By Andrew Gans
29 May 2009

Celina Carvajal

Celina Carvajal, one of the contestants of MTV's "Legally Blonde, the Search for the Next Elle Woods," will step into the role of Sarah, "the sexy blind librarian," in the new Off-Broadway musical The Toxic Avenger June 15.

Carvajal will succeed original cast member Sara Chase, who is leaving the production to create three roles in The First Wives Club at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego.

Carvajal's Broadway credits include Tarzan, Dracula, 42nd Street and Cats.

The Toxic Avenger also features Nancy Opel, Nick Cordero, Demond Green and Matt Saldivar. The production — directed by John Rando, who previously directed Opel in Urinetown — plays Off-Broadway's New World Stages.

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 producers, "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 creative team also includes Beowolf Borritt (scenic design), David C. Woolard (costume design), Kenneth Posner (lighting design), Kurt Fischer (sound design), Mark Adam Rampmeyer (hair and make-up design), John Dods (prosthetics and special effects design), Rick Sordelet and David DeBesse (fight direction), Wendy Seyb (choreographer) and Doug Katsaros (music director). Scott Taylor Rollison is the production stage manager.

Jean Cheever and Tom Polum produce the New York run.

New World Stages is located in Manhattan at 340 West 50th Street. For tickets, priced $51.50 & $71.50, call (212) 239-6200 or visit www.telecharge.com. For more information visit www.TheToxicAvengerMusical.com.