Woods Hole Theater Company Tackles Mental Illness in the Award Winning Rock Musical NEXT TO NORMAL

Woods Hole Theater Company (WHTC) brings Brian Yorkey's Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning rock musical, "next to normal", to the Community Hall this June 2017, continuing its 42 years of engaging and promoting the cultural growth of the community of Woods Hole and the vicinity. WHTC operates year-round, producing a wide variety of plays and special events at affordable prices.

"next to normal" has been described as a "feel everything" rock musical. Playwright and Lyricist Brian Yorkey creates a masterpiece of balancing the works serious content with humor and beautiful lyrics. Tom Kitt brings these lyrics to life with beautiful and sometimes, intense rock music. These two, masterful men came together and delivered an extraordinary, award winning masterpiece which takes the audience on a riveting 2.5 hour rollercoaster ride.

This intense and beautiful musical is about a suburban mother who struggles living with worsening bipolar disorder, her attempts to alleviate the symptoms, and the effect it has on her family. "next to normal" is a beautifully poignant musical which also tackles the topics of mental illness, grieving a loss, suicide, self medicating, cutting, drug abuse and medical treatment ethics. The show contains adult language.

The WHTC production is directed by Pat Farrell of East Falmouth with music direction by Pamela Wannie of Centerville and Produced by Corinne Cameron of East Falmouth. Rounding out the production team is Stage Manager, Meg Sullivan of Mashpee and Amy Jane Kneppers of Falmouth, will serve as a Production Assistant. The cast is comprised of a talented group of community theatre actors hailing from on and off Cape. Sarah Sharkey of Rockland plays the mother, Diana with Peter Cook of East Falmouth playing her husband, Dan. Their two children Gabe and Natalie are played by Jeff Kelly of Marstons Mills and Nora Canaday of Cotuit, respectively. Rounding out the cast are Dan Zajac of Freetown, playing Natalie's boyfriend, Henry and Tim Hystad of Cotuit who portrays both Diana's Psycho Pharmacologist, Dr. Fine and well as Psychiatrist Dr. Madden.

The Woods Hole Theater Company will present Brian Yorkey's "next to normal" on June 8th-10th, 16th-17th, 23rd & 24th at 7:30 PM and June 11th and 25that 2:00PM at the Community Hall at 68 Water Street in Woods Hole. Tickets are $20.00 and can be purchased online at www.woodsholetheater.org or by calling OVATIONTIX at 866-811-4111. Cash, check and credit cards are accepted at the box office which will open 1 hour before each performance. Walk-ins will be seated on a first-come, first-serve basis.

WHTC will host a few special events before or after select performances. On June 11th and 25th, following the show, there will be a Talk-Back where the audience can ask questions of our cast and director. On June 10th there will be a pre-show talk and Q&A from 6-7PM for ticket holders. It will feature a mental health professional as well as Barbara, a mother whose family has been hit hard by mental illness. Our goal is to both entertain our audience and provide awareness for mental health issues, as well as resources for those suffering.

DATES: June 8-10, 15-16, 23-24 AT 7:30PM and June 11 & 25th at 2:00PM

WHERE: Woods Hole Community Hall, 68 Water Street

http://www.woodsholetheater.org

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