Ripley, Spencer, Tveit and Damiano Are Next to Normal on Broadway Starting March 27

By Andrew Gans
March 27, 2009

Next to Normal, the acclaimed, contemporary new rock musical seen Off-Broadway at Second Stage and more recently at Arlington's Arena Stage, arrives on Broadway March 27 at the Booth Theatre.

Rent's Michael Grief, who directed both the Off-Broadway and Arena Stage productions, directs on Broadway as well. The Broadway production also boasts the entire Arena Stage cast: Alice Ripley (Tony nominee for Side Show), J. Robert Spencer (original cast of Jersey Boys), Aaron Tveit (Wicked, Saved), Jennifer Damiano (Spring Awakening), Adam Chanler-Berat and Louis Hobson. (Ripley, Tveit, Damiano and Chanler-Berat were also in the Second Stage Theatre production.)

Opening night is scheduled for April 15.

Next to Normal, which was penned by Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (book and lyrics), is "a contemporary musical that explores how one suburban household copes with crisis. . . . [The musical] shows how far two parents will go to keep themselves sane and their family's world intact," according to press notes.

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).

Ghostlight Records will release the Next to Normal cast recording April 7 (digital release) and May 12 (in stores). Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records president Kurt Deutsch and Grammy Award winner Joel Moss are producing the CD.

Broadway producers are David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo and Second Stage Theatre.

Show times are Tuesday at 7 PM, Wednesday-Saturday at 8 PM, Saturday at 2 PM and Sunday at 3 and 7:30 PM.

The Booth Theatre is located at 222 West 45th Street. Tickets, priced $25-$115, are also available by calling (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com.