Portion of tickets purchased online to benefit Positive Impact

The puppets of ‘Avenue Q’ hit Atlanta

“Avenue Q” isn’t just Tim Kornblum’s first traveling show; it’s his first professional production ever. The gay-inclusive puppet musical returns to Atlanta today after a successful run here a few seasons back, with the openly gay Kornblum in the role of Brian.

“Avenue Q” is on stage May 18-23 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Discount tickets are available to benefit Positive Impact, which provides mental health services to people impacted by HIV.

Producers of the musical wanted this tour to be a non-equity tour, featuring actors with no prior experience with the show. Kornblum had acted a lot in high school, yet while he steered away from the stage somewhat in college, he knew it was still in his system. His try-out was his first professional audition. After “three or four callbacks,” he was finally offered the job as wannabe comedian Brian about a month later.

Kornblum laughs that in his original audition he was asked to sing songs from the production. He dressed up like Brian but sang songs from other characters “just to cover all the bases.”

Despite the newness of the cast, Kornblum says it’s the exact same show that won a Best Musical Tony Award in 2004 (as well as two other awards) and begat a successful national tour. The actor remembers seeing the original production in 2005 and loving it.

Inspired by “Sesame Street,” “Avenue Q” takes place in an outer borough of New York City, with both human and puppet characters. Princeton is a recent college graduate who moves into the area. His neighbors include teaching assistant Kate Monster, roommates Rod and Nicky, and Brian and his fiancée Christmas Eve, a Japanese-American therapist.

Read the entire story here.

‘Avenue Q’
May 18 – 23
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway
Marietta, GA 30339, 800-982-2787
www.avenueqontour.com

• Use code ‘Impact’ at purchase to receive $5 discount and $5 will be donated to Positive Impact by clicking here.