Off-Broadway Musical Toxic Avenger to Arrive in Toronto in October

By Adam Hetrick
07 Jul 2009

The Toxic Avenger, the new Off-Broadway musical from Joe DiPietro and David Bryan, will make its Canadian premiere at Toronto's Music Hall on Halloween.

Tony-winning director John Rando (Urinetown), who helmed the current Off-Broadway production of Avenger, will repeat his duties for the Toronto run. The Toronto engagement intends to work with the current Off-Broadway design team, but will feature an all-Canadian cast and band to be announced at a later date.

Dancap Productions produces the Canadian premiere, which will play the 998-seat Music Hall, which is currently being renovated for the production.

The Toxic Avenger features music and lyrics by Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan (Memphis), and book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change; Memphis).

Based on the 1984 Lloyd Kaufman cult film, press notes for Toxic Avenger read: "Melvin Ferd the Third wants to clean up Tromaville, the most polluted town in New Jersey (just off Exit 13B on the Turnpike). Foiled by the on-the-take mayor's bullies, Melvin is dumped into a vat of radioactive toxic waste, only to reemerge as The Toxic Avenger New Jersey's first superhero."

The Toxic Avenger opened Off-Broadway at New World Stages April 6 following a world-premiere engagement at New Jersey's George Street Playhouse.

Tickets for the Toronto premiere will begin sale Aug. 7. For tickets, visit Dancaptickets.