Next to Normal, which recouped its $4 million investment last spring, will launch a national tour Nov. 23 at the Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre. Performances are scheduled there through Jan. 2, 2011. Dates and venues have now emerged for stops in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Chicago and St. Paul.
Ripley earned a Tony Award for her performance as a tormented mother struggling with mental illness. She originated the role of Diana in the Off-Broadway debut of Next to Normal and recreated the role on Broadway at the Booth Theatre to acclaim in 2009. She departed the Broadway production July 18.
Additional casting for the tour has not been announced. The current tour itinerary for Next to Normal follows:
Los Angeles, CA (Nov. 23-Jan, 2011, at the Ahmanson Theatre)
Denver, CO (Jan. 4-16, 2011, at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House)
San Diego, CA (Jan. 18-23, 2011, at the Balboa Theatre)
San Francisco, CA (Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2011, at the Curran Theatre)
Seattle, WA (Fed. 22-March 13, 2011, at the 5th Avenue Theatre)
Des Moines, IA (March 15-20, 2011, at the Civic Center)
Providence, RI (March 22-27, 2011, at the PPAC)
Hartford, CT (March 29-April 3, 2011, at the Busnhell)
Pittsburgh, PA (April 5-10, 2011, at the Benedum Center)
St. Louis, MO (April 12-24, 2011, at the Fox Theatre)
Chicago, IL (April 26-May 8, 2011, at the La Salle Bank Theatre)
St. Paul, MN (May 10-22, 2011, at the Ordway)
Cleveland, OH (June 7-19, 2011, at the Palace Theatre)
Philadelphia, PA (June 21-26, 2011, at the Academy of Music)
Washington, DC (June 28-July 10, 2011, at the Eisenhower Theatre)
Charlotte, NC (July 12-17, 2011, at the Knight Theater)
Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (book/lyrics) penned Next to Normal, which puts a woman's struggle with bi-polar disorder and depression center stage. Next to Normal also explores the raw emotion of a family in crisis. The writers earned the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2009 Tony Award for Best Score. Kitt was also Tony-honored for Best Orchestrations.
Under the direction of Michael Greif, Next to Normal arrived on Broadway in March 2009 following an Off-Broadway run at Second Stage and a regional engagement at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.
The Broadway production features set design by Mark Wendland, costume design by Jeff Mahshie, lighting design by Kevin Adams and sound design by Brian Ronan. The creative team also includes Sergiio Trujillo (musical staging), Charlie Alterman (musical direction), Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt (orchestrations) and AnnMarie Milazzo (vocal arrangements).
Broadway producers are David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo and Second Stage Theatre.
The current Broadway cast features husband and wife actors Jason Danieley (Dan) and Marin Mazzie (Diana), as well as Meghann Fahy (Natalie), Kyle Dean Massey (Gabe), Adam Chanler-Berat (Henry) and Louis Hobson (Dr. Madden).
Next to Normal currently plays the Booth Theatre. Visit NexttoNormal.
