'THE TOXIC AVENGER' Opens at New World Stages 4/6

The Toxic Avenger, the brand new musical about New Jersey's first superhero, features a score by Bon Jovi's David Bryan and Joe Di Pietro. The cast includes Nancy Opel, Sara Chase, Nick Cordero, Demond Green and Matthew Saldivar. Tony Award-winner John Rando directs.

The Toxic Avenger began performances on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Opening Night is tonight, Monday, April 6th.

Based on the classic 1985 cult film by Lloyd Kaufman, The Toxic Avenger premiered this past fall at The George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, NJ, where the show became the biggest grossing musical in the theatre's 34 year history. Wrote Peter Filichia, critic for the New Jersey Star-Ledger, "Considering the response that The Toxic Avenger received on Friday night, the building must now have many cracked walls from all the explosive applause and laughter."

The performance schedule for The Toxic Avenger is: Monday, Wednesday - Friday at 8PM, Saturday at 2 & 8PM and Sunday at 3 & 7PM. Tickets are $51.50 & $71.50 and may be purchased through TeleCharge at (212) 239-6200/www.telecharge.com.

Producers Jean Cheever and Tom Polum announced last week that Time Life will release the original cast recording of The Toxic Avenger to coincide with the new musical's New York opening night - Monday, April 6th at New World Stages. The CD's will be available at the theatre in advance of the official release date of Tuesday, May 5th. The cast recorded the score on March 9th at Avatar Recording Studios in New York City.

The Toxic Avenger is set in the mythical town of Tromaville, Exit 13B, off the New Jersey Turnpike. An aspiring earth scientist, Melvin Ferd the Third, is determined to clean up the town's burgeoning toxic waste, until he is tossed into a vat of radioactive goo and emerges as a seven-foot mutant freak and New Jersey's first superhero. Armed with superhuman strength and a heart as big as Newark, he's out to save New Jersey, end global warming and woo Sarah, the prettiest, blindest librarian in town.

The production team for The Toxic Avenger is: Beowolf Borritt (Scenic Design), David C. Woolard (Costume Design), Kenneth Posner (Lighting Design), Kurt Fischer (Sound Design), Mark Adam Rampmeyer (Hair & Make-Up Design), John Dods (Prosthetics & Special Effects Design), Rick Sordelet & David DeBesse (Fight Direction), Wendy Seyb (Choreographer) and Doug Katsaros (Music Director).

For further information and fun online content, please visit the show's official web site (www.TheToxicAvengerMusical.com).

Photo by Carol Rosegg

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