From Marissa Coronado
IN TROMA WE TRUST
The Toxic Avenger lives in a junkyard, mops up crime in his city, made sushi of the evil Fish Man and even battled the Devil. Can he survive musical theater?
George Street Playhouse is betting he can. “The Toxic Avenger,” a new musical based on the 1986 cult film by Lloyd Kaufman, will open the New Brunswick theater’s 2008-2009 season this fall.
1986 film “The Toxic Avenger.” A new musical based on the cult film will open the New Brunswick theater’s 2008-2009 season this fall.
The Toxic Avenger lives in a junkyard, mops up crime in his city, made sushi of the evil Fish Man and even battled the Devil. Can he survive musical theater?
George Street Playhouse is betting he can. “The Toxic Avenger,” a new musical based on the 1986 cult film by Lloyd Kaufman, will open the New Brunswick theater’s 2008-2009 season this fall.
Toxie hits BroadwayWorld — talk about it!
Premieres on George Street
New works by Laurents, DiPietro on playhouse’s slate for 2008-09
Monday, July 14, 2008
BY PETER FILICHIA
Star-Ledger Staff
In announcing the George Street Playhouse’s 2008-09 season, artistic director David Saint included a nice birthday present for Arthur Laurents.
Laurents, who wrote the book for “West Side Story” in 1957 and “Gypsy” in 1959, turns 90 today . However, he’s never stopped writing, and Saint will stage the playwright’s newest work, “New Year’s Eve,” at the New Brunswick theater. The world premiere will conclude a five-production season.
“I’ve worked hard to pick shows that will appeal to all kinds of theatergoers,” says Saint, who is about to start his 11th season. “I’m so glad when not only long-time subscribers are telling me what their favorite productions have been, but the waiters and bartenders in town tell me theirs — and that they’re always completely different shows.”
Saint starts 2008-09 with a world premiere, too. As previously announced, “The Toxic Avenger” will play Sept. 30-Nov. 2. It’s a musical based on the 1985 movie of the same name in which a green mutant superhero finds love in a small Jersey town. The book and lyrics are by Joe DiPietro, whose musical “I Love You! You’re Perfect! Now Change!” finishes a 12-year off-Broadway run at the end of this month. The music is by David Bryan, keyboardist and founding member of Bon Jovi.
“They’re both Jersey boys,” says Saint, “and the show does have a Jersey sense of humor. It’s the funniest script of a new musical that I have ever read,” he says, before stressing again, “Ever. Once I read it and heard the songs, I immediately sent it to John Rando, who directed ‘Urinetown,’ because it has the same sensibility. I’m happy to say he loved it and signed on to do it.”
Conor McPherson’s “The Seafarer” receives its New Jersey premiere Nov. 18-Dec. 18. The play, which was nominated for a 2008 Tony, tells of a group of Irish card players who are visited by no less than the devil. It will be directed by Anders Cato, who staged “Doubt” at the playhouse last year.
“It takes place on Christmas Eve, but this is a very different kind of Christmas show from ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’” says Saint. “I’m an ex-seminarian, so it certainly appealed to my demented sense of humor.”
Donald Margulies’ “Sight Unseen” plays Jan. 20-Feb. 15, 2009. The 1992 drama tells of a wildly successful artist who decides to visit the subject of one of his first paintings.
“I’d planned to stage this last season,” says Saint, “but then I got a call that Rosemary Harris was suddenly available to star in a one-woman show, so I postponed. Now I’m glad I’ll finally get the chance to produce and direct it.”
As has become his practice, Saint is leaving one slot open — “just in case something really wonderful comes along,” he says. The TBA is scheduled for March 3-29, 2009.
Then comes the Laurents play, “New Year’s Eve” (April 4-May 10, 2009). It involves a famous actress, her husband and their daughter who are looking forward to the upcoming year. Then they learn during the waning hours of the old year that something wonderful — and something horrible — is happening. Saint will stage the work by his mentor Laurents, who will see his ninth work staged at George Street since Saint arrived in 1998.
“When I arrived 10 years ago,” Saint says, “I didn’t know if the kind of theater I wanted to do would be possible or viable. It certainly has, partly because New Brunswick has become even more vibrant. On the nights when I leave my office at midnight, people are still on the streets and cabs are pulling up to the new hotel across the way.” Saint hopes that some of them will drop into the George Street Playhouse during 2008-09.
The George Street Playhouse is at 9 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick. Subscription packages are now available for three plays ($81-$162) or five plays ($125-$245). Single tickets for “The Toxic Avenger” ($28-$75) are available now; individual tickets for other shows ($28-$64) will go on sale on Sept. 9. Call (732) 246-7717 or visit GSPonline.org
George Street Announces 2008-2009 Season
By: Brian Scott Lipton · Jul 14, 2008 · New Jersey
The George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick has announced four of its five selections for its 2008-2009 season.
Up first will be Joe DiPietro and David Bryan’s new musical The Toxic Avenger, based on the 1980 film of the same name, to run September 30-November 2. The production, which will officially open on October 10, will be directed by John Rando. The musical focuses on Melvin Ferd the Third. After being tossed into a vat of radioactive goo, he becomes The Toxic Avenger, a New Jersey superhero who is determined to right wrongs, beat up bullies, and seduce his lady love, Sarah the Blind Librarian.
The season will continue with Conor McPherson’s drama The Seafarer, directed by Anders Cato (November 18-December 18); Donald Margulies’ award-winning drama Sight Unseen (January 20-February 15); and the world premiere of Arthur Laurents’ comedy New Year’s Eve, directed by David Saint (April 14-May 10).
For more information, call 732-246-7717 or visit www.GSPonline.org.
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