THE TOXIC AVENGER Hosts 'Halloweek' Spookfest

The Toxic Avenger - named "2009 Best New Off-Broadway Musical" by the Outer Critics Circle - announced today that in honor of Toxie's favorite holiday, Halloween, the show will be sponsoring a seven-day spookfest, aptly titlEd Halloweek. Fans and thrill-seekers alike will get a chance to show off their crazy costumes, party with the cast, win fabulous prizes and even save some money; some tickets are as low as $35 through Halloween.

Fans have the rest of October to participate in the show's photo contest, which ends on Friday, October 30th at 11:59PM. If you think you have the funniest, scariest, or just plain awesomest Halloween costume, e-mail a photo to Contest@TheToxicAvengerMusical.com. Submissions will be posted on the show's website, with the cast picking the winners. The grand prize winner will receive a four pack of tickets to The Toxic Avenger on Halloween night, as well as a major toxic gift package. If you're feeling especially spooky, submit a photo dressed as your favorite show character and you could win a special behind-the-scenes tour.

The week leading up to the creepiest night of the year is chock full of great events, culminating in a Halloween party at New World Stages (340 W. 50th St). The Halloweek schedule is as follows:

Monday, October 26th - Come celebrate at a kickoff party at Vynl (754 9th Avenue at 51st St). Beginning at 8PM with special "toxic" cocktails, the cast of The Toxic Avenger will be on hand after the show to judge a Halloween karaoke contest and party with patrons. Visit www.vynl-nyc.com for details. Before the party, Bloomingdale's Insiders will get a special treat: the cast rocking out as they shop! For more information on becoming a Bloomingdale's Insider, visit www.myinsider.bloomingdales.com/programinfo.aspx.

Tuesday, October 27th - Just because the show is dark doesn't mean you can't have fun! Head over to Nightmare, New York's most horrifying haunted house. Sending a photo of you and your friends enjoying all Nightmare has to offer to Contest@TheToxicAvengerMusical.com will automatically enter you to win tickets to The Toxic Avenger. For more information on Nightmare, visit www.hauntedhousenyc.com... if you dare.

Wednesday, October 28th - Be one of the first 100 fans at New World Stages to receive a free gift card to Chipotle! Stop by the lobby (340 W. 50th St) between 6 and 7PM to receive your voucher for a yummy "boo"rito. For more information about Chipotle's food and services, visit www.chipotle.com.

Thursday, October 29th - It's trick or treat (mostly treat) night at The Toxic Avenger! Free toxic stickers and tattoos are available at the merchandise stand at New World Stages.

Friday, October 30th - You can spend Halloween eve by joining the show's star and American Idol alum Diana DeGarmo for some post-show drinks as part of a very special Audience Rewards event. What's more, you'll also earn 1,000 Bonus ShowPoints per ticket. For more information, visit www.audiencerewards.com/offers.cfm?offer=170. After your post-show buzz, you can partake in the Halloween NYC Pub Crawl. Visit www.pubcrawls.com for more details on this three-day long happy hour. Ease your last call blues with a midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Chelsea Clearview Cinema and do the timewarp with the New York City "Rocky Horror Picture Show" cast! Visit www.nycrhps.org for more information.

Saturday, October 31st - It's the Big Night! Come celebrate Halloween (and the opening of the show in Toronto). A speciAl Halloween party will be held at the Time Out NY Lounge at New World Stages from 6-7PM. Besides door prizes, other scary knick-knacks will be distributed to start your Halloween off right. Partygoers are encouraged to wear costumes; in fact, costumes will increase your chance of toxic prizes! In honor of Opening Night of The Toxic Avenger in Toronto, our neighbors to the north will get a special toxic treat if they can prove their Canadian citizenship.

More information on Halloweek can be found by visiting the official website, www.TheToxicAvengerMusical.com/Halloweek.

The Toxic Avenger is both a charming love story and laugh-out-loud musical -- complete with an unlikely hero, his beautiful girlfriend (a blind librarian and aspiring novelist), a corrupt New Jersey mayor and the most memorable and unbelievable duet you'll see on any New York stage! Audiences from teenagers to senior citizens have enthusiastically embraced this hilarious new musical comedy. Easily 1,000 laughs.

Based on the 1985 classic cult film from Lloyd Kaufman, The Toxic Avenger features music and lyrics by David Bryan (keyboardist and founding member of Bon Jovi) and book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change). Bryan and DiPietro have also co-written the hit Broadway musical Memphis now playing at the Shubert Theatre. The Toxic Avenger is directed by Tony Award® winner John Rando. The cast includes American Idol Season 3 runner up Diana DeGarmo, Nick Cordero, Demond Green, Jonathan Root and Nancy Opel.

The performance schedule for The Toxic Avenger is: Monday, Wednesday - Friday at 8PM, Saturday at 4 & 8PM and Sunday at 3 & 7:30PM. Tickets are $51.50 & $71.50 and may be purchased through TeleCharge at (212) 239-6200/www.telecharge.com. The original cast recording (TimeLife) is in stores now and on iTunes. For further information about the show, fun online content, and new TOX-A-RI-FIC merchandise, please visit the show's official web site: TheToxicAvengerMusical.com.