International Premiere of Next to Normal Opens in Oslo Sept. 3

By Adam Hetrick
03 Sep 2010

Heidi Gjermundsen Broch
Heidi Gjermundsen Broch
Photo by Fredrik Arff

Next to Normal, the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical about a family in crisis, opens Sept. 3 at Oslo's Norske Teatret. The Norwegian production marks the musical's first bow beyond the current Broadway production.

Svein Sturla Hungnes directs the Oslo staging that will be presented through Dec. 22. Next to Normal, which is performed in Norwegian, is produced in Oslo with a completely new creative team.

Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (book/lyrics) penned the musical, which earned the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2009 Tony Award for Best Score.

Kitt told Playbill.com that both he and Yorkey traveled to Oslo Sept. 1 to attend the Norske Teatret production, which he described as "fantastic. We are very excited about it," he added.<p>

Heidi Gjermundsen Broch stars as Diana, a mother coping with mental illness. The role earned original Broadway actress Alice Ripley a Tony Award. The cast also includes Jon Bleiklie Devik as Dan, Frank Kjosås as Gabe, Charlotte Frogner as Natalie, Thomas Bye as Henry and Lasse Kolsrud as Dr. Fine/Dr. Madden.

The design team includes Even Børsum (scenic design), Unni Walstad (costume design), Ola Bråten (lighting design) and Atle Halstensen (musical director).

Visit Playblog to watch videos from the Norwegian production.

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.

Next to Normal recouped its $4 million Broadway investment last spring and will launch a national tour Nov. 23 at the Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre with Ripley reprising her performance.

 

For further information visit DetNorskeTeatret.