Avenue Q cast

[Born2cthelightsofbway]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 9:38pm

Hey! I love Avenue Q but as it happens have never met anyone from the cast. I have been told that John Tartaglia is so sweet, but I have heard nothing about the other cast members (Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Rick Lyon, Ann Harada, etc) If someone could please tell me how they are, I would really appreciate it! Thanks!

[bythesword84]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 9:40pm

The entire cast is incredibly sweet. They all come out after the shows, except on occasion Natalie will bolt really quickly. They're wonderful people who will be nothing but fantastic to you, every single one of them.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 9:43pm

They are all INCREDIBLY sweet. It's such a great cast. J Tags is my favorite; he's got a GREAT, bubbly personality... very happy-go-lucky. Jennifer has a wonderful sense of humor and will just laugh with you all night long if you'd stay. Stephanie reminds me of a brunette version of Cheno. She's an absolute doll. Jordan Gelber is so so so funny. Rick is much quieter than the rest of the cast, but still very friendly. I didn't see Ann Harada, so she's the only one I can't comment on... she wasn't in the show the night I went. They're all wonderful, down-to-earth people with a phenomenal group dynamic. You'll LOVE them.

[ProducersFan]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 9:43pm

Do they come out after the matinees too? I'm seeing the show in October and would love to meet them and possibly get a few pictures or autographs. I've never been able to "stage door" a show due to having to run to catch the bus home. But the Ave Q always seems so sweet I just have to try...

Thanks!
~Jessica

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 9:45pm

I met Ann Harada and she's very nice.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 9:54pm

Yes they do come out after the matinees. When you step out of the theater just make a left and there's big metal gates, thats where they'll come out.

[ProducersFan]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 10:04pm

Oh thank you so much! I can't wait! I'll have to remember to pick up a silver Sharpie before I go...

~Jessica

[bythesword84]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 10:06pm

Don't listen to hooper, Rick is an absolute doll, he's just quieter than the rest of them.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 10:23pm

"Oh thank you so much! I can't wait! I'll have to remember to pick up a silver Sharpie before I go..."

haha, I forgot to bring my silver sharpie with me; I only had a black one. They were so funny about it. Most of them signed inside the orange part and made their autographs JUST fit. John and Jordan signed the yellow part on top.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 10:26pm

You can now buy sharpies at the store under the Marriott, they just cost you an arm and a leg.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 10:31pm

"they just cost you an arm and a leg."

Figures. When I saw Avenue Q, there was a girl visiting with her dad from VERY far away. She had forgotten a sharpie, and was seeing a ton of shows and doing a lot of stagedooring... I felt bad, so I gave her mine. No need to pay so much for a marker! A lot of the actors have them, anyway.

Updated On: 8/3/04 at 10:31 PM

[Corine2]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 11:00pm

They are more then sweet. They are actually the sweetest cast I have met.I have met Stephanie, Rick Lyon, Jen, Phoebe, John Tags and Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez.
They are very nice. I do have to say Mary Bond Davis from Hairspray is also a doll.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 11:12pm

Marx and Lopez are sweeties too, you're right.
Also, all the understudies are really great as well.

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 11:17pm

My friend went in June, and she met John, Stephanie, Jennifer, and Rick Lyon's understudy. She got pictures with them, autographs, and they even signed another playbill for me.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 11:20pm

I think they are one of the most sweetest cast. Everyone took time to take a picture with me, sign my program, and talk with me. Avenue Q is my best stage-dooring experience. Also about rick, he is kinda quiet...when i asked him for an autograph he was realli shocked. =D

[Corine2]

Posted: 8/3/04 at 11:46pm

I only met Rick recently and he is very nice.
And soooooooooo talented.
I have not met Ann Harada or Jordan. I love Ann.
Hope to meet her someday.
She cracks me up. Updated On: 8/5/04 at 11:46 PM

[hooper]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 2:35am

it's nice to know that if you state your opinion on these boards and it happens to be a negative comment about a certain puppeteer like Rick, they will erase your comment without question - nice, I've always wanted to be a part of a diplomatic system, Thanks!

and no, it wasn't because he is shy,come on now (like that's a reason to not like someone) but because of his bad attitude, in the 2 times I have met him - sorry if I'm stepping on Rick lovers on this board.

[Born2cthelightsofbway]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 9:35am

I agree that if you have something negetive to say, there is such thing as freedom of speech, so you should be allowed to say it. By the way, thanks for the input everyone. I will see what happens next week when I see the show!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 11:26am

J-tart is a DOLL.

I have acertain fondeness for B-Fo (Barrett Foa )

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 11:36am

Everyone is generally nice, but there are a few that are reluctant to talk. I don't know if it's out of shyness, whatever.

I can't say that Rick Lyon was *mean* or anything, but when I just told him "Good job," he answered like I was breaking his arm to say "Thank you". I almost felt bad for it. He's probably just shy, though.

[ProducersFan]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 11:52am

A lot of times shyness comes off as snobbiness (I've been in that position myself) so I try to never be too quick to judge someone based on one meeting. I know a bunch of actors are shy off the stage and out of character. Doesn't mean they don't want to talk to you, they just might not feel comfortable. But I'm sure they appreciate the fan base that they have!

~Jessica

Updated On: 8/4/04 at 11:52 AM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 11:57am

Yes, quite afew actors are TOTALLY out there on stage, but VERY shy off.......

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 1:12pm

For example Idina.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 1:13pm

Rick Lyon IS just shy. If you contact him via email, though, you'll find that he's really sweet and attentive.

After the Tonys, I sent him a congratulatory email, and he responded within a day with a long, personalized message about how appreciative he was for my kind words and grateful he was to be in the show. He was incredibly gracious and cordial. He's just shy in person.

Updated On: 8/4/04 at 01:13 PM

[tennis85]

Posted: 8/4/04 at 5:11pm

I saw Q in June, and as luck would have it, there was a HUGE group of kids who went backstage to meet the cast. The crowd waiting outside the alley was huge, so I just walked down the alley to the actual stage door. Natalie came out first and bolted. Ann was next...bolted, too. Then JT came out. He was so sweet and talked to me for some time. When we were finished, he looked at me and said, "Gotta face the masses." Rick was sweet, but very shy! Stephie D was the last to come out. The group of kids followed her, and I thought I would lose her in the crowd. I was gave up waiting and started to walk away, when she came over and said, "Did you think I forgot you?" We talked and walked out the alley together. I was practally mobbed for being with her :) Hey, I'm 30 years old and don't get that excited about things, but that was a helluva experience!!