Ann Harada Set for London Production of Avenue Q

Broadway's Ann Harada will reprise her role as Christmas Eve in the London premiere of Avenue Q when it opens at the Noel Coward Theatre formerly the Albery on June 28 following previews from June 1.

Harada, who won a Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Featured Actress in a Musical, is a New York stage veteran. Her Broadway credits include M. Butterfly in 1988 and Seussical in 2000. She has also been seen in Broadway concert performances of Chess in 2003 and Hair in 2004. Her off-Broadway credits include One Two Three Four Five, Hit the Lights!, America Dreaming and The Moment When.

Avenue Q features music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx and a book by Jeff Whitty, based on an original concept by Lopez and Marx. It is directed by Jason Moore. In the show, singing puppets and their human neighbors tackle life's most vexing issues, including love, sex, money, race and how to tell your roommate he's gay.

The rest of the London company includes Jon Robyns as Princeton and Rod, Simon Lipkin as Nicky and Trekkie Monster, Julie Atherton as Kate Monster and Lucy T. Slut, Clare Foster as Mrs T and Sion Lloyd as Brian. The ensemble includes Luke Evans, Matthew J Henry, Gloria Onitiri, Giles Terrera, Gabriel Vick and Yanle Zhong.