The Toxic Avenger The MusicalOpening Date: Oct 2, 2017
Closing Date: Dec 3, 2017 (dates reflect Arts Theatre run) Air date: April 7, 2018 Medium: special screening Where to watch: BroadwayHD, Stage2View |
Stage Production Notes
Set in the mythical New Jersey town of Tromaville, The Toxic Avenger The Musical follows the story of Melvin Ferd the Third, who is tossed into a vat of radioactive waste and transformed into New Jersey’s very own superhero, The Toxic Avenger. In between beating bullies and ending global warming, Melvin attempts to seduce the local blind librarian Sarah.
The original film was produced by Troma Films, a production and distribution company famous for their low-budget, high gore films featuring gratuitous sex and violence. Directed by Troma Films co-founder Lloyd Kaufman, The Toxic Avenger film was released in 1984 and became a cult classic. It has spawned 3 sequels, a Marvel comic, and a cartoon series, Toxic Crusaders.
The Toxic Avenger was adapted into two independent musicals in 2004, including a student production called Toxic MusiKILL, which was developed with Kaufman’s blessing (he reportedly gave the students the rights for free).
In October 10, 2008, The Toxic Avenger The Musical premiered at the George Street Playhouse in New Jersey. Produced by Kaufman himself, the musical was composed by Memphis creators David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, and directed by John Rando. The cast included Nick Cordero as The Toxic Avenger, Nancy Opel as Mayor of Tromaville, and Audra Blaser as Sarah.
After a limited engagement in New Jersey, the production eventually transferred off-Broadway where it opened at New World Stages in April 2009. It won the 2009 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical.
A Korean production was launched Seoul in 2010.
The Toxic Avenger The Musical premiered in the UK at the Southwark Playhouse in April 2016. Produced by Aria Entertainment, the musical was directed by Benji Sperring, and featured Mark Anderson, Hannah Grover, Lizzii Hills, Marc Pickering and Ashley Samuel.
The production received warm reviews. While critics were bemused by the outrageous plot, they agreed the show was humorous and fun. Writing for The Reviews Hub, Richard Maguire described the rock musical as “ the most joyous musical currently playing on the London stage.”
The Southwark Playhouse production was nominated for 6 Off West End Awards.
The production was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017, before transferring to the London Arts Theatre with a new cast for a ten week in the fall of 2017.
The Toxic Avenger The Musical is available to license through Music Theatre International.
Set in the mythical New Jersey town of Tromaville, The Toxic Avenger The Musical follows the story of Melvin Ferd the Third, who is tossed into a vat of radioactive waste and transformed into New Jersey’s very own superhero, The Toxic Avenger. In between beating bullies and ending global warming, Melvin attempts to seduce the local blind librarian Sarah.
The original film was produced by Troma Films, a production and distribution company famous for their low-budget, high gore films featuring gratuitous sex and violence. Directed by Troma Films co-founder Lloyd Kaufman, The Toxic Avenger film was released in 1984 and became a cult classic. It has spawned 3 sequels, a Marvel comic, and a cartoon series, Toxic Crusaders.
The Toxic Avenger was adapted into two independent musicals in 2004, including a student production called Toxic MusiKILL, which was developed with Kaufman’s blessing (he reportedly gave the students the rights for free).
In October 10, 2008, The Toxic Avenger The Musical premiered at the George Street Playhouse in New Jersey. Produced by Kaufman himself, the musical was composed by Memphis creators David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, and directed by John Rando. The cast included Nick Cordero as The Toxic Avenger, Nancy Opel as Mayor of Tromaville, and Audra Blaser as Sarah.
After a limited engagement in New Jersey, the production eventually transferred off-Broadway where it opened at New World Stages in April 2009. It won the 2009 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical.
A Korean production was launched Seoul in 2010.
The Toxic Avenger The Musical premiered in the UK at the Southwark Playhouse in April 2016. Produced by Aria Entertainment, the musical was directed by Benji Sperring, and featured Mark Anderson, Hannah Grover, Lizzii Hills, Marc Pickering and Ashley Samuel.
The production received warm reviews. While critics were bemused by the outrageous plot, they agreed the show was humorous and fun. Writing for The Reviews Hub, Richard Maguire described the rock musical as “ the most joyous musical currently playing on the London stage.”
The Southwark Playhouse production was nominated for 6 Off West End Awards.
The production was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017, before transferring to the London Arts Theatre with a new cast for a ten week in the fall of 2017.
The Toxic Avenger The Musical is available to license through Music Theatre International.
Filmed Production Notes
The Toxic Avenger The Musical was filmed live during its run at the Arts Theatre. The cast included Ben Irish, Natalie Hope, Emma Salvo, Oscar Conlon-Morrey and Che Francis.
Sponsored by Broadway HD, The Toxic Avenger The Musical was first screened at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) on April 7, 2018. The screening included an in-person Q&A session with Lloyd Kaufman and Joe DiPietro.
Shortly after the C2E2 screening, The Toxic Avenger The Musical was available to stream on BroadwayHD.
The Toxic Avenger is currently available to view on BroadwayHD and Stage2View.
The Toxic Avenger The Musical was filmed live during its run at the Arts Theatre. The cast included Ben Irish, Natalie Hope, Emma Salvo, Oscar Conlon-Morrey and Che Francis.
Sponsored by Broadway HD, The Toxic Avenger The Musical was first screened at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) on April 7, 2018. The screening included an in-person Q&A session with Lloyd Kaufman and Joe DiPietro.
Shortly after the C2E2 screening, The Toxic Avenger The Musical was available to stream on BroadwayHD.
The Toxic Avenger is currently available to view on BroadwayHD and Stage2View.
The Toxic Avenger The Musical PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Arts Theatre, London
Producer: Hot Toxic Productions, Austin Shaw, Lloyd Kaufman, Bonnie Comley, Stewart F. Lane
Book and Lyrics: Joe DiPietro
Music and Lyrics: David Bryan
Director: Benji Sperring, Film: Nick Morris
Musical Director: Alex Beetschen
Choreography: Lucie Pankhurst
Scenic Design: Mike Lees
Costume Design: Takis
Lighting Design: Nic Farman
Sound Design: Andrew Johnson
Stage Manager: Sophie Mason, Ella Wheway, Kelly Evans
Cast: Ben Irish, Natalie Hope, Emma Salvo, Oscar Conlon-Morrey, Che Francis
Theatre: Arts Theatre, London
Producer: Hot Toxic Productions, Austin Shaw, Lloyd Kaufman, Bonnie Comley, Stewart F. Lane
Book and Lyrics: Joe DiPietro
Music and Lyrics: David Bryan
Director: Benji Sperring, Film: Nick Morris
Musical Director: Alex Beetschen
Choreography: Lucie Pankhurst
Scenic Design: Mike Lees
Costume Design: Takis
Lighting Design: Nic Farman
Sound Design: Andrew Johnson
Stage Manager: Sophie Mason, Ella Wheway, Kelly Evans
Cast: Ben Irish, Natalie Hope, Emma Salvo, Oscar Conlon-Morrey, Che Francis
Sources
Articles
Websites
- Jordan Brandes, “C2E2 2018: Lloyd Kaufman Talks Troma and The Toxic Avenger Musical,” That’s My Entertainment (April 7, 2018)
- BWW News Desk, “BroadwayHD Will Debut TOXIC AVENGER Musical At C2E2 Before Wide Release,” Broadway World (Feb 28, 2018)
- Kenji Fujishima, “BroadwayHD Acquires The Toxic Avenger The Musical,” TheaterMania (Feb 28, 2018)
- Andrew Gans, Kenneth Jones, “Urinetown's Nancy Opel to Star in Off-Broadway's Toxic Avenger,” Playbill (Jan 13, 2009)
- Kenneth Jones, “Toxic Avenger, the Rock Musical, Begins in NJ; Broadway's Opel Stars,” Playbill (Oct 1, 2008)
- Kenneth Jones, “No Glow: Toxic Avenger Won't Play Off-Broadway in Late 2008,” Playbill (Oct 21, 2008)
- Jim Knipfel, “The Toxic Avenger: A Brief History of Troma's Superhero Franchise,” Den of Geek! (April 11, 2018)
- Will Longman, “Review - The Toxic Avenger The Musical at the Arts Theatre,” London Theatre (Oct 3, 2017)
- Richard Maguire, “The Toxic Avenger The Musical – Arts Theatre, London” The Reviews Hub (Oct 3, 2017)
- Thomas Peter, “Joe DiPietro & David Bryan's The Toxic Avenger The Musical to Open in Korea,” Playbill (Aug 11, 2010)
- Stewart Pringle, “The Toxic Avenger The Musical,” Timeout London (July 13, 2017)
- Mark Shenton, “The Toxic Avenger The Musical to Transfer to London’s Arts Theatre,” Playbill (April 20, 2017)
- Georgia Snow, “The Toxic Avenger The Musical to transfer to the Arts Theatre,” The Stage (April 20, 2017)
- Paul Vale, “The Toxic Avenger The Musical review at Southwark Playhouse, London – ‘a madcap treat’” The Stage (April 27, 2016)
Websites
- BroadwayHD, “The Toxic Avenger The Musical,” Accessed via: https://www.broadwayhd.com/index.php/shows/watch/toxic_avenger#sthash.mhNBPs0j.dpbs
- UK Theatre Web Database, “Archive Listings for The Toxic Avenger The Musical,” Accessed via: https://www.uktw.co.uk/archive/musical/the-toxic-avenger/S1922182060/
- The Toxic Avenger The Musical The Musical, Accessed via: https://toxicavengermusical.co.uk/
- Troma Entertainment Inc., “The Toxic Avenger,” Accessed via: https://www.troma.com/films/the-toxic-avenger/
Written by Luisa Lyons (April, 2018)