'Avenue Q' keeps character based on Gary Coleman

[June 01, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) -- An award-winning play that features a character based on Gary Coleman is planning to keep that character, even after the actor's death.

The creative team behind "Avenue Q" has decided to make only small tweaks to the role played by Danielle Thomas. Coleman died Friday in Utah after suffering a brain hemorrhage.

"Avenue Q" is show about 20-something New Yorkers, featuring both humans and puppets. It won three 2004 Tony Awards, including best musical.

The Coleman character is a child star who now works as a building superintendent.

It is now running off-Broadway.

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Information from: The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/

[Associated Press]

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