Avenue Q Vegas Production to Shut Down May 28
on the show’s opening night in September.
(Photo © Michael Portantiere)
The producers of the Las Vegas production of Avenue Q have decided to shut down the show on May 28, after a nine-month run at the Wynn Hotel. As a result, the Tony Award-winning musical is free to put on a national tour, though no specific plans have been announced.
In announcing the decision, the hotel’s owner, Steve Wynn, said the impetus was the real estate needs of the hotel. Specifically, he pointed to the efficiency of transforming the Broadway Theatre, which was built for Avenue Q, into the Grail Theatre, which will house the Las Vegas production of Spamalot set to open there in 2007. The theater currenly seats about 1,200 people. “By releasing the producers of Avenue Q from their exclusive non-touring agreement, we were able to accomplish [our architectural plans for the hotel] without having to invade our golf course,” said Wynn in a statement.
Like many Vegas shows, Avenue Q plays a 10-performance-a-week schedule, and employs two separate casts. However, unlike other shows there, Avenue Q originally opened in a two-act form with an intermission, which defied conventional wisdom that Las Vegas audiences didn’t want to spend that much time away from the casino. In recent weeks, the show’s producers decided to cut the show to 90 minutes, much like other Vegas hits.
