Next to Normal Makes Regional Debut at Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati Sept. 7 | Playbill

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News Next to Normal Makes Regional Debut at Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati Sept. 7 The professional regional premiere of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal, starring Jessica Hendy and Mark Hardy, begins performances Sept. 7 at the Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati.

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Jessica Hendy

D. Lynn Meyers directs the musical — about an American family attempting to hold it together under the strain of mental illness — which has a Tony Award-winning score by Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (book and lyrics). Next to Normal will run through Sept. 25.

Hendy, who has appeared on Broadway in Aida, Cats and Amour, stars as Diana Goodman opposite Hardy (Broadway's Les Miserables, Titanic) as Dan Goodman.

Completing the cast are recent Cincinnati Conservatory of Music graduate Mia Gentile as Natalie Goodman, Nick Cearley (All Shook Up, And Then I Wrote A Song About It) as Henry, Michael Schwitter (Jesus Christ Superstar) as Gabe and EST veteran Charlie Clark as Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine.

The nearly sung-through rock musical examines a woman struggling with bipolar disorder and depression, as her family strains to hold its center. It takes a candid look at prescription drug abuse, suicide, grief and the notion of what a normal American family really is.

Designing the production are Reba Senske (costume design), Brian C. Mehring (lighting design) and Chuck Hatcher (sound design). Next to Normal has choreography by Patti James and musical direction by Scot Woolley. Next to Normal arrived on Broadway March 27, 2009, and officially opened April 15, 2009, at the Booth Theatre following an Off-Broadway run at Second Stage and a regional engagement at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. It ended its Broadway run Jan. 16, 2011. 

The Broadway production earned Tony Awards for Best Score (Kitt/Yorkey), Best Orchestrations (Kitt/Michael Starobin), Best Actress (Alice Ripley) and received Tony nominations for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Featured Actress (Jennifer Damiano), Best Actor (J. Robert Spencer), Best Direction (Michael Greif), Best Scenic Design, Best Lighting Design and Best Sound Design. It was also awarded the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

For tickets, phone (513) 421-3555 or visit CincyEtc.com.

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Jessica Hendy, Michael Schwitter and Mark Hardy Photo by Ryan Kurtz 2011
 
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