From Press Release
Dancap Productions Announces Casting
for the Canadian Premiere of
THE TOXIC AVENGER MUSICAL TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Book & Lyrics by Joe DiPietro
Music & Lyrics by David Bryan
Based on Lloyd Kaufman’s "The Toxic Avenger"
OPENING HALLOWEEN NIGHT 2009
The Music Hall, Toronto
Toronto (September 1, 2009) – Dancap Productions Inc. is tickled green to announce the complete cast of the Canadian premiere of THE TOXIC AVENGER MUSICAL, opening 9pm on October 31, 2009, at The Music Hall. THE TOXIC AVENGER is an eco-monster musical comedy based on the 1984 Lloyd Kaufman classic cult film of the same name. Directed by Tony Award®-winner John Rando, THE TOXIC AVENGER stars Dora Award-winner Louise Pitre, Brittany Gray, Daren A. Herbert, Jamie McKnight and Evan Smith.
A Dancap discovery, Evan Smith will perform the role of Melvin Ferd the Third, a bullied weakling turned fast and fierce hero. A recent graduate of the George Brown Theatre School, Evan’s credits include Tony in West Side Story, Marius in Les Misérables, and Younger Brother in Ragtime.
Louise Pitre, Canada’s first lady of musical theatre, will play the dual-role of Mayor Babs Belgoody, the evil Mayor of Tromaville, and Ma Ferd, mother of Melvin Ferd the Third. Fresh off the stage of We Will Rock You, Brittany Gray is ready to tear hearts out as Sarah, the sexy blind librarian. Brittany, a working professional since her debut in the film Chicago at the age of 15, can also be seen in the upcoming film Amelia starring Hilary Swank and Richard Gere.
Jamie McKnight teams up with Daren A. Herbert to perform 26 different roles between the two. Jamie, who is no stranger to campy musicals (Aladdin the Magical Family Musical, Snow White and the Group of Seven), returns to his roots after touring with vocal group The Canadian Tenors throughout 2008. Vancouver’s Daren A. Herbert makes his Toronto stage premiere in THE TOXIC AVENGER.
"We are so pleased to present this extraordinary homegrown cast for the Canadian premiere of The Toxic Avenger," remarked Dancap Productions President Aubrey Dan. "When we held auditions, we were overwhelmed by the number of artists who turned out, and the breadth of their expertise. It made it very easy to cast only the best actors for the roles and stay true to our commitment of showcasing Canada’s world class talent."
Melvin Ferd the Third wants to clean up Tromaville, the most polluted town in New Jersey (just off Exit 13B on the Turnpike). Foiled by the on-the-take 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.
THE TOXIC AVENGER features book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change; Memphis, All Shook Up; Over the River and Through the Woods) and music and lyrics by David Bryan (Memphis, keyboardist and founding member of Bon Jovi).
Dancap Productions Inc. presents
THE TOXIC AVENGER MUSICAL
Book & Lyrics by Joe DiPietro
Music & Lyrics by David Bryan
Based on Lloyd Kaufman’s "The Toxic Avenger"
The Music Hall, 147 Danforth Avenue (at Broadview Avenue)
Featuring Brittany Gray, Daren A. Herbert, Jamie McKnight,
Evan Smith and Louise Pitre
Performances run Tuesday – Friday @ 8pm, Saturday @ 4pm & 8pm, Sunday @ 3pm & 7pm
Tickets range from $15 – $64 for preview performances and $20 – $69 for regular
performances and can be purchased in person at the box office of The Music Hall, by calling
416.644.3665 (toll free 1.866.950.7469) or online at www.ToxicAvengerToronto.com
Tickets On Sale NOW!
for performances from October 20, 2009 to January 3, 2010
Opening Night: Saturday, October 31, 2009
www.ToxicAvengerToronto.com