The Top Ten Gay Broadway Musicals of All Time – Time Out New York

When musical comedy returned to Broadway in the 21st century, one of the shows leading the charge was Avenue Q, which cheekily used Sesame Street–style puppets to depict an outer-borough community grappling with life lessons about such grown-up topics as hookups, racism and Internet porn. Book writer Jeff Whitty and co-composer Jeff Marx—joined by future double-EGOT winner Robert Lopez—bring a recognizably modern gay sensibility to the show, as exemplified by the characters of Nicky and Rod, Avenue Q’s take on Sesame Street’s resident odd couple, Ernie and Bert. The closeted Rod is in love with the straight (but very supportive!) Nicky, and their arc is both funny and touching. A surprise hit, the musical ran on Broadway for five years after its premiere at the cozy Vineyard Theatre, then returned Off Broadway to run another 10 years at New World Stages. Like Rent, Avenue Q helped create a world in which LGBT characters are woven into the neighborhood.