Various online sources are revealing that American Idol finalist and Broadway belter Diana DeGarmo will be joining THE TOXIC AVENGER later this summer. While there has been no official word, sources close to the production have announced the news of her upcoming arrival. DeGarmo will replace Celina Carvajal who currently stars in the production, Carvajal was a temporary replacement in the hit musical.
Celina Carvajal assumed the role of Sarah, the sexy, blind librarian on Monday, June 15th. Original cast member Sara Chase left the production to create three roles in the musical The First Wives Club which is premiering at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego.
Diana DeGarmo shot to fame as runner-up on the popular television show "American Idol" in 2004. She is known for her amazing range and vocal prowess. Following her national television debut, DeGarmo released "Dreams" to radio, the best-selling single of 2004, and later a full-length album on RCA titled Blue Skies. DeGarmo's heightened profile afforded her the role of Penny Lou Pingleton in Hairspray on Broadway. The young actress also starred in the national tour of BROOKLYN The Musical as well as Maria in a regional production of West Side Story, Dorothy in OZ THE MUSICAL and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as part of the 2009 summer season of musicals produced by Lyric Theatre. Most recently, DeGarmo was featured on the initial season of CMT's reality program "Gone Country." She is now signed to John Rich's Production Company and currently recording a country-pop album in Nashville.
Featuring book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change), music by David Bryan(Bon Jovi) and direction by Tony Award winner John Rando (Urinetown), THE TOXIC AVENGER is playing an open-ended run at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).
THE TOXIC AVENGER stars Celina Carvajal, Nick Cordero, Demond Green* Nancy Opel and Jonathan Root. *Nicholas Rodriguez is currently playing Mr. Green's roles through July 19.
THE TOXIC AVENGER is a charming 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. The show also features the most memorable and unbelievable duet you'll ever see on any New York stage. Easily a thousand laughs.
The production team for THE TOXIC AVENGER includes: Beowolf Boritt (Scenic Design), David C. Woolard (Costume Design), Kenneth Posner(Lighting Design), Kurt Fischer (Sound Design), Mark Adam Rampmeyer(Hair & Make-Up Design), John Dods (Prosthetics & Special Effects Design), Rick Sordelet & David DeBesse (Fight Direction), Wendy Seyb(Choreographer), David Bryan & Chris Jahnke (Orchestrations) andDoug Katsaros (Music Director).
The performance schedule for THE TOXIC AVENGER is: Monday, Wednesday - Friday at 8PM, Saturday at 4 & 8PM and Sunday at 3 & 7:30PM. Tickets are $51.50 & $71.50 and may be purchased through TeleCharge at (212) 239-6200/www.telecharge.com.
