Chicago Reader - Recommended
"...Music Theater Works's production, directed and choreographed by Christopher Pazdernik and with musical direction by Eugene Dizon, is an endearing and crowd-pleasing affair featuring a solid ensemble with supple voices, aided by cunning design work. Ben Lipinski's set features a recreation of the front of an outer-borough apartment complex that's seen better days, with windows that pop open to reveal people/puppets like Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from the 1960s. (The double entendres here are a bit more obvious than what network censors allowed back then, though.)"
Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended
"...This is a remarkable show that takes a cultural landmark from childhood as a springboard to confront what is so hard about moving into wisdom and purpose (there is a whole song about that), and it is perhaps the use of puppets that sneakily gets into your heart. The references are specific and yet universal, and the critique of where we are is so funny you almost don’t mind how damning it could be. Grab your pals and go, but don't bring the kids!"
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Pazdernik has assembled a small but mighty cast of players to make this delightful show come alive. Brandy Miller as Kate Monster , Princeton’s love interest, is adorable and has a marvelous singing voice. Andres J. DeLeoon handles Nickie ( the Ernie like character) as well as Trekkie Monster ( the porn lover that will remind you of Cookie Monster in many ways)."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...Music Theater Works certainly has another bonafide winner on its hands with this gleeful, gut-busting production of the 2004 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical, Book, Music & Lyrics. But be warned: this is definitely a musical for adults and one show where it’s advisable to leave the youngsters at home. “Avenue Q,” which features 4-letter words and puppet pornography, is ribald, raunchy and really straightforward in its presentation of adult themes. But it’s also a whole lot of fun for mature audiences."
Third Coast Review - Recommended
"...Have you ever wanted to witness a Muppet make the beast with two backs? Do a deep dive into getting “felt up”? Learn the history of the monster race? Then Avenue Q is your ticket. The Tony Award-winning, occasionally bawdy, musical comedy is back, 20 years after its Broadway debut, in the comfortable North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, in a delightful Music Theater Works production. People and puppets perform side-by-side in this sweet coming-of-age story set on an up-and-coming New York City street, under direction and choreography by Chris Pazdernik, with music direction by Eugene Dizon and puppetry training by Kristi Martens."
Life and Times - Recommended
"...A trip to North Shore Center for the Performing Arts to see Music Theater Works' production of Avenue Q is not exactly a trip to the lighthearted, family fun of Sesame Street. Oh, Avenue Q is definitely a good time, and you will laugh uproariously, but it is not exactly family entertainment."
Splash Magazine - Highly Recommended
"...Music Theater Works opens its 43rd season with Avenue Q in the North Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie where it is playing until April 2. Although the show is 20 years old, having opened on Broadway at the Golden Theatre July 31, 2003, this production is fresh and energetic."
NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Here's the thing about "Avenue Q": it's a comedy-musical from 2004 and it shows. The R-rated "Sesame Street"-esque parody has been in my personal musical-theater playlist since I was in high school. My friends and I performed songs from it in variety shows in college. And this part-puppet and part-human musical is still a lot of fun, though the role of Christmas Eve feels more problematic with each passing moment in the show. Yes, the whole point of the show is to push boundaries and be problematic, but it can still do that without making Christmas Eve speak in Asian English tropes like swapping the "l" sound for "r.""
