BWW Previews: NEXT TO NORMAL at Troy Civic Theatre

Troy Civic Theatre is opening the 2018-19 season with the Broadway rock musical. Next To Normal. A modern look at mental illness and its effects on the individual and their family, the show was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2010, and the Tony Award for Best Original Score in 2009

The production follows Diana Goodman, a wife and mother who has been battling bipolar depression for 16 years, and shows how the disorder and treatments affect husband Dan, son Gabe, and daughter Natalie. As Diana changes doctors to find someone who provides the best treatment plan for her individual needs, Gabe's 18th birthday passes and Natalie finds first love with Henry. Next To Normal tackles modern societal issues such as mental illness, drug abuse, grief, suicide, and medical ethics.

Director Niccole SueAnn Wallace, from Piqua, and music director Derek Dunavent, of Troy, are assisted by stage manager Jennifer Kaufman. Next To Normal stars Tj Montgomery (Dayton) as Henry, Alicia Walton (Dayton) as Natalie, Mark Van Luvender (Union) as Dan, Steve Dietrich (Sidney) as Dr Fine/Dr Madden, Doug Gibbons (Columbus) as Gabe, and Jenny Weber (Troy) as Diana.

Next To Normal is being presented with permission by Music Theatre International. Performances run September 21-23, 28-30, 2018 at the Barn in the Park on Adams Street in Troy, at 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 pm on Sunday. The show is considered PG-13, due to adult language and situations, and will feature a strobe light during the production. Tickets are $16 each and are available by calling the theatre box office at 937-339-7700 or online at troycivictheatre.com. Season tickets for the 2018-19 season are also available through the run of the show.

Troy Civic Theatre is a non-profit community theatre located about 20 minutes north of Dayton. TCT has been honored with several Dayton-area and Ohio regional and state performance and technical awards over the years, and has continued to bring quality entertainment to Troy for more than 50 years. For more information, please contact the theatre at 937-339-7700 or visit their website at www.troycivictheatre.com.

Photo credit: Troy Civic Theatre