Next to Normal Headed to Broadway's Longacre Theatre
The Broadway production will feature Alice Ripley, J. Robert Spencer, Aaron Tveit, Jennifer Damiano, Adam Chanler-Berat and Louis Hobson, all of whom appeared in the show’s recent production at Washington DC’s Arena Stage.
Next to Normal, which features a 30-song score with music by Tom Kitt and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, tells the story of a family and how it deals with the mother’s mental illness. The show began life at Second Stage, where it opened on February 13, 2008, with a cast that included Ripley, Brian d'Arcy James, Tveit, Damiano, Chanler-Berat and Asa Somers.
After undergoing revisions, Next to Normal was remounted at Arena Stage from November 21 to January 18 with Jersey Boys original star J. Robert Spencer replacing James now starring in Shrek and Louis Hobson replacing Somers. The DC production received excellent reviews, and the cast recorded the show on February 12 for release on the Sh-K-Boom label.
“Anyone who has been involved with the creation of an original musical knows that much of the work happens in the rewriting,” says lead producer David Stone. “From the day after Next to Normal opened off-Broadway through opening night at Arena Stage, Tom Kitt, Brian Yorkey and Michael Greif were committed to improving and rewriting this show with a level of dedication and focus I have seldom seen from a creative team. The path to Broadway for Next to Normal has been highly unconventional and, in retrospect, the best thing that could have happened to this musical.”
The news release announcing the Broadway engagement noted that “in order to maintain the necessary intimacy for this six-person musical, the second balcony of the Longacre Theatre will be closed for the entire run of Next to Normal, providing an intimate setting of 820 seats."
Next to Normal will feature set design by Mark Wendland, costume design by Jeff Mahshie, lighting design by Kevin Adams, and sound design by Brian Ronan. Musical staging is by Sergio Trujillo and musical direction by Charlie Alterman. Orchestrations are by Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt and vocal arrangements by AnnMarie Milazzo.
The Broadway mounting of Next to Normal will be produced by David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo and Second Stage Theatre.