Audition Notice – Toxic Avenger The Musical
Auditions: Sun 19th May @ 2:00pm
Show dates: Mon 9th – Sat 14th September
About the show
Based on Lloyd Kaufman’s cult 1984 comedy film, The Toxic Avenger The Musical tells the story of the citizens of Tromaville who are crying out for a hero. Enter nerdy Melvin Ferd the Third, an aspiring earth scientist, determined to clean up the state’s major toxic waste problem. When a corrupt Mayor and her government goons get wind of his plans, they vow to stop this heroic feat. Melvin is attacked and tossed into a vat of toxic waste… transforming him instantly into “Toxie” – The Toxic Avenger, New Jersey’s first superhero! Toxie is a 7-foot mutant freak with superhuman strength and a supersized heart to match. His aims are to save heavily polluted New Jersey, end global warming, win the heart of the prettiest (blindest) librarian in town – and get home in time for dinner!
The show is in a similar style to Little Shop of Horrors and The Rocky Horror Show, and contains some adult themes so all cast need to be aged 18+. Playing ages are given in the character descriptions but this is flexible as long as they can play the ages given convincingly.
Show dates are Mon 9th – Sat 14th September 2024 with shows each evening at 7:30pm – please check that you are free on these dates before auditioning! Rehearsals will start in May and are currently scheduled on Sunday afternoons from 2pm to 5pm, and Monday and Wednesday nights at 7:30pm. Depending on progress we may also do some Friday nights if needed, and we will have a reduced number of rehearsals between Sat 27th July and Sat 17th August to give a break during the summer before a final 3-week push to the production week.
The Artistic Production Team
Paul Carr – Director: This is Paul’s 12th CADOS show as director, covering comedy plays, pantomimes and musicals, including Little Shop of Horrors and Avenue Q. He also regularly produces for other shows and has been overseeing the youth theatre plays and musicals for over 15 years.
Jackie Green – Producer: Jackie has been involved both on and off the stage at CADOS, including roles in “Pals”, “Seasons Greetings” and “Our House” and producing for “Guards, Guards” and “Cleopatra the Panto”. She is also the Secretary for the Hoghton Players and has been actively involved in a number of local societies.
Katy Bradley – Musical Director: Katy is the owner of KTB Music as well as being a professional singer and musician. She has performed in the orchestra for the majority of our CADOS and Youth Theatre musicals in the past 10 years, and following Avenue Q she and Paul conspired to form the KTB Music Theatre Chorus which meets in the Studio at Chorley Theatre each week and have performed in venues across Lancashire.
Lucy McManus – Choreographer: Lucy has been involved with Chorley Theatre from a young age, having come up through the Youth Theatre performing and choreographing in shows including “Back to the 80s” and “Grease” and with CADOS in pantomimes including “Cleopatra the Panto”. Since then she has turned professional, graduating with a first class degree in Musical Theatre and working across the country as a dancer and choreographer including stage productions and TV shows for the BBC and ITV, and was a contestant on “The Greatest Dancer”
Ruby Johnson – Asst Choreographer: Ruby has also come up through the ranks of Youth Theatre and has performed in shows at Chorley Theatre for both CYT and CADOS, including a lead role in “Waiting for Gateaux” last season. She is currently studying on the Professional Performance Programme at Runshaw College where she is currently performing in their production of Chicago.
Auditions
Auditions will be held at Chorley Theatre on Sunday 19th May at 2:00pm. If possible please register your interest by email to pcarruk@gmail.com and we can send you details of the taught singing piece ahead of time – but if you have not registered you can still just turn up on the day.
The auditions will consist of a singing and an acting audition. You need to bring an upbeat song in a rock/pop style as the majority of the show’s score is in a rock style and this will be a stand-alone audition piece. There will also be a short taught piece on the day (from the show) that will check how good you are at singing in harmonies with others as a group audition. There will be a short movement workshop to assess your co-ordination (there is no requirement for any formal dance training) and finally we will ask you to act in character for the parts you are auditioning for – if the part you are auditioning for has multiple characters (especially the “dudes” we will ask you to do a couple of different readings to look at your versatility in switching between characters. All playing ages are flexible and we may consider female cast as well as male for the “dudes”.
ALL the characters are over the top and larger than life, and as they are based on cartoon characters they should be filled with humour and character. There are 40+ costume changes in the show and all 5 parts are fast and energetic so you need to be able to move well and have good mobility. The Mayor uses her sexuality to get her own way and so is regularly all over the other characters and has some musical numbers wearing quite revealing outfits, and the “dudes” need to be able to portray a range of male and female characters (high heels can be provided if you don’t have your own!) and need to be able to create distinct characters for each of the parts that they play.
Above all it is a musical and all the parts are main roles – there is nowhere to hide on the vocals and we need strong singers who can pull off the big numbers in the show, as well as pulling together for the layered harmonies of the group numbers.
Characters
Mervin Ferd III / The Toxic Avenger (Toxie)
Always trying to be the hero, but he isn’t very good at it until he is turned into the Toxic Avenger. Determined to save New Jersey from toxic waste. He is a nerd but prone to bouts of rage in the face of corruption. Unattractive and sensitive. In love with Sarah.
Gender: Male Playing Age: 24 to 32 Vocal range: D4 – C6
Sarah The Blind Librarian
Sarah the Blind Librarian. The classic heroine. Very sexy and sensual. Always speaks exactly what’s on her mind. An aspiring writer of graphic romance novels.
Gender: Female Playing Age: 20 to 28 Vocal range: A3 – E5
Mayor Babs Belgoody / Ma Ferd / Nun
As the Mayor, she is corrupt and scheming. Accepts loads of cash in return for storing the toxic waste. Set on one day being the governor of New Jersey by any means necessary, and not afraid to use her sexuality to get her own way. Doubles as Toxie’s doting mother, and a cameo role as a nun during the opening number
Gender: Female Playing Age: 45 to 55 Vocal range: G3 – G5
First Dude
Appears as numerous supporting roles, both male and female, such as PROFESSOR KEN, SLUGGO the bully, LITTLE OLD LADY, and SHINEQUA the friend. Physically versatile with strong dialects.
Gender: Male (may consider Female) Playing Age: 20 to 30 Vocal range: A3 – D6
Second Dude
Appears as numerous supporting roles, both male and female, such as DR. FISHBEIN, BOZO the bully, SAL the cop, and LORENZO the hairdresser.
Gender: Male (may consider Female) Playing Age: 20 to 35 Vocal range: A3 – B5
