Civic Theatre Announces NEXT TO NORMAL Talkback, 5/9

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI - Lehigh Valley) will sponsor a post-performance talkback at Civic Theatre on May 9, to explore the range of mental health issues raised by the Pulitzer-winning musical "Next to Normal." The post-show talk back is free. Tickets to "Next to Normal" range from $20-31.

Audience members are encouraged to observe and participate in a deep conversation with a live panel, which will be composed of: Lehigh Valley Health Network's Vice Chair of Inpatient Psychiatry Laurence Karper, M.D.; retired psychologist Dennis Geiger, Ph. D.; and psychologist Peter Langman, Ph.D. Dr. Langman was formerly the clinical director of KidsPeace.

"'Next to Normal' is a powerful rock musical that grapples with mental illness in a suburban family, and expands the scope of subject matter for musicals," raved the Pulitzer Board, upon awarding "Next to Normal" Best Drama.

Also the winner of three Tony Awards, this touching, cathartic musical is about Diana Goodman, a seemingly normal suburban wife and mother that struggles with bipolar disorder and hallucinations, but does what she can to keep her family together.

Starring in the Lehigh Valley premiere are: Janis Greim (Diana), Michael Traupman (Dan), Kallie Linder (Natalie), Matthew Meckes (Gabe), Will Morris (Henry), and Brian Foley (Dr. Fine/Dr. Madden).

Civic's production of "Next to Normal" will run from May 3 to May 19, and is directed by Civic's artistic director William Sanders.

"Next to Normal" has received critical acclaim from top critics. Charles McNulty of the LA Times, said "Like all good musicals, it breaks your heart without crushing your hope." Ben Brantley of The New York Times praised its "operatic force." "No show on Broadway right now makes as direct a grab for the heart - or wrings it as thoroughly - as "Next to Normal" does," said Brantley. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone called it the "best musical of the season by a mile, an emotional powerhouse with a fire in its soul and a wicked wit that burns just as fiercely."