Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"...Much of the original Broadway cast had worked puppets on Sesame Street, the model for the show, albeit an unauthorized one. They were brilliant puppeteers and very serviceable actors and singers. But the show now is using superb actors with huge voices. All three of the main performers here are knockouts. Aside from Sawyer, whose vocal manipulations are truly spectacular, we've got the pleasure of Robert McClure's guileless Princeton. And thanks to David Benoit, even Trekkie Monster has range and heart."
Chicago Sun Times - Recommended
"...Heading up the national tour is a first-rate cast that must sing, act and manipulate their soft puppet alter egos. In many ways these performers are more sweetly likable than the New York originals. And while this might soften some of the show's edge, there is still bite."
Daily Herald - Highly Recommended
"...The surprisingly irresistible "Avenue Q" imparts life lessons to beleaguered young adults the way the show that inspired it teaches reading and math to youngsters: with up-tempo tunes and playful language. The colors are bright; the sentiment sincere, the satire gentle and the streetscape (ingeniously evoked by set designer Anna Louizos who does a brilliant job conjuring the Chrysler Building) charming."
SouthtownStar - Somewhat Recommended
"...Presenting itself as a children's show for grown-ups is clever, but it's not enough to hide the weakness in 'Avenue Q.' While Jason Moore's direction is fine, there's a lot here that is cliched and stereotypical."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...This Tony Award-winning musical, set in a slum on the fringiest fringe of New York, speaks to a generation that grew up on Sesame Street and came of age with Rent. Most of the characters are portrayed by actor-singers operating cute-ugly Muppet-like puppets designed by Rick Lyon (the talented cast of this touring edition features several veterans of the Broadway production), and Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx's score uses bouncy kiddie-show idioms to convey the crises of young adulthood."
Chicago Free Press - Highly Recommended
"...Like the contradictory American culture it sends up, “Avenue Q” is both whimsically childlike and brazenly sexed-up, its sensibilities sometimes traditional yet openly queer. You just might laugh so hard you’ll have to dab a few tears from your eyes—but you’ll surely end up slack-jawed in disbelief at some of the outrageous jokes, thinking, “Oh no, they didn’t just go there!” Ohhh, yes, they did. With gleeful gusto."
EpochTimes - Highly Recommended
"...This is a magical theatrical experience- a great concept carried out by a marvelous top notch cast. Eleven people and a number of puppets fill the stage with music, dance and warm feelings as we travel the road to happiness with them all. I must tell you that the set by Anna Louizos and the animation (again the work of Mr. Lopez) is special. The animation and the giant screen images projected (once again showing the influence of SS/which this is not based on in any way) and the direction by Jason Moore, Choreography by Ken Roberson and of course the puppets designed by Rick Lyon make this a very special theater experience."
Copley News Service - Highly Recommended
"...The seven main human actor/singers are marvels of versatility. The show may have taken its time getting to Chicago, but this version is strictly top drawer in its performance level. First among equals are David Benoit and Kelli Sawyer, both having superior musical comedy voices and acting talents, even though the spectator quickly endows those attributes to the Muppets they operate so skillfully. Sawyer in particular has the talent and looks to star in a major musical, without the appendage of a Muppet figure to operate."
Centerstage - Highly Recommended
"...Bursting with almost two dozen catchy, hummable tunes and filled with clever lyrics examining such varied subjects as finding your life's purpose, reveling among romantic fantasies, racism, sexual preference, unrequited love and glee at the misfortune of others, this musical will delight every open-minded theatergoer, high school-aged and older."
Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...It may be modeled on Sesame Street and The Electric Company, the shows its creators grew up on in the ’70s and ’80s, but gleefully bawdy Avenue Q speaks just as clearly to the Romper Room and Barney generations. Anyone who’s found himself reaching tentative, flailing adulthood can understand that the appeal of friendly puppets with life lessons is viable long past kindergarten."
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"...What a delightful production – clever staging, sprightly score, unusual use of engaging puppets, neat incorporation of video, talented cast, and delightful risqué humor, all of which enhance the goofy, upbeat story line."
