Photo Coverage: TOXIC AVENGER in the Studio!

Featuring book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) and music by David Bryan (Bon Jovi), The Toxic Avenger will begin performances on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Opening Night is set for Monday, April 6th.

Jean Cheever and Tom Polum, will produce The Toxic Avenger, the upcoming new musical about New Jersey's first superhero. Joining the previously announced Nancy Opel in the cast are Sara Chase, Nick Cordero, Demond Green and Matt Saldivar. Ms. Opel, Mr. Cordero and Mr. Green all starred in the George Street Playhouse production of the show, while Ms. Chase appeared in the initial workshop production. Tony Award-winner John Rando directs.

Based on the classic 1985 cult film by Lloyd Kaufman, The Toxic Avenger premiered this past fall at The George Street Playhouse, where the show became the biggest grossing musical in the theatre's 34 year history. Wrote Peter Filichia, critic for the New Jersey Star-Ledger, "Considering the response that The Toxic Avenger received on Friday night, the building must now have many cracked walls from all the explosive applause and laughter."

The performance schedule for The Toxic Avenger is: Monday, Wednesday - Friday at 8PM, Saturday at 2 & 8PM and Sunday at 3 & 7PM. Tickets are $51.50 & $71.50 and may be purchased through TeleCharge at (212) 239-6200/www.telecharge.com.

For further information and fun online content, please visit the show's official web site (www.TheToxicAvengerMusical.com).

The Toxic Avenger 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 team of David Bryan (keyboardist and co-founder of the legendary band Bon Jovi) and Joe DiPietro (creator of the mega-long-running international hit I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) have also written Memphis, which premiered to critical raves at La Jolla Playhouse and was recently named "Best Musical" by The San Diego Theatre Critics Circle. A second production is currently playing at Seattle's Fifth Avenue Theatre. The Toxic Avenger marks Bryan and DiPietro's second collaboration.

Photos by RD /Dziekan /Retna Digital