Book and Lyrics by Joe DiPietro
Music and Lyrics by David Bryan
Based on Lloyd Kaufman’s The Toxic Avenger
Directed by Heidi McKerley
Musical Directed by S. Renée Clark
A Monster of a Musical Comedy! It’s a Toxic Love Story with an Environmental Twist!
The Toxic Avenger, winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical, is a hot toxic love story and laugh-out-loud musical that has it all—an unlikely hero, his beautiful girlfriend, a corrupt New Jersey mayor and two guys who play…well, everyone else…bullies, mobsters, old ladies, and stiletto-wearing back-up singers. Melvin Ferd the Third wants to clean up Tromaville, the most polluted town in New Jersey. 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, our 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. The Toxic Avenger will leave audiences laughing in the aisles as it rocks the house.
Download the Press Release
Length & Content
The Toxic Avenger runs about 2 hours, including a 10-minute intermission.
This play contains bawdy jokes (sexual innuendo) and adult language (including 2 uses of the f-word, uses of the s-word, and a song entitled “Bitch, Slut, Whore”) and is not appropriate for children. Teenagers may think you are the coolest parent ever if you bring them.
This show utilizes strobe lighting and fog effects.
Handicap seating limited for this production. Please call to reserve if needed.
From the Artistic Director
Winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical, The Toxic Avenger is a rockin’ hot toxic love story and musical comedy. Created by the dynamic writing duo behind the acclaimed musical Memphis, the book and lyrics are from Broadway veteran Joe DiPietro (author of the Off-Broadway and long-running Horizon hit I Love You, You’re Perfect Now Change), and music and lyrics are by Bon Jovi’s own David Bryan. Both born and bred in New Jersey, they jumped at the chance to team up on this adaptation of a campy cult movie set in the Garden State. The town of Tromaville is plagued by a corrupt mayor and her cronies and a mysteriously growing supply of toxic waste—if only there was an environmental super hero to save the day!
Enter the Toxic Avenger! I am not a huge super hero or monster movie fan, but I have been completely won over by Toxie and the comic crew who are chasing away the bad guys and the blues here at Horizon this winter. It’s a perfect kick off for Horizon’s 2016 season—a smart, funny tour-de-force for a tight ensemble of five powerhouse actor/singers. Leslie Bellair and Nick Arapoglou, playing the Mayor and Toxie, were part of our original cast of Avenue Q at Horizon, and here they team up with a trio of triple threat actors who rocked the Actor’s Express stage last season in Rent.
Horizon Artistic Associate, director Heidi McKerley, leads the comic charge with regular collaborator, musical director S. Renée Clark, back together after last summer’s third remount of Horizon’s multiple Suzi Award-winning sensation Avenue Q. They are right at home with DiPietro’s comedy, having directed his other smash I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change for three mountings at Horizon. Along with our resident designers Moriah and Isabel Curley-Clay on sets and costumes, and Mary Parker on lighting, they create the comic book world of The Toxic Avenger.
Everybody needs a super hero right now. Toxie is here to save the environment, make his world better and prove that good-hearted green geeks can get the girl and lead us to a brighter day. “Superheroes add purpose, meaning, and inspiration to a world often lacking in those qualities,” writes futurist Thomas Frey. “They tackle problems that are too tough for mere mortals to handle. They are better than we are. Sure they make mistakes, but we can always trust them to do what’s right in the end, even when it appears there are no right answers. They transcend politics, cross national, social, and geopolitical borders, and traverse race, ethnicity, and gender. They give hope to the downtrodden, inspiration to the oppressed, and a narrow window of escape for the beleaguered and exploited. Most importantly they make life fun again.”
May Toxie and friends make you laugh till you ache, give you a respite of hope, and inspire you to be your best super hero self. Do good, save the planet (or your neighborhood!) and hold high that glass that’s half full – and maybe you too will find it’s “a brand new day”!
—Lisa Adler, Producing Artistic Director
Performance Dates
January 29-March 13, 2016
Showtimes
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday at 8:00 PM
Saturday at 3:00 PM and 8:30 PM
Sunday at 5:00 PM
**Please note that Superbowl Sunday (February 7th) will have a 2:00 pm performance.**
Pricing
General Admission
- Tickets start at $25* on Wednesdays and Thursdays. (*plus 8% sales tax)
- Tickets start at $30* on Fridays, Saturday matinees, and Sunday matinees. (*plus 8% sales tax)
- Tickets start at $35* on Saturday nights. (*plus 8% sales tax)
- Prices are subject to change and will rise as performances fill up. GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY FOR THE BEST PRICES.
- SUBSCRIBE TO A 4- or 5-PLAY HORIZON SEASON to get the VERY BEST PRICES and RESERVED SEATING!
Bring your neighbors!
Group pricing is available for parties of 10+. Groups of 10-24 receive $3 off the general admission ticket price. Groups of 25+ receive $5 off the general admission ticket price. Call 404.523.1477 x111 or e-mail marketing@horizontheatre.com for more information.
Ticket prices are subject to change. Buy early for best pricing. 8% sales tax will be added to all ticket orders. Internet convenience fee added to all online orders. No refunds, exchanges, or late seating.
Cast
Melvin Ferd the Third/ The Toxic Avenger – Nick Arapoglou*
Sarah – Julissa Sabino*
Mayor Babs Belgoody/ Ma Ferd/ Nun – Leslie Bellair
White Dude – Austin Tijerina
Black Dude – Michael Stiggers*
Member Actors’ Equity Association
Creative Team
Director – Heidi McKerley
Music Director – S. Renée Clark
Scenic & Costume Designers – Isabel and Moriah Curley-Clay
Lighting Designer – Mary Parker
Sound Designer – Rob Brooksher
Props Designer – Kimberly Townsend
Stage Manager – Julianna Lee*
WABE City Lights: Lois Reitzes Talks to TOXIC’s own Nick Arapoglou!
The Dana Barrett Show: Dana Barrett hosts TOXIC’s Julissa Sabino
Sneak Peek Video
Photo Gallery
“I am so beyond impressed with this production…the actors, the set design, lighting, choreography…everything about it makes for a super fun evening out”-wanderlust Atlanta
“They’re infectious fun to watch!” —Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Nick Arapoglou, the exuberant and engaging star of its AVENUE Q a few seasons back, is a real kick in the title role.” —Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“The Toxic Avenger is arguably the most fun to be had at a local theater right now.”-ArtsATL
“Heidi Cline McKerley directs the hell out of this.”-ArtsATL
“Austin Tijerina and Michael Stiggers are as appealing as they’ve ever been.”-ArtsATL
“Leslie Bellair is in top form, with a rangy vocal vocabulary and superb comic timing.”-ArtsATL
“You’ll have tons of fun”–Altanta INTown
“[The cast] are total performers, and they lift you out of your seat with their energy, joy and talent.”-Altanta INTown
“This may be one of Horizon’s finest hours.” –Aquarius Magazine
Everyone will adore this edgy and uproarious musical with its five virtuosic singing, dancing, acrobatic actors”-Aquarius Magazine
“It is deliciously goofy and silly!”—axs.com
“Nick Arapoglou manages to be charming even while covered in green goo,”
—axs.com
“Julissa Sabino again proves herself to be one of the most charismatic young actors on the Atlanta theater scene, delivering screwball sexy with a knockout voice”—axs.com
“Unending energy!”—axs.com
Full Atlanta Reviews
- wanderlust Atlanta: Superhero + Bad ass + Lover=The Toxic Avenger
- Aquarius Magazine:The Toxic Avenger
- God4BandMe: Toxic Avenger, a Fun Theatre Experience
- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Horizon Unleashes Campy Kicks in The Toxic Avenger
- ArtsATL:Horizon’s “The Toxic Avenger” is one of the unsung super heroes of this theater season
- Atlanta INTown: The Toxic Avenger at Horizon Theatre
- Axs.com: Fun Comedies Onstage in Atlanta, The Toxic Avenger
- TheatreReview.com:Do the Hokey-Jokey
- Atlanta.net:Need a Good Laugh? See Horizon’s The Toxic Avenger {SPOILERS!!}
Interviews with The Toxic Avenger Team
- ATLRetro:Kool Kat of the Week: Nick Arapoglou Radiates
- Getaway for Grownups:The Toxic Avenger with Director Heidi McKerley
- GA Voice: The Toxic Avenger with Austin Tijerina
Off-Broadway Reviews
“If you are looking for a fun night out, head down to Little Five Points to see this musical at a great local theatre. This show is excellent and hilarious!!”
“Time is running out. Do not miss this great show!”
“That was a blast!”
“Best musical I’ve seen!”
“Absolutely wonderful!”
“Best show I’ve seen at Horizon!”
“Better than #SNL! Just sayin’. Had an amazing time.”
“GO SEE THIS PLAY!!! I promise you will LOVE it! I’m still finding myself chuckling a day later. Great actors in a really funny play. You will not be disappointed!”
“I especially enjoyed the ‘black and white dudes’ in their many different appearances.”
“Well performed. EXCELLENT music, acting, set, etc.”
“The actors are entertaining, the venue was perfect for Toxic’s quirky, campy style!”
“I laughed non stop!”
“Brilliant!”
“I thought the play was truly excellent. I went to see Book of Mormon the week before and Toxic Avenger gave me just as many laughs.”
“Fast paced, good actors, great scene changes, loved the set…just good theatre.”
“Go see this show. You won’t regret it!”
“GO! It’s a much fun as you’ll ever have in your all-too-brief life, people!”
“The FUNNIEST evening I have EVER had at the theatre!”
“FREAKIN’ FABULOUS!”
“Strong voices and choreography.”
“Funny, entertaining, great acting and singing.”
“Fantastic performers!”
“The actors are so versatile!”
“The singing, dancing, story-it was all excellent.”
“So incredibly good!”
“Go see The Toxic Avenger. Great musical with booming voices, fun choreography. Catch it!”
“An amazing and entertaining show.”
“I loved it!”
“Only [a few] more weeks left to catch the funniest show ever!”
“Treemendous! Even though there are no trees in it. :-)”
“Wow, wow, wow! The Toxic Avenger at Horizon Theatre Company is not to be missed. Big voices, heartfelt emotion and solid acting earn this production two thumbs up.”
“This was my first visit to Horizon Theatre; it exceeded my expectations and I laughed for a full 2 hours. It was entertaining, hilarious, and just plain fun.”
“Just saw The Toxic Avenger musical at Horizon and it was great! Funny, clever, silly, and all-around awesome.”
“Hard to describe the level of talent! We are so fortunate to have such great performers and productions like this.”
“The Toxic Avenger was awesome! Great cast, hilarious writing and constant surprises. HTC is one of the hidden gems in Atlanta’s art scene.”
“So much fun, comedy, and excellent singing in the show. Go see it before it closes.”
“The cast of Toxic Avenger seriously killed it last night. I knew zero about it going in and already want to see it again.”
“The show was amazing!!!!!!”
“Great show!”
“Go see this show. You’ll have fun. I promise.”
“The show tonight was amazing! It’s a must do it you love theatre. Incredible singers in this production!”
“It is great! Fantastic cast. Very funny. Go see it Atlanta.”