Original cast member Aaron Tveit will return to the Tony Award-winning musical Next to Normal on Monday, September 7 at 8:00pm. Tveit, who originated the role of Gabe in the off-Broadway and Broadway productions of the acclaimed musical, was on a leave of absence this summer to star in the World Premiere production of Catch Me If You Can.
Aaron Tveit received the 2009 Clarence Derwent and Helen Hayes awards for his performance in Next to Normal. His other Broadway credits include Wicked (Fiyero) and Hairspray (Link) and national tour credits include Rent and Hairspray. He can be seen in the upcoming film Howl opposite James Franco and in the film Ghost Town, as well as in the recurring role of Tripp Van Der Bilt on the CW's "Gossip Girl."
Winner of three Tony Awards including Best Score and Best Actress in a Musical, Next to Normal opened at Broadway's Booth Theatre (222 West 45th street) on Wednesday, April 15. Next to Normal features music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, and direction by Michael Greif.
With a thrilling contemporary score, Next to Normal is an emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other. The musical features Tony Award-winner Alice Ripley, J. Robert Spencer, Jennifer Damiano, Adam Chanler-Berat, and Louis Hobson. The role of Gabe is being performed by Kyle Dean Massey through September 6.
Ben Brantley of the New York Times calls Next to Normal "a brave, breathtaking musical. A work of muscular grace and power. It is much more than a feel-good musical; it is a feel-everything musical." Peter Travers of Rolling Stone raves, "Rock is alive and rolling like thunder in Next to Normal. It is the best musical of the season by a mile. Next time you think the Broadway musical is dead, head off to Next to Normal. It'll pin you to your seat." Joe Dziemianowicz of the New York Daily News proclaims it is "next to wondrous - hopeful and uplifting, Next to Normal is an exceptional show that says something meaningful and powerful." Adam Feldman of Time Out New York calls it "surprising and moving, a thoughtful, emotional musical for grown-ups" and Robert Feldberg of The Record raves that Next to Normal is "an exciting leap into the possibilities of musical theater."
Next to Normal opened at Off-Broadway's Second Stage Theatre on February 13, 2008 and was significantly reworked in a subsequent out-of-town run at Washington D.C.'s Arena Stage, where it opened on December 10, 2008. The musical's unusual trajectory from a New York Off-Broadway premiere to an out-of-town regional theatre engagement and then back to Broadway is unprecedented.
Next to Normal received 11 Tony Award nominations: Best Musical, Best Actress in a Musical (Alice Ripley), Best Actor in a Musical (J. Robert Spencer), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Jennifer Damiano), Best Original Score (Tom Kitt (music)/Brian Yorkey (lyrics)), Best Book of a Musical (Brian Yorkey), Best Director of a Musical (Michael Greif), Best Orchestrations (Tom Kitt/Michael Starobin), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Mark Wendland), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Kevin Adams), and Best Sound Design of a Musical (Brian Ronan).
