NEXT TO NORMAL's Road to Bdwy Explored in Variety

The new Broadway musical Next to Normal began preview performances on Friday, March 27 at the Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street). The musical officially opens on April 15.

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. Variety has a detailed and informative article on the musical and its journey to Broadway which you can read by clicking here.

Starring Alice Ripley, J. Robert Spencer, Aaron Tveit, Jennifer Damiano, Adam Chanler-Berat, and Louis Hobson, Next to Normal features music by Tom Kitt and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey. Directed by Michael Greif (Rent, Grey Gardens).

Next to Normal is produced by David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo, and Second Stage Theatre. 

The Next to Normal Original Cast Recording will be available on Ghostlight Records beginning April 7 online and in stores on May 12.

Next to Normal received five Helen Hayes Award nominations for its Arena Stage engagement, including Outstanding Non-Resident Production, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Non-Resident Production (Alice Ripley), Outstanding Lead Actor in a Non-Resident Production (J. Robert Spencer), and Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Non-Resident Production (Aaron Tveit and Jennifer Damiano).

For its sold-out Second Stage Theatre engagement, Next to Normal won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Score and also received the following accolades: Lucille Lortel Award nominations for Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Featured Actor (Aaron Tveit), and Outstanding Lighting Design (Kevin Adams); Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Alice Ripley) and Outstanding Music; Outer Critics Circle Award nominations for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical and Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Alice Ripley); and a Drama League nomination for Outstanding Musical, among others.

Next to Normal will be performed at the Booth Theatre (222 West 45th street) on the following schedule: Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday - Saturday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm, and Sunday at 3pm & 7:30pm. Tickets, priced $25.00 - $115.00, will be available at www.Telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200.

For more information please visit www.NextToNormal.com.