THE NORMAL HEART, Larry Kramer's Acclaimed Drama Opens 6/30

The City Theatre is excited to announce a special summer theatre event presentation of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart. Described as "riveting theatre," this moving, funny, raw, and thought-provoking examination of the fight during the AIDS epidemic, is one of the most successful plays in Modern American Theatre and deserving of production in every community that believes in the power in and equality of all its citizens. The production runs June 30 - July 16.

The Normal Heart is Larry Kramer's powerful theatre piece about the public and private indifference to the AIDS plague and one man's fight to awaken the world to the crisis. The play follows Ned Weeks, a gay activist enraged at what is happening around him, as he tries to rally the community together and save the world from itself. Along with a circle of determined friends, he is joined by Dr. Emma Brookner, as they watch an unknown disease stalk and shatter those they care for, ultimately making a difference in the fight through their strength and love for one another.

Larry Kramer (photo by Bryan Derballa) is an award-winning playwright and filmmaker, and has been a pioneer AIDS activist for over fifty years. After graduating from Yale University in 1957, he began his professional life writing for film, including the Academy Award nominated "Women in Love." The Normal Heart holds the record as the longest-running play at Joseph Papp's Public Theatre in New York and his The Destiny of Me was awarded an Obie Award, the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Play, and the Hull-Warriner Award by the Dramatist's Guild. Kramer is the founder of the AIDs advocacy organization Gay Men's Health Crisis, still the world's largest provider of services to those with AIDS, and, in 1987, helped found ACT-UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power). Kramer is a recipient of the Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and is the first creative artist and the first openly gay person to be honored by a Public Service Award from Common Cause. The Normal Heart is the winner of multiple New York Theatre Awards including the 2011 Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Revival of a Play.

In the cast, The City Theatre is excited to have the return of Heath Sherman and McArthur Moore, who starred in last season's successful The Boys Next Door, and Scott Poppaw, veteran actor in the CTC's award-winning Love! Valour! Compassion! Joining them will be Laura Ray, Mackenzy Cade, Adam Martinez, Trevor Drum, Stephen Phillips, and Michael Galvan. The production is directed by guest directors Carl and Lacey Gonzales, who directed CTC's The Boys Next Door. The City Theatre Company is excited to be celebrating its 11th anniversary season of live theatre entertainment in Austin. CTC is an Austin-based, not-for-profit arts organization and is sponsored in part by the Austin Creative Alliance and the Austin Cultural Arts Division. Founded in 2006, the company has been recognized by the Austin Critics Table Awards, the B. Iden Payne Awards, the Central Texas Excellence in Theatre Awards, Austin Live Theatre, and has twice been voted "Best Theatre Company" by Austin American-Statesman's Austin 360. CTC is dedicated in providing quality theatrical experiences and entertainment for Austin artists and its community and continues the commitment to making productions accessible for everyone. CTC offers its discount ticket program with $10 Thursday seats and $12 student seats for any show. The ticket discount is available throughout the 2017 summer season.

Tickets 512-524-2870 or info@citytheatreaustin.org. www.citytheatreaustin.org.

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