He’s the Tony-recognised director and king of LOL that’s helped bring to life some of the funniest pieces of theatre and film - from Shrek: The Musical to Pitch Perfect, all the way to Sisters, starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler and his Tony-winning smash-hit show Avenue Q- which now celebrates 20+ years since its first off-Broadway opening back in 2003.
Now the famous singing puppets return to London with a special 20th-anniversary West End production, brought together by the original Broadway creative team.
In this exclusive conversation direct from London, Avenue Q’s original director reflects on the power of singing puppets, tackling topics that seem off-limits until you’ve a furry friend by your side, and what the first reactions were like to the show back in 2003 - including the puppets getting down and dirty in You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want (When You’re Makin’ Love).
Plus, the rare task of revisiting a show 20+ years later, updating his material for a new 2026 audience and how Lucy, The Slut’s now infamous performance of Special for the then Prince Charles came about.

We also dive into key moments from his career including mounting Shrek: The Musical for Broadway (farting ogres and all), working with Reese Witherspoon on the upcoming Legally Blonde prequel series Elle, and why he shares our collective excitement at the new Murder She Wrote adaptation starring Jamie Lee Curtis as iconic mystery writer Jessica Fletcher, which he is set to also direct.

Anybody for a bit of puppet love?

Host: William J Connolly

Produced by: William J Connolly/Darren Bell

avenueqmusical.co.uk

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