David Saint, GSP artistic director, announced the 2008-09 George Street season, which will also include the previously reported world premiere of the season opener The Toxic Avenger, a musical, by Joe DiPietro and Bon Jovi's David Bryan.
The Toxic Avenger (Sept. 30-Nov. 2) is based on Lloyd Kaufman's classic cult film. DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) and David Bryan (keyboardist and founding member of New Jersey's Bon Jovi) share book and score credit. Tony Award winner John Rando (Urinetown, Summer Stars' Damn Yankees) will direct.
"Can a big, green mutant superhero find true love?" George Street asks. "Only in New Jersey. Remember "Little Shop of Horrors"? Another favorite B-movie goes musical in this smart, clever and entertaining new take on Lloyd Kaufman's cult-classic. 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. A toxic waste accident transforms him into The Toxic Avenger — New Jersey's own superhero — righting wrongs, beating bullies and romancing his ladylove, Sarah the Blind Librarian."
Saint will direct Laurents' "sophisticated comedy," to run April 14-May 10, 2009. Here's the tease from George Street: "What does a smart, funny star do when everything is turning into a bad joke on her?"
Laurents is the theatre and movie legend who penned the books to Gypsy and West Side Story, the screenplay to "The Way We Were," and who directed the current Broadway production of Gypsy. Conor McPherson's 2008 Tony Award nominee and Olivier Award winning Christmas ghost story The Seafarer, under the direction of Anders Cato, will play Nov. 18-Dec. 18.
Donald Margulies' drama about an artist and his muse, Sight Unseen, will play Jan. 20-Feb. 15, 2009.
The title for the fourth slot of the 35th season is still under consideration, and will be announced at a later date. It will run March 3-29.
George Street Playhouse is located at 9 Livingston Avenue in the heart of New Brunswick's dining and entertainment district. For more information contact the George Street Playhouse box office at (732) 246-7717 or visit the Playhouse website at www.GSPonline.org.
