'Avenue Q' Same-Sex Puppet Couple to Be Married July 24 in NYC

The producers of Avenue Q have announced that puppets Rod and Ricky, the Tony-winning musical's same-sex couple, are engaged and will be married in New York City on Sunday, July 24, 2011, in celebration of the first day that same-sex couples can be legally married in the state of New York.

In Avenue Q, Rod, a Wall Street banker, and Ricky, a "Chelsea boy," meet through an online personal ad placed by Rod's best friend and slacker roommate Nicky. The producers calculate that Rod and Ricky have met and fallen in love on stage 3,267 times since the show opened on Broadway in 2003.

"To have this finally happen for us -- especially so soon after Will and Kate -- is unbelievable to me," Rod says. "I realize there are a lot of broken hearts out there now that Ricky and I are off the market -- step back, all you chorus boys! -- but I've known since Day One that Ricky is the husband for me. He's the furry fellow I want to spend my life with both on and off the stage."

The puppets plan to join thousands of other gay couples at City Hall to exchange vows on this historic day. But after saying "I do," Rod and Ricky are expected to be back at the theater at New World Stages for the 3 p.m. matinee performance of Avenue Q. (Producers also state, "The couple... has yet to determine when and where they might take a quick honeymoon trip on their one day off from the show. Nor have they determined yet where they will be registered for wedding gifts.")

Regardless of the fact that puppets probably can't secure a wedding license, we're doubtful that Rod and Ricky can be guaranteed a spot among the thousands of same-sex couples hoping to be married on July 24. Mayor Bloomberg announced yesterday that due to the unprecedented demand, a public lottery system will determine which straight and same-sex couples are granted access on that day (which prompted New York magazine to post a plea begging straight couples to pick any other day of the week to get married, instead).

So if Rod and Ricky get lucky in the lottery, will the marriage between these two Avenue Q puppets mean that one same-sex couple loses their chance to get married on Sunday? Is this just a crass publicity stunt, or a genuine show of support? Leave your comments below to share you thoughts.

-- Daniel Lehman