BWW Stage Mag THE TOXIC AVENGER The Musical - The Players Guild Theatre Stage Mag

JOSHUA ERICHSEN Producing Artistic Director

THE TOXIC AVENGER The Musical

Book and Lyrics by Joe DiPietro

Music and Lyrics by David Bryan

Based on Lloyd Kaufman’s film of the same name

Directed by
MAVIS JENNINGS
Choreography
KRISTIAN KORSGAARD
Music Director/Conductor
STEVE PARSONS
 
Scenic Design
JOSHUA ERICHSEN
Lighting Design
FRANKIE CASTROVILLARI
Sound Design/Board Operator
NICK NONNO
Costume Design
KATE JOSEPH
 
Managing Director
BETH KNOX
Production Stage Manager
BREANNA ANTONIADES
Technical Director
ROSS CARMICHAEL
Assistant Stage Manager
MARCUS CLASS
 
Guest Services Manager
TYRA GRISAK
House Managers
TYRA GRISAK, MOLLY MORIARTY, MISSY HAYS

"The Toxic Avenger The Musical” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com

 

 

Follow Us:

Song List

  • Who Will Save New Jersey?
  • Jersey Girl
  • Get The Geek
  • Kick Your Ass
  • My Big French Boyfriend
  • Thank God She's Blind
  • Choose Me, Oprah
  • Hot Toxic Love
  • The Legend Of The Toxic Avenger
  • Evil Is Hot
  • You Tore My Heart Out
  • All Men Are Freaks
  • A Brand New Day In Jersey

Setting:

A place between heaven and hell, filled with filthy air and dark despair: Tromaville, New Jersey

 

-There will be one fifteen minute intermission-

Cast

JORDAN POTTER
Melvin Ferd the Third / The Toxic Avenger
SKYLAR MILLER
Sarah
ELIZABETH DOMER
Mayor Babs Belgoody / Ma Ferd / Nun
MIKE BURKE
Bozo and others
ANGEL N VALENZUELA
Sluggo and others

The Band

Conductor/Keyboard - Steve Parsons

Reeds - Brad Herron

Guitar - Ryan McDermott

Bass - Jeremy Poparad

Drums - Scott thomas

 

 

Creative Team

JOSHUA ERICHSEN

Producing Artistic Director

BETH KNOX

Managing Director

STEVE PARSONS

Resident Musical Director

TYRA GRISAK

Guest Services Manager

BREANNA ANTONIADES

Production Manager/Stage Manager

NICK NONNO

Sound Designer/Board Engineer

FRANKIE CASTROVILLARI

Lighting Designer

TC MAVIS JENNINGS*

Director

KRISTIAN KORSGAARD

Choreographer

ROSS CARMICHAEL

Technical Director

Production Team & Front of House

COSTUME TEAM

Kate Joseph

Ellis Boyce

 

SET CONSTRUCTION

Ross Carmichael

Marcus Class

Roberto Fuentes

Michaela Muckelrath

Natalie Steen

 

BACKSTAGE

Anthony Antoniades

Matthew Heppe

Joseph Jones

Bill Joseph

Maxwell Lord-Fry

Fran Nichols

 

FRONT OF HOUSE

Ushers:

The Amiot Family

Diana Collum

Julie Connair

Pat Donald

Sam Dorto

Sandy Feilen

Krista Gibson

Ingrid Green

Barbara & Steve Hostetter

Hannah Jolly

Joe Lamancusa

Mary Jane Phillips

Hannah Roberts

Kathy Rogers

Sandy Rosetta

Jo Roten

Jennifer & Tim Rowles

Joyce Ryan

Nancy Shanklin

Carol Warner

Mary Ann White

Judy Whitman

Jill Williams

Karen Wilson

Laurie Zupp

 

Meet the Company

JORDAN POTTER

Melvin Ferd the Third / The Toxic Avenger
JORDAN POTTER - Melvin Ferd the Third / The Toxic Avenger Is thrilled to be back on the Player’s Guild stage for such a chaotic and hilarious show. Jordan is a graduate of The Ohio State University where he studied Mechanical Engineering. Since 2018 Jordan has done theater all across NE Ohio, some favorite credits include: Million Dollar Quartet (Carl Perkins), Ghost (Sam Wheat), Once (Guy), Evil Dead: The Musical (Scott), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph), and Heathers (Ram Sweeney). A huge thank you to his family and friends for the continual support, to the whole Players Guild production team and staff, and the NE Ohio theater community for giving him an escape where he can do the things he loves with so many talented people.

SKYLAR MILLER

Sarah
SKYLAR MILLER - Sarah is absolutely thrilled to be in her first show at Player’s Guild. She is a sophomore currently going to Kent State University, majoring in History Education with a minor in theater. She has worked with professional artists such as Kristin Chenoweth, Faith Prince, and Sierra Boggess. In her free time you can catch her singing opera with her cat. She started theater when she was 14, and has continued ever since. She has been seen previously in Into the Woods (Witch), Little Women (Jo March), and Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey). She can’t wait for you to “see” the show !

ELIZABETH DOMER

Mayor Babs Belgoody / Ma Ferd / Nun
ELIZABETH DOMER - Mayor Babs Belgoody / Ma Ferd / Nun is an actor, director, and educator. She just completed a year on the road as a Touring Actor/Director with Missoula Children's Theatre! Elizabeth is passionate about using the performing arts to inspire change, challenge minds, promote growth, and teach life skills. She is a graduate of the University of Mount Union with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Theatre Performance. She has worked throughout Northeast Ohio on productions such as Anything Goes (Reno Sweeney), Twelfth Night (Maria), and Quilters (Jody). Elizabeth enjoys time offstage on the golf course and with her cat, Bean.

MIKE BURKE

Bozo and others
MIKE BURKE - Bozo and others Is exhilarated to be back on stage at the Player’s Guild. He has a BA in Theatre from Ohio Northern University. Previously, he has appeared in: Million Dollar Quartet (Sam Phillips), Ghost (Carl), The Music Man (Harold Hill), Little Women (Mr. Brooke), Shrek (Farquaad), Next to Normal (Dr. Fein/Madden), and more. He hopes you enjoy the chaos of what’s about to ensue!

ANGEL N VALENZUELA

Sluggo and others
ANGEL N VALENZUELA - Sluggo and others Is honored and thankful for the opportunity. Native Mexican relocated from Los Angeles to Akron, started doing theater right after the pandemic in the summer of 2021 and hasn't stopped since, this is his first show with PG. Other notable roles : Rocky Horror Show (Trixie), RENT (Angel), Tiempo Muerto(Samuel), Hair (Woff), La SiempreViva (Dr. Espitia), Disaster The Musical (Scott), Spring Awakening (Ernst), Avenue Q (Nicky)

JOSHUA ERICHSEN

Producing Artistic Director
JOSHUA ERICHSEN - Producing Artistic Director Father of two amazing daughters, the oldest studying architecture, the youngest on her way to taking over his job. Husband to his dream girl wife for twenty years - they met at the PGT! Sibling to a brother and a sister, and son to parents, who, lucky for him, chose to take their children to live theatre and expose them to this amazing world of storytelling. Blessed beyond measure to have this amazing job and to be able to call the Players Guild Theatre his home for twenty-three years! During that time he has had the privilege of producing, directing and designing countless productions.  Favorite credits include, Players Guild: Titanic, Next To Normal, Jesus Christ Superstar, Memphis, Ragtime, Hunchback…, Assassins, Cabaret, Les Miserables, A Christmas Carol (’04-present), The Full Monty, A Few Good Men, 1776 and Jekyll & Hyde.  Ohio Shakespeare Festival: Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Nights Dream, Twelfth Night, The Comedy of Errors, and The Tempest.  Other credits include: Romeo and Juliet (Magical Theatre Co), Joseph… Dreamcoat (Natl. Tour), and served as producer for An Evening with George Takei, starring Mr. Takei.  Additionally, Josh is a magician/illusionist who created his own show. Josh is a graduate of Kent State University, and is a recipient of the Spotlight Award for Outstanding Contributions to Theatre. Love to my family and my beautiful wife and daughters for their unconditional love and never-ending support!

BETH KNOX

Managing Director
BETH KNOX - Managing Director

Beth is in her tenth season at the Players Guild Theatre.  She earned her degree in Business Management and Marketing from the Ohio State University.  Beth spent the majority of her career in management in the cosmetic and fashion industry in the Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and NYC markets for brands including Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, Yves St. Laurent, Paloma Picasso, and Giorgio Armani.  Her background also includes grant writing, event planning, and fundraising. Beth is a co-founder, Executive Producer, and playwright for Red Fig Productions.

STEVE PARSONS

Resident Musical Director
STEVE PARSONS - Resident Musical Director Steve is the Resident Musical Director at the Players Guild of Canton, having served in the same capacity at Carousel Dinner Theatre from 2004-2009, where his work received the 2006 Cleveland area Times Newspapers “Outstanding Musical Direction” award. Other credits include The Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach, Florida, The Ohio Shakespeare Company, Carnation City Players, and the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. Additionally, he provided new arrangements for Dean Pitchford’s official revised version of FOOTLOOSE, created new versions of the NUNSENSE scores for creator Dan Goggin, wrote original music and fight song arrangements for the hit video game COLLEGE SLAM, and performed in the “Tickestra” for the FOX animated television series THE TICK. Steve was also the arranger for the Grateful Dead musical CUMBERLAND BLUES, which was presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, and orchestrated the regional musical IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. An active composer, Steve has a Master’s degree in composition and numerous published symphonic pieces and choral works. His original musical version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL is published by Steele Spring Stage Rights, and has received an NYC Off-Off Broadway production, a fully staged production in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, numerous regional theatre performances across the United States, and is presented annually at The Players Guild. Steve arranged and orchestrated the hit LA musical LIFE COULD BE A DREAM and is a consultant and contributor to Defying Gravity, the biography of legendary songwriter Stephen Schwartz. He presently serves as an adjunct faculty member at Kent State University – Stark Campus in the areas of Musicology, Piano, Ensemble Direction and Conducting, and is a proud member of ASCAP and The Dramatists Guild of America.

TYRA GRISAK

Guest Services Manager
TYRA GRISAK - Guest Services Manager

Tyra is absolutely thrilled to be a part of this exciting season!  This is Tyra's seventh season with the Players Guild Theatre.  With a career in the Cosmetics Industry as a special event manager, make-up artist, and account coordinator, Tyra couldn't be prouder to be a part of the Players Guild Theatre staff as Guest Services Manager. The arts and dance have always been a passion of hers, and it is her sincere pleasure getting to know the numerous talented performers in our community, and the incredible Volunteers that give a hand towards the theatre's success.

BREANNA ANTONIADES

Production Manager/Stage Manager
BREANNA ANTONIADES - Production Manager/Stage Manager Breanna is starting her fourth season at the Players Guild and is excited to take on her new role as Production Stage Manager for the theatre! Prior to her work here, Breanna earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Studies with a concentration of Theatre Production and a minor in Theatre Performance from Kent State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She also worked as a theatre technician, stage manager, assistant director, and even performed in a few of the shows during her time at Kent State. While she has worked at a few other theaters in the area, the Guild has become her second home and she could not be happier that she gets to work in a career she is so passionate about. 

NICK NONNO

Sound Designer/Board Engineer
NICK NONNO - Sound Designer/Board Engineer Nick is a musician and visual artist from Canton Ohio. He is a graduate of Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science in Audio Recording. He plays bass for multiple local theatres as well as original bands. He is the owner & artist at Comet Wanderer Studios, a collaborative multimedia outlet that specializes in projection mapping, installation art, and sound design.

FRANKIE CASTROVILLARI

Lighting Designer
FRANKIE CASTROVILLARI - Lighting Designer Frankie joined the Players Guild family in the summer of 2019 with Rock of Ages and has been around ever since. By day Frankie works at Vincent Lighting Systems as a Project Manager and by night he is a lighting and set designer in the Cleveland/Akron area. In addition to his role as lighting designer here at Players Guild Frankie also serves on the Board of Directors for the Brecksville Theatre. Frankie’s work can also be seen at Cassidy Theatre, Magical Theatre Company, and Western Reserve Playhouse, to name a few.

TC MAVIS JENNINGS*

Director
TC MAVIS JENNINGS* - Director performed as a singer, actor and show creator with Cirque du Soleil on their world tours Quidam and Varekai. After more than 5000 performances and 18 years on the road, Mavis moved to Northeast Ohio in 2016 to pursue an MFA in Theatre for Returning Professional at Kent State University. He currently serves as Assistant Professor of Theatre and Theatre Director at Kent State University at Stark. Recent directing titles include, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Once – the musical, The Pirates of Penzance, The Fish Must Die and Together Again. Mavis is thrilled to make his Player’s Guild directing debut with this crazy, Toxic show… where springtime finds its home… even in New Jersey. * Member Actors Equity

KRISTIAN KORSGAARD

Choreographer
KRISTIAN KORSGAARD - Choreographer received his training at Marymount Manhattan College where he earned a BFA in Dance, Magna cum Laude. Kristian spent the next 12 years teaching dance in both Brooklyn and Queens while performing extensively in regional theater. Some favorite shows include A Chorus Line, Nunsense…Amen, Carousel, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Sweet Charity, The Will Rogers Follies, 42nd Street, Crazy for You and Annie as well as traveling to Alaska, Hawaii and through the Panama Canal performing for Holland America Cruise Lines. He also had one glorious year working as a dresser for Beauty & the Beast on Broadway. Having retired his dancing shoes, Kristian stayed in NYC for another 6 years working for a hedge fund group before moving closer to home in 2010 to open a gift shop in Hudson with his husband, Eric. Mavis… once again, you invited me to collaborate and boy has this one been fun! Thank you for always being so gracious, and letting me come out to play. I have to also thank this cast, and that includes Steve and Breanna. You’ve all come to this project with such a positive attitude and a willingness to work that it has been a joy to come to rehearsal every night. And thanks to Josh, Beth, and the Players Guild for saying, yes! I’m so thrilled to be a part of this community! And of course Eric, who puts up with all my nonsense.

ROSS CARMICHAEL

Technical Director
ROSS CARMICHAEL - Technical Director graduated from York College of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Theatre. Since then, he has worked professionally as an actor, a director, and in technical theatre. Technical credits: Technical Director (Gamut Theatre Group) Scenic Designer (Gamut Theatre: Hamlet; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; Every Christmas Story Ever Told; Pericles; A Streetcar Named Desire; TYA) Production Manager (Gamut Theatre, Powerhouse Apprentice Company); Carpenter (Ohio Shakespeare Festival, Gamut Theatre, York College of PA) Lighting Designer (Ohio Shakespeare Festival, Gamut Theatre) Directing credits: FoodPlay Productions.
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