Cain Park to Present THE TOXIC AVENGER in June 2016

The City of Cleveland Heights and Cain Park Theater Artistic Director Ian Wolfgang Hinz announce the Cleveland Professional Premiere of THE TOXIC AVENGER will be produced in the Alma Theater for an extended run of four weeks (June 2-26) as part of Cain Park?s 2016 season. Nathan Motta directs this rock comic musical with musical direction by Jordan Cooper. THE TOXIC AVENGER, which is based on Lloyd Kaufman?s 1984 cult classic film, has book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music and lyrics by David Bryan. Five actors play 30 roles in "this toxic love story with an environmental twist."

Melvin Ferd the Third, an aspiring earth scientist, wants to clean up the most polluted town in New Jersey, Tromaville. Foiled by the 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. Affectionately known as Toxie, this new hero is a seven-foot mutant freak with superhuman strength and a heart as big as Newark. He?s out to save New Jersey, end global warming, and woo the blind librarian in town.

Originally released as a low-budget, campy, superhero movie, the film developed a huge cult following from a long and successful midnight movie engagement at the famed Bleecker Street Cinemas in New York City. That success generated three movie sequels along with a comic book series, cartoon series, graphic novel, and ultimately, the hit musical.

THE TOXIC AVENGER first premiered at George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, New Jersey on October 1, 2008, followed by an official opening on October 10. It ran for a scheduled four-week run under the direction of John Rando and made the leap to New York where it opened Off-Broadway at New World Stages on April 6, 2009. Winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical, it was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award for "Outstanding Book of a Musical as well as a Lucille Lortel Award for "Outstanding Musical."

Following its Off-Broadway run, THE TOXIC AVENGER went on to be produced in Canada and South Korea, as well as across America at such theatres as The Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas and the Manoa Valley Theater in Oahu, Hawaii. The original cast from the Alley production of THE TOXIC AVENGER got together in June of 2015 with the show's authors for a concert at 54 Below in New York City: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLF80C4246A734E550&t=12&v=voZhE0C6Oic

Cain Park, a municipally owned and operated summer performing arts park and one of the nation's oldest landmark outdoors entering its 77th season, is produced by the City of Cleveland Heights and is located on Superior Road between Lee and South Taylor roads.

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