Did Gary Coleman authorize his appearence in Avenue Q?
Did Gary Coleman authorize his appearence in Avenue Q?
#0Did Gary Coleman authorize his appearence in Avenue Q?
Posted: 10/3/04 at 1:29pmDoes anyone know? And if so, what did he think of the show?
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#1re: Did Gary Coleman authorize his appearence in Avenue Q?
Posted: 10/3/04 at 1:31pmI read that he did approve of it, and he saw it and fell in love with it...that could be wrong but I am like 95% positive.
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#2re: Did Gary Coleman authorize his appearence in Avenue Q?
Posted: 10/3/04 at 1:37pm
Yes, he approved.
Early in the show's genesis, the authors thought of it as a possible TV show, using the actual Gary Coleman. When it became a legit stage show, they decided to leave the Gary character in the show, casting a full-sized woman in the role to emphasize the fact that, no, it's not really Gary Coleman up there!
I think it would still make a good series on Comedy Central.
BWayBoy88
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/23/04
#3re: Did Gary Coleman authorize his appearence in Avenue Q?
Posted: 10/3/04 at 1:39pm
I remember a thread on this a few months ago and someone posted a link to the message board on the avenue Q website with a response from the creaters explaining the whole deal with Gary Coleman. I think Gary Coleman was going to be in it when it was originally going to be a TV show in LA, but when they decided to take it to Broadway he wasnt able to move to NY so they got a woman to play the part. I may be wrong but that what I remember.
EDIT: Jon you beat me to it.
Updated On: 10/3/04 at 01:39 PM
GovernorSlaton
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/04
#4re: Did Gary Coleman authorize his appearence in Avenue Q?
Posted: 10/3/04 at 2:08pm
And here it is:
http://www.avenueq.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3&t_id=62
#5re: Did Gary Coleman authorize his appearence in Avenue Q?
Posted: 10/3/04 at 3:22pm
I was just thinking about this too, thanks guys 
laactress
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/7/04
#7re: Did Gary Coleman authorize his appearence in Avenue Q?
Posted: 10/3/04 at 3:44pmI always wondered that! Thanks for the answer.
QueenS
Leading Actor Joined: 8/15/03
#8re: Did Gary Coleman authorize his appearence in Avenue Q?
Posted: 10/4/04 at 9:29am
Yes, all of the above is true. However, since the time that the little off-broadway musical became a major broadway hit, I have seen interviews with Mr. Coleman where he lambasts them for using his persona and said that he has his "lawyers looking into it." (I believe that this was during the gubernatorial race in CA.)
I myself wonder when the stunt casting will set in for this show and Gary will be playing Gary. Or better yet, Emmanuel Lewis will.
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