PHOTO CALL: Next to Normal Opening Night

By Ernio Hernandez
February 20, 2008

Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey's new musical, Next to Normal, opened Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre Feb. 13.

Alice Ripley and Brian d'Arcy James co-star in the Michael Greif staging of the musical. Previews began Jan. 16, and the show recently extended its run through March 16.

Featuring music by Kitt (High Fidelity) with a book and lyrics by Yorkey (Making Tracks), Next to Normal "explores how far two parents will go to keep themselves sane and their world intact," according to show notes. "How does an almost average family navigate today's over-stimulated and over medicated world? In this darkly funny and haunting new musical, one suburban household confronts its past and its future."

Joining Ripley and James in the cast are Adam Chanler-Berat, Jennifer Damiano, Asa Somers and Aaron Tveit.

The cast and friends celebrated the opening night at Junior's in New York City. Here are some photos from the evening:

Jennifer Damiano, Adam Chanler-Berat, Asa Somers and Aaron Tveit

Michael Greif and Anthony Rapp		Daphne Rubin-Vega and Marian Seldes

Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt

All photos by Anita Shevett.