The Toxic Avenger (musical)

"The Toxic Avenger" is a new musical based off the 1985 cult classic of the same name. The musical has a book by Joe DiPietro with music and lyrics by David Bryan, the keyboardist and founding member of Bon Jovi. The musical is directed by John Rando. The musical will premiere in the fall of 2008 as part of the George Street Playhouse season in New Brunswick, New Jersey. [ [http://www.georgestplayhouse.org/ georgestplayhouse.org] ] [ [http://broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=29937 George Street Presents 'Toxic Avenger' by DiPietro & Bryan] , broadwayworld.com]

ynopsis

Tromaville is one exit you don’t want to take off the New Jersey Turnpike – but Melvin Ferd the Third is determined to change all that and win his lady love. Tossed into a big vat of radioactive goo he is transformed into The Toxic Avenger. Righting wrongs, beating bullies and seducing Sarah the Blind Librarian all set to a fabulous new score by Bon Jovi’s David Bryan… The Toxic Avenger will rock your world and win your heart! The Toxic Avenger takes the terrific characters from the 1980s cult classic film by Lloyd Kaufman and creates a smart, clever, funny and extremely entertaining show which at its core is really a love story – and has a good subplot: saving the environment!

Creative Team

Joe DiPietro (Book & Lyrics) is the author of the musical comedy hit "I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change", the longest running musical revue in Off-Broadway history, with more than 4,500 performances and productions staged in over 400 cities around the world (including a Mandarin Chinese version which debuted in Beijing in June 2007). Other credits: the Broadway musical comedy " All Shook Up"; Off Broadway musical "The Thing About Men"; Off Broadway comedy "Over the River and Through the Woods, The Kiss at City Hall, The Virgin Weeps," and the comic thriller "The Art of Murder" (winner of the 2000 Edgar Award). He is the recipient of the Wm. Inge Theater Festival New Voices in American Theater Award; won O’Neill National Playwright’s Conference MacArthur Award for comic writing. Joe was born and raised off Exit 166 in New Jersey and thus has been a Toxic Avenger fan for the last twenty years.
David Bryan (Music & Lyrics) is the keyboardist and founding member of Bon Jovi. The band has sold 120+ million albums to date and performed more than 3,000 shows in 42 countries. He has won a Grammy and several American Music Awards for his work with the band. David co-wrote the Bon Jovi hit "“In These Arms”" with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora and continues to write with them and for other artists, including Curtis Steiger's rendition of “This Time,” a major international hit. David is a board member for Only Make Believe, a non-profit organization that provides theatrical workshops free-of-charge to children living with chronic illnesses and disabilities, and Music For All which secures funding for school music programs across the country. He is a national spokesperson for VH1's Save The Music Program, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of education in America's public schools by restoring music education programs in cities across the U.S. and raising awareness of the importance of music participation for our nation's youth. A proud lifelong resident of New Jersey, David grew up off Exit 11 of the Turnpike and currently resides off Exit 109 of the Parkway.
John Rando (Director) is the Tony Award-winning director of "Urinetown". Other Broadway credits include "The Wedding Singer" (nominated best musical), Neil Simon’s "The Dinner Party and A Thousand Clowns". In 2005, he directed the Canadian premiere of "Urinetown" (winner of six ] Dora Awards] , including Outstanding Production and Outstanding Direction). For City Center Encores! he directed "Strike Up the Band, Do Re Mi, The Pajama Game" and "Of Thee I Sing". In 2004, Rando directed the inaugural presentation of The Downtown Plays for Tribeca Theatre Festival. Other Off-Broadway credits include "Bright Ideas" (MCC)," Polish Joke" (MTC), "Mere Mortals" (Primary Stages), "Things You Shouldn’t Say Past Midnight" (Promenade), "Comedy of Errors" (Acting Company), "Venetian Twins" (Pearl Theatre) and "Pig Farm" (Roundabout Theatre Company). He has directed regionally at the Alley Theatre, Old Globe Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Geffen Playhouse, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Cleveland Play House and Philadelphia Theatre Company, among others.

ong List

1. Who will Save NJ?
2. Govenor
3. Get the Geek
4. Kick Your Ass
5. My Big French Boyfriend
6. Thank God She's Blind
7. Big Green Freak
8. Choose Me Oprah
9. Hot Toxic Love
10. The Legend of the Toxic Avenger
11. Evil is Hot
12. Bitch/Slut/Liar/Whore
13. Everybody Dies
14. You Tore My Heart Out
15. All Men Are Freaks
16. A Brand New Day in New Jersey

References

External links

* [http://www.thetoxicavengermusical.com/ Official site]