Jennifer Tanarez makes her professional West End debut when she joins the cast of Avenue Q on 16 April. The recent graduate of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts replaces Naoko Mori as Christmas Eve in the hairy, horny musical comedy. Christmas Eve is the only role that has been recast since Avenue Q opened at the Noël Coward in June 2006. The part was originally played by Ann Harada, the only member of the Broadway cast to recreate her performance in London.
Tanarez only graduated from Mountview in September 2006. During her time at the college she played Sister Mary Leo in Nunsense, Solonge La Fitte in Follies, Phoebe in As You Like It, Betty/Bridie in Touched and Queen Margaret in Richard III.
Avenue Q is the perfect blend of puppet and performer, as humans and their furry friends combine to tell the story of a lost college graduate. Princeton has a degree in English but does not know what to do with it. Low on funds, the only place he can afford to rent a home is Avenue Q. But what looks like a rundown neighbourhood actually hides a selection of good friends who, though they all have their problems, help Princeton find his purpose in life.
Among the songs in Avenue Q that keep the audiences laughing are Everyone's A Little Bit Racist, You Can Be As Loud As The Hell You Want (When You're Makin' Love) and The Internet Is For Porn.
Tanarez joins a cast that currently includes Jon Robyns, Simon Lipkin, Julie Atherton, Giles Terera, Clare Foster and Sion Lloyd.
Avenue Q is currently booking until 31 January 2008. .
MA