City Circle Acting Company to Stage NEXT TO NORMAL at Coralville Center

City Circle Acting Company of Coralville will present the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical, Next to Normal on February 10-12 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. Performances are February 10 and 11 at 7:30 pm and February 12 at 2:00 pm.

This groundbreaking rock musical by Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (book, lyrics), explores the effect that mental illness and its treatment can have on a family. As a suburban mother struggles with bipolar disorder, her family struggles, too. This compelling story combined with powerful performances by Kristen DeGrazia, Victoria Vaughn, Chris Walbert, K. Michael Moore, Austin Wicke and Michael Penick, yield a unique and moving musical experience. The show is directed by Kathryn Van meter with musical direction by Janelle Lauer.

Tickets to the show are $12-$27 and can be purchased online at coralvillearts.org or by calling 319.248.9370 or in person at the CCPA box office at 1301 5th Street and at the Coralville Recreation Center at 1506 8th Street.

On Saturday, February 11, City Circle will partner with the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) to present a pre-show discussion at 6:45pm. Director Kathryn Van meter and local psychiatrist Christopher Okiishi will be joined on stage by members of the local NAMI organization in an interactive discussion about the impact of mental illness on individuals and their families and communities.

Ms. Van Meter has a unique relationship with Next to Normal, having worked on the show since its first reading in 2002. She choreographed the first New York production then called Feelin' Electric. She has worked with playwright Brian Yorkey on numerous projects before and since.

Dr. Okiishi is a board-certified Adult, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist serving the Eastern Iowa community for the last 20 years. In addition, he actively works with several local theatres.

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill is the nation's leading advocacy group for persons living with mental illness and their families.

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