THE TOXIC AVENGER to Bring Power Ballads and Mysterious Goo to Breckenridge Backstage Theatre

The 43rd Season of the Breckenridge Backstage Theatre - a Season of Love and Passion - continues in February with a sublimely silly musical that shamelessly amps up the camp with power ballads, dirty politics, scattered body parts, and plenty of mysterious green goo.

The Toxic Avenger - The Musical, 2009's winner of the Outer Critics Circle award for Best New Musical, is based on Lloyd Kaufman's cult film and given a rock 'n' roll adaptation by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) and David Bryan (keyboardist and co-founding member of Bon Jovi) who both won the Best Musical Tony Award for Memphis.

Breckenridge Backstage Theatre's production is monstrously funny, with killer voices and a cast to die for, making The Toxic Avenger - The Musical a laugh-out-loud musical hit that has it all!

The story: The citizens of Tromaville, New Jersey are crying out for a hero. Enter Melvin Ferd the Third, 98 pound weakling and aspiring earth scientist, determined to clean up the city's toxic waste problem. But when a corrupt Mayor and her government goons try to stop him, Melvin is tossed in a vat of toxic goo and transformed into THE TOXIC AVENGER, New Jersey's first superhero! "Toxie" is a seven-foot mutant freak with superhuman strength and a supersized heart to match. He's out to save New Jersey, end global warming, and woo the prettiest (and blindest) librarian in town in this hot toxic love story with more laughs than you can measure on a geiger counter.

TJ Hogle (CTG award-winner for BBT's I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) leads the tight ensemble cast as our venerable hero, Toxie. Equity actress Megan VanDeHey (CTG award-winner for Arvada's Ragtime) is Toxie's nemesis, the outrageously evil Mayor Babs Belgoody. Colby Dunn (BBT's Chicago) is Toxie's ditzy, caring, and sexy love interest, Sarah the blind librarian. Rounding out the cast are Randy Chalmers (Town Hall's Violet), Carter Edward Smith (BBT"s She Loves Me), and John White (Vintage's Willy Wonka) who play...well, everyone else...from bullies to mobsters to old ladies to stiletto-wearing back-up singers. The show is directed by BBT's Artistic Director, the endlessly inventive Christopher Willard (Avenue Q, Spamalot). Heather Holt Hall music directed and leads the rocking live band. Choreography is by the sensational Terrell Davis (Davis Dance Company). The ingenious toxic playground set is by Michael Grittner (BBT's She Loves Me). The intoxicating lighting is by Sean Mallary (BBT's Chicago). Special creature Toxie makeup and special effects are by Todd Debreceni (BBT's Beauty and the Beast). Costume design is by Nikki Harrison. Sound design is by Robert Krueger (BBT's She Loves Me). Property design is by Terry Green. The production is stage managed by Samantha Barrett.

The Toxic Avenger - The Musical opens February 17th and runs through March 18th. There will be a special Valentine's Evening Preview on February 14th with Valnetine sweets and Chocolate Martini Bar (special pricing applies). Full performance schedule is February 14 (Valentine's Preview), 17 (Champagne Opening), 18, 23-25, March 2-4, 9-11, 16-18 at 7:30 PM and February 19 & 26 at 6:30 PM. For the Valentine's Evening and Champagne Opening performances, doors open at 6:30 PM, special pricing applies. All shows are at the new Breckenridge Theater, located at 121 S. Ridge Street in Breckenridge. The show is rated R with adult language, sexual situations, and comic violence.

Patrons can save $5 off if purchasing before February 2nd. Group Discounts are available. For tickets, call 970.485.2164, via website at backstagetheatre.org, or in person at the Riverwalk Center, Welcome Center, or Breckenridge Theater on day of show.

To post a comment, you must register and login.