Vegas Ave Q

[paphillyguy]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 10:50am

I was in VEgas last week on vacation. I checked out Ave Q. I saw the 10 pm show on Friday. This was the day after the offical openning. John Tags' group was off that day. For all your information. They do not list at the theater (atleast not anywhere that is easily seen) which cast is on. The 2nd cast was great very good. The show IS the full show, with actually a little changes here and there. The seats are good. I would avoid the first 5 rows if you are short they are not raked very much, however after that the rest of the orch is very raked and I heard that they have a great view. (I was in row D) The Balcony is pretty far back, It starts at the end of the orch, do not appear to be too good. The theater seems much bigger then the Golden.

I feel that the show works very well in Vegas. The 10 pm show time might be a little late for some. I think the reason for the 6:30 and 10 pm starts are more for crowd control since their other show Le Reve (not as good as cirque) is at 7:30 and lets out around 9:15 and are next to each other.


I did see some famous people at the show. Most were at the openning night before, but on Friday there was Jeff Marks, who seemed to know everyone in the theater. He was making the rounds before the show. Also, Marisa WInokur(hairspray) was in the row behind me.

All in all I think Ave Q in Vegas is in good hands and I would highly recommend it.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 11:07am

I thrilled you enjoyed the show so much
still trying to raise the money myself

[ken8631]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 12:54pm

I understand they added a Vegas song? If so, what did they cut to add it?

[Hairspraydoll]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 12:59pm

The Vegas song is not in the show. It was only for promos.

[ken8631]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 1:05pm

Thanks.

Also good to know they didn't shorten the show to 90 minutes like they plan to with Spamalot!

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 1:07pm

Hairspraydoll is correct. The new song 'Only in Vegas' was sung on 'Live With Regis and Kelly' and performed at a press promotion out there, but it's not in the show. Here's an interview we did with John Tartaglia, and he mentions some of the minor lyric and line changes they made. (In addition, they slowed down the tempo of 'Schadenfreude,' so you could hear the jokes in the bridge, and the entr'acte has been redone.)
Playbill.com: 'The Leading Men' - John Tartaglia, Sept. 2005

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 1:07pm

Spamalot should be cut down to 15 minutes.

[Hairspraydoll]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 3:43pm

Purpose was slower too. They added in a couple of Vegas type jokes into the show as well. I saw it last night with the non Johnny T cast.

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 3:50pm

Yeah it's this thing in Vegas where they won't post a cast list or announce understudies. All of their tickets come with a non-refundable policy so they don't want you NOT buying tickets cause the star performer is out. Years and years ago when my family and I went to Vegas we went to see the now closed EFX. And it wasn't until after my father purchased our tickets that we were informed the understudy was on all month. Now we didn't really care, we had come to see the show and not the wife beater (Rick Springfield), but my father posed the question, "Well thanks alot for telling me now, what if I told you I didn't want these tickets now cause I only came to see Rick?" and the women behind the counter without missing a beat looked at him and said "If you'll notice the sign above me sir we have a no refund policy, enjoy the show tonight"

Apparently they aren't subject to the rules of actors equity, but you'd think they would have to oblige in order to get Broadway tours in with equity actors........who knows.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 4:02pm

What?! That's idiotic. I don't really care to see it if I'm not seeing Tonya Dixon or David Benoit. Thanks for the heads-up.

[YessicaB]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 4:13pm

I think you'll be allright either way lizzie. Isn't david in the yellow bear cast and Tonya in the blue bear?

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 4:31pm

When I was there, the cast list was posted in the lobby to the right of the doors. ... I would imagine that Wynn Las Vegas would probably say: We're selling 'Avenue Q' the show, not who's starring in it. If you look at their Playbill, John Tartaglia and Rick Lyon are below the title. Nor are their names on the ticket or in the posters. (I don't think most Broadway shows refund tickets if someone who's under the title is out.)

Vegas has a very transcient audience, so there is one big difference: They'll allow you to cancel your tickets if you give them 24 hours' notice. That said, do I think 'Avenue Q' should post a schedule for when John and Rick are on? Absolutely. And maybe they will, once the show has settled into its routine. John says he'll post a schedule on his Web site as soon as he knows. But the truth is: The vast majority of their audience won't know the difference, any more than they really know who's in the various Cirque du Soleil shows or revues in Vegas. Some people don't even read their Playbills. The night I was there, some folks thought Gary Coleman was actually in the show!

[YessicaB]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 5:09pm

Well Rick won't be in it much longer anyways. I thought they were all awesome, not just Rick and John. I didn't see it with Jonathan and the other cast, but everyone I talked too said they are great as well.
Hope you guys will like it as much as I did when you get to see it (regardless which one of the two casts you happen to catch).

[YessicaB]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 6:07pm

http://www.calendarlive.com/music/cl-et-avenueq10sep10,0,7343329.story

Like I said: Both casts are great.

[mlsheehan]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 8:50pm

I saw the 10PM show with Jonathon Root.

As Wayman Wong says below there is a board in the Lobby where they list the cast. You can check it out before the show, but you'll already have your ticket and seat. So you can't really plan ahead.

Even though I wanted to see John T and Rick, I was pleasantly surprised by this cast. They were all very good. No complaints at all.

I'd still like to go back and see John T. If I'm that way in the near future, I'll take a shot.
-Mike

[emo_geek]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 9:00pm

After what I did for Eden, It will be hard to go far to see a person I really like in a Show. I am going in Jan. to vegas...John is there till December 12th I believe. He also said he might stay longer...I hope that is the case so I get to see him.

[YessicaB]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 9:06pm

what's your favorite q song?

[emo_geek]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 9:14pm

OoOoO my favorite song would have to be Fine Line, E.A.L.B.R, Special

[YessicaB]

Posted: 9/12/05 at 9:23pm

I think mine is "Schadenfreude". I love that song, it's so funny.

Updated On: 9/12/05 at 09:23 PM