cast and creative
HOWIE MICHAEL SMITH (Princeton / Rod) is thrilled to be on Avenue Q again! Howie played Princeton/Rod over 1000 times in the Broadway production. Regional: A Christmas Carol (Ford’s Theatre), 1776, Carousel (Marriott Theatre), As You Like It (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), The Tempest (Dallas Shakespeare), Tribute to Sondheim with George Hearn (Pittsburgh Pops), Bill Nelson‘s All Male Revue(Barrington), Beethoven Lives Upstairs (Tour), Singin’ in the Rain, Brigadoon, Oliver, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. TV: "Puppet Planet" for the Travel Channel. Howie holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University. ILYJSR
ASHLEY EILEEN BUCKNAM (Kate Monster / Lucy the Slut) is thrilled to be working on Avenue Q again! National/International Tour: Avenue Q. Favorite Regional: Little Shop of Horrors, Peter Pan, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. BFA Shenandoah Conservatory. Endless love and thanks to my family and friends!!
CHRIS COOKE (Nicky / Trekkie Monster / Bear / Others) is excited to return to Avenue Q. Chris recently worked with Stephen Colbert in the musical Company at Lincoln Center. Credits include: Spamalot (Sir Bedevere), Company (Harry B-Cast), (Nicky/Trekkie), Happy Days (Ralph Malph), Henry & Mudge (Dad), Little Shop of Horrors;(Dentist), Joseph... Dreamcoat (Simeon). He is also a Pace University graduate with a BFA in Musical Theater. Thanks to Keith and much love to my wife Kelsey.
JAYSON ELLIOTT (Brian) is happy to be making his Ogunquit debut! Favorite credits include: Dave in The Full Monty, William Barfee in ...Spelling Bee, Jud Fry in Oklahoma, The Big Bopper in The Buddy Holly Story, Jim in Pump Boys and Dinettes, and Stanley Sanders in Smoke on the Mountain. Many thanks to everyone at OGP, Stage 9, family and friends, and YOU for supporting live theatre!
LEXY FRIDELL (Mrs. T / Bear) is thrilled to be playing with puppets again! Broadway: Chairry (and more) in The Pee-wee Herman Show. 1st National Tour: Avenue Q. Off-Broadway: Gone Missing(Barrow Street Theatre/The Civilians) London: (I am) Nobody’s Lunch. TV: The Pee-wee Herman Show (HBO) and an SNL digital short. Lexy created the role of “Dory” in Finding Nemo, The Musical for Disney. Training: BFA, Acting/Musical Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University, Adeline Roth Memorial Award for Acting.
ZONYA LOVE (Gary Coleman) is thrilled to revisit the role of Gary Coleman in The Ogunquit Playhouse’s production of Avenue Q. Broadway: The Color Purple (Celie). National Tour: Avenue Q (Gary Coleman u/s). Regional and some other credits: Avenue Q at Weston Playhouse (Gary Coleman), This One Girl’s Story (Dessa), The Mufti Series’ The Roar of the Greasepaint…. at The York Theatre (Urchin), Kiss Me Kate (Hattie), You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Lucy Van Pelt), Intimate Apparel (Mayme), Wit (Susie), Smokey Joe’s Café (BJ), Twelfth Night (Maria), Children of Eden (Eve/Mama Noah) and Crumbs from the Table of Joy (Ermina). She received her BFA from North Carolina A&T State University and MFA from The University of Nevada Las Vegas. Romans 8!!!
REBECCA LARKIN (Christmas Eve) is thrilled to be back on Avenue Q with so many old friends! Broadway: South Pacific. First National Tours: Avenue Q, Barbie LIVE! . Regional: ...Spelling Bee (St. Michael's, Actors' Playhouse), Rent (WBT), Jewtopia (Florida Company), Miss Saigon (Gateway, WBT), The Wedding Singer (Gateway). Cast Recordings: Twice Charmed (Disney), Barbie LIVE! (Mattel). She is immensely grateful for her loving family, adorable hubby, fabulous friends, and everyone who supports live theater!
ZACH TRIMMER (Ensemble / Dance Captain/ Puppet Captain) - Zach is thrilled to be making his Ogunquit Playhouse debut in Avenue Q! National tours: Hairspray, Avenue Q. Regional: Gateway Playhouse, John W. Engeman Theatre, VMT, and soon to be Theatre by the Sea as Link in Hairspray. Favorite roles include: Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, Jimmy Smith in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Motel in Fiddler on the Roof, among others. Thanks go out to Mom, Dad, Steph, Nat, Nana, Molly, and LOUstubbs. Enjoy the show!
PAUL BREWSTER (Ensemble / Performing Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to return for this season at the beach! Previously at Ogunquit Playhouse: Chicago, The Sound of Music, All Shook Up. Off-Broadway: La Barbería, The Orphans' Home Cycle, The Punishing Blow, Forgotten World, The Living Newspaper. After directing last season's Jr. Player's production of Jack and the Beanstalk, Paul will serve as this season's Education Director (first up is Snow White on July 2nd & 3rd). Proud member of Actor's Equity.
KEITH ANDREWS (Director / Choregrapher) is very excited to take another stroll down Avenue Q and to be back at Ogunquit after previously directing and choreographing the Playhouse’s production of The Full Monty (starring Sally Struthers). Keith directed Avenue Q last summer at Gateway Playhouse as well as having directedthe National Tours of The Full Monty and Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh. Other recent directing/choreography credits include: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (starring Joe Piscopo), The Wedding Singer, My Way (the Sinatra Tribute), Cold as Ice, Urinetown, Happy Days, the Musical,The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Always... Patsy Cline, Dames at Sea, Breaking Up is Hard to Do, Barnum, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Little Shop of Horrors, The Pirates of Penzance, Big River, Forever Plaid and Suds, to name just a few. As a choreographer, Keith has recently worked on the world premiere of Love, Incorporated and has received an New York Innovative Theater Award for Best Production of a Musical and nomination for Best Choreography for his work on the new show- Like You Like It. On ice, Keith has directed and choreographed Home for the Holidays - a Celebration on Ice, starring 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist- Evan Lysacek, and Silver Medalists - Charlie White and Meryl Davis, as well as two productions of Stars, Stripes and Skates, the yearly benefit to help survivors and families of the9/11 tragedy. As a performer, Keith has toured all over the world with shows such as: West Side Story, Mame, Jesus Christ Superstar and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. In educational theater, Keith directs and choreographs student industry showcases at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC. Keith thanks Brad Kenney for welcoming him back to this wonderful theatre and community and Rick Lyon for imparting his invaluable puppet wisdom.
KEN CLIFTON (Musical Director) returns to the Ogunquit Playhouse after the paramount successes of Sunset Blvd. and Chicago. Previous Ogunquit credits include All Shook Up, Guys & Dolls, Les Misérables, The Producers, Fiddler on the Roof, The Full Monty, The King and I, La Cage aux Folles. Hello, Dolly!, and Menopause, the Musical. He recently transplanted to Florida where he is now the resident music director for the Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach. Ken is a musical director, vocal coach, and composer/lyricist. He’s conducted musicals up and down the East Coast. Disney uses his writing in Orlando and Tokyo. His project appearing on the Disney Cruise Line was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra. He has written two full length musicals, Midnight Clear and A Christmas Carol, both produced in Florida. Ken wrote the music and lyrics to the opening production number of 2007’s Rose Bowl Parade. He has played on “Live with Regis and Kathy Lee” and CNN’s “Larry King Live.” Ken had the great pleasure of coaching Oscar® Award winning actress, Jennifer Hudson on her final call-back for “Dreamgirls.” He has also coached at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Music. And last but certainly not least Ken has even played for the Bush's at their home in Kennebunkport, ME.