Musical comedy opens Nov. 19 for three-day run
UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Director Bill Mitas, instructor in theatre arts at Penn State New Kensington, has selected a student cast for the three performances of the fall stage production of the rock musical, ”The Toxic Avenger.”
The cast, currently in rehearsal, features -- Colin Bibza as Melvin Ferd the Third and Toxie; Raven Terrill as Sarah; Sam Kravik as Mayor; and Laura Gensamer as Ma Ferd. In addition to the main characters, the cast includes Jonathan McCabe, Nathan Traini, Majid Elshorafa, Juliann Motosicky and Ian Challender.
The comedy focuses on Melvin Ferd the Third, the town nerd who takes an involuntary dip in a vat of toxic waste after raising concerns about the dubious nature of the mayor’s waste management strategies. In an auspicious turn of events, he emerges from the vat as the Toxic Avenger, a deformed but cut Superhero, who seeks vengeance on just about every reprobate in the area. Also known as Toxie, Melvin is out to save his hometown of Tromaville from the duplicitous mayor and his morally bankrupt minions. The love interest of the socially inept Melvin is Sarah, the beautiful and blind librarian, who sees Toxie as a hunk of virulent love. The show is geared to mature audiences.
The play is based on the 1984 film of the same name. Music and lyrics are by David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, who also wrote the book for the movie. The production opened off-Broadway in 2009 and ran for 300 performances. It earned the Outer Critics Award for Best New Off-Broadway Musical.
The campus production will run for three days, Nov. 19 to 21, in the Forum Theatre. The curtain rises at 8 p.m. each night.
For more information, call 724-334-6032.
Cast and Crew
William R. Mitas -- director; Beth Minda -- vocal coach; Juliann Motosicky -- choreography
Colin Bibza -- Melvin Ferd the III/Toxie
Raven Terrill -- Sarah
Sam Kravik -- Mayor
Laura Gensamer -- Ma/Nun/ Judy/ Shinequa/Little Girl (Rescued Cat) /Little Old Lady
Jonathan McCabe -- White Dude/ Folk Singer/Bozo/CoCo/Thug
Nathan Traini -- Black Dude/Sluggo/Professor Ken/Jazmin/Lorenzo
Majid Elshorafa -- Doctor/ Sal the Cop/Waste Management Exec/Fred (the Local Guy) /Lamas
Juliann Motosicky -- Old Lady(Edna Ferbert)/Diane
Ian Challender -- Juan/Hip Dude/ CSI Guy/Waste Management Exec/Hooker/Toxie Junior