Original Toxic Avenger Cast Recording Due May 5th!

BON JOVI’S DAVID BRYAN AND THE TOXIC AVENGER ROCK NEW YORK

OUTRAGEOUS, IRREVERENT THEATRICAL ADAPTATION
OF CULT CLASSIC FILM
FEATURES MUSIC AND LYRICS BY
DAVID BRYAN AND BOOK AND LYRICS BY JOE DIPIETRO

NEW YORK PREMIERE
AT
NEW WORLD STAGES
APRIL 6th
Original Cast Recording Due May 5th

Fairfax, VA (April 1, 2009) --- New Jersey’s first superhero, The Toxic Avenger, takes on New York when this uproarious musical opens at The New World Stages on April 6th. At his side will be fellow New Jerseyians David Bryan (Bon Jovi keyboardist and founding member), who wrote the rock music and lyrics to the new musical, and Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change) who wrote the book and lyrics. Called “sidesplitting” by Variety and heralded by the New York Times for “bringing audiences spontaneously to their feet,” the production is directed by Tony Award winner John Rando (Urinetown) and is based on Lloyd Kaufman’s cult classic horror/comedy film The Toxic Avenger, originally released by Troma Entertainment in 1985. The original cast recording of The Toxic Avenger will be available via all retail and digital outlets on May 5th. It includes the cast recordings of songs from the musical as well as a bonus track with David Bryan singing and playing “You Tore My Heart Out.”

After selling 120 million albums, winning a Grammy and hitting the pop and rock charts nearly 20 times with Bon Jovi, David Bryan creates a dynamic collection of rock songs for the stage in The Toxic Avenger. DiPietro, who also wrote the lyrics and book for the theatrical staging, couldn’t believe his luck when Bryan contacted him out of the blue about another project he was working on. As the two wrapped the project, “I said to David, ‘Remember that flick, The Toxic Avenger? How’d you like to turn it into a musical?’ and he immediately said ‘I love it. I’m in,” recalls DiPietro, “and thus was born The Toxic Avenger musical. David’s work is theatrical, rockin' and, well, freakin' fantastic.” Audiences agreed. The Toxic Avenger debuted last year in New Jersey, of course, to wildly ecstatic reviews and the #1 question at the concession stand, “Where can I get a copy of the CD”?

Time Life Senior VP Audio & Video Retail Mike Jason was in the audience one night during the New Jersey run and immediately sought out the producers with an offer to release the soundtrack. “The show is an instant prescription for fun,” he says. “It delivers side splitting laughs, a wonderful off the wall story, and a great set of rock songs.”

Armed with superhuman strength, a look not like any superhero ever seen before and a heart as big as Newark, The Toxic Avenger sets out to save New Jersey from polluters, end global warming and woo the prettiest, blindest librarian in town. The musical will make its New York premiere on April 6th at the New World Stages (home to Altar Boyz and ROOMS: A Rock Romance), located at 340 W. 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues.

About Time Life:

Time Life and the Time Life logo are registered trademarks of Time Warner Inc. and affiliated companies, used under license by Direct Holdings Americas Inc., which is not affiliated with Time Warner Inc. or Time Inc. Headquartered in Fairfax VA, Direct Holdings Americas Inc.'s history began in 1961 as Time Life a direct marketing division of Time Incorporated specializing in music and books. The business has been operated as a separate company since the mid-1970s when it relocated to Virginia, and has since grown to become one of the world’s largest direct marketers of audio and video products throughout North America, Europe and Australia. The Company has set the standard in the direct response industry by pioneering direct marketing techniques and building one of the most trusted and recognized brands in commerce. The Company now also sells its products through major traditional and non-traditional retailers around the world as well as via the Internet. The Company was sold in 2003 to private investors. Time Life has recently released the Grammy nominated cast recording of Gypsy (starring Patti LuPone), Annie: 30th Anniversary Cast Recording, and Ring of Fire.