Topol, Harelik, Wilcox Complete Cast for THE NORMAL HEART on Broadway

Producer Daryl Roth announced that casting has been completed for the premiere presentation of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play, The Normal Heart, on Broadway. Mark Harelik (Mrs. Warren's Profession), Richard Topol (The Merchant of Venice), and Wayne Wilcox (Coram Boy) join the previously announced Ellen Barkin as Dr. Emma Brookner, Patrick Breen as Mickey Marcus, John Benjamin Hickey as Felix Turner, Luke MacFarlane as Craig Donner/Grady, Joe Mantello as Ned Weeks, Lee Pace as Bruce Niles, and Jim Parsons as Tommy Boatwright. Harelik will play the role of Ben Weeks, Topol will play Hiram Keebler/Examining Doctor, and Wilcox will play David. Joel Grey and George C. Wolfe will direct the presentation, which begins its limited 12-week engagement on Tuesday, April 19 at the Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street), with an official opening night set for Wednesday, April 27.

The design team includes David Rockwell (sets), Martin Pakledinaz (costumes), David Weiner (lighting), David Van Tieghem (sound), and Batwin & Robin (projections).

The story of a city in denial, The Normal Heart unfolds like a real-life political thriller -- as a tight-knit group of friends refuses to let doctors, politicians and the press bury the truth of an unspoken epidemic behind a wall of silence. First produced by Joseph Papp at New York's Public Theater, the play was a critical sensation and a seminal moment in theater history. So ahead of its time was this play that many of the core issues it addresses - including gay marriage, the healthcare system and, of course, AIDS - are just as relevant today as they were when it first premiered.

Tickets, priced from $26.50 to $116.50, are available via Telecharge.com, by calling (212) 239-6200, or in person at the John Golden Theatre box office (252 West 45th Street). The weekly performance schedule will be Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday at 8:00 p.m., Thursday at 8:00 p.m., Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. (The first performance, on Tuesday, April 19, will be at 8:00 p.m. There will be a special 8:00 p.m. performance on Monday, April 25. There will be no performance on Thursday, April 28.)

The entire company of The Normal Heart is deeply committed to the message of this play, and so the production is proud to support The Actors Fund, Friends In Deed, amfAR and the Human Rights Campaign.

Paul Davis, the legendary graphic designer of Joseph Papp's Public Theater, has graciously lent his original logo for this production's use.

The premiere presentation of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart on Broadway is produced by Daryl Roth, Paul Boskind and Martian Entertainment in association with Gregory Rae and Jayne Baron Sherman/Alexander Fraser.

For more information, visit www.TheNormalHeartBroadway.com.