Wild Things-esque Trekkie Monster and Kate Monster looking 40-something really creep me out. That and the fact that the illustration of the penny being thrown off the Empire State Building has the implausible year of 1996 on it (unless Avenue Q takes place in 2019-) always irks me. Besides that, bravo to whoever worked on this book, because it's easy to bring an established world like Wicked's Oz and expand upon, but to build on a world as original and quirky as Avenue Q is just amazingly intresting...


Updated On: 10/27/06 at 03:47 AM

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 11:39am

This is a little off-topic, but something said in this thread and the community theatre thread made me wonder.

Do you think Avenue Q could work without puppets? Is there any way? It would give the show a very different feel. Maybe it would be darker overall, but do you think it could possibly work?

[CrazyMutha29]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 1:19pm

This kind of ties in with another oft discussed topic. Changes to the show... I think eliminating puppets is a pretty major change to the show more along the lines of cutting songs, rewriting dialogue, etc. So, aside from would it work, is would someone be allowed to try? Like you said, that would drastically change the tone of the show. I think the creators (if the rights to the show are ever released) may indicate that it must always be done with the puppets.

In other news, still waiting for someone who has the book to let me know if my backwards copy is defective or if they all are like that.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 2:11pm

In my opinion if the show can't work without the puppets, that means they are a gimmick and the material is not strong enough to survive with out them. Not that I feel that it COULDN'T work without them.