The Tom Kitt Band Plays Bitter End 6/1, Chase, Colella and Stern to Guest

The Tom Kitt Band, led by Next to Normal's Tony-nominated composer Kitt and featuring Damien Bassman, Michael Aarons, and Dan Grennes, will appear at The Bitter End on Monday, June 1 at 10:15 pm. The concert will also feature guest performances from Broadway performers Will Chase, Jenn Colella and Rachel Stern who all starred in Kitt's first Broadway musical, High Fidelity.

The Bitter End is located at 147 Bleeker Street (between Thompson St. and LaGuardia Place). Cover is $7.00. For more information on The Tom Kitt Band, please visit www.tomkittband.com.

Next to Normal has been nominated for 11 Tony Awards: 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).

Ben Brantley of the New York Times calls Next to Normal "a brave, breathtaking musical. A work of muscular grace and power." 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 meaning and powerful." Robert Feldberg of The Record raves that Next to Normal is "an exciting leap into the possibilities of musical theater."

Tom Kitt is the composer of next to normal, which recently had successful productions at both Second Stage (Outer Critics Circle Award for Best New Score; Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Drama League nominations) and Arena Stage (nominated for five 2009 Helen Hayes Awards including Best Musical). He composed the music for High Fidelity (Broadway) and From Up Here (MTC), and his original songs have been featured in film and TV. He recently created new orchestrations for the CTG/Deaf West production of Pippin. As a musical director, conductor and arranger (Broadway and Off-Broadway), shows include 13, Hair, Laugh Whore, Urban Cowboy and Debbie Does Dallas. This spring, Tom will be the musical supervisor/arranger/orchestrator for Everyday Rapture at Second Stage, and his string arrangements will appear on the new Green Day album 21st Century Breakdown. He is the proud leader of The Tom Kitt Band. 

For more information please visit www.NextToNormal.com.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.