The production — directed by John Rando, who previously directed Opel in Urinetown — will begin previews at Off-Broadway's New World Stages March 18 with an official opening scheduled for April 6. Complete casting will be announced shortly.
The campy and gory new rock musical is based on Lloyd Kaufman's 1985 cult film of the same name. The New Jersey-set musical features songs by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) and Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan and a book by DiPietro.
The Toxic Avenger, according to press notes, "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 George Street cast included Tony Award nominee Opel (Urinetown) as Mayor of Tromaville, NJ, and newcomer Nick Cordero (seen in his native Canada in roles such as Jamie in The Last Five Years and Che in Evita) as Melvin Ferd the Third, who becomes the radioactive title character.
Jean Cheever and Tom Polum will produce the New York run. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Nancy Opel's Broadway credits include Fiddler on the Roof, Urinetown, Triumph of Love, Ring Round the Moon, Getting Away with Murder, Sunday in the Park with George, Anything Goes and Evita. Off-Broadway, the singer-actress has been seen in All in the Timing, Mere Mortals, Lives of the Saints, Hundreds of Hats, Don Juan in Chicago and Personals. She also starred in the title role of the national tour of The Drowsy Chaperone. Opel's screen credits include "The Ice Storm," "Second Skin," "Marcix," "Law & Order," "Ryan's Hope" and "One Life to Live."
New World Stages is located in Manhattan at 340 West 50th Street. For more information visit www.TheToxicAvengerMusical.com.
