Root has assumed the role of White Dude, replacing original cast member Matthew Saldivar. He joins a cast that features Celina Carvajal, Nick Cordero, Demond Green and Nancy Opel. Nicholas Rodriguez is currently playing Green's roles through July 19.

Root has been seen in the Broadway and Las Vegas productions of Avenue Q, as well as in Gary Griffin's production of A Flea in Her Ear and the regional productions of Les Miserables, Romeo and Juliet and Waiting for Godot.

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 a charming love story and laugh-out-loud musical that has it all — an unlikely hero, his beautiful girlfriend, a corrupt New Jersey mayor and two guys who play…well, everyone else…bullies, mobsters, old ladies, and stiletto-wearing back-up singers."

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 call (212) 239-6200 or visit www.telecharge.com. For more information visit www.TheToxicAvengerMusical.com.