Deedee Magno Hall and Cliffton Hall to Lead NEXT TO NORMAL at East West Players; Cast, Creatives Set!

East West Players (EWP), the nation's longest-running professional theatre of color in the country and the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, has announced the cast and creative team for Next to Normal, which begins performances on May 12 and runs until June 11, 2017, with opening night on May 17.

Next to Normal-music by Tom Kitt, and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey-tells the story of the seemingly perfect Goodman family. However, Diana, the mother, is a little too happy. Her husband Dan constantly worries. Her daughter Natalie is awfully intent on getting that scholarship to Yale. And her son Gabe, well... This Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical is a heartbreaking, humorous, and unflinchingly authentic look at a suburban family struggling with the effects of bipolar disorder.

"Next to Normal is a profoundly affecting piece of theater, and I can't wait for Los Angeles theater audiences to experience it with this phenomenally talented cast," says Snehal Desai. "We're thrilled to welcome back Cliffton Hall and Deedee Magno Hall, the stars of EWP's The Who's Tommy, who are joining us from the national tour of If/Then - another Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey collaboration - in this evocative new production."

Cliffton Hall (EWP's The Who's Tommy; Broadway national tours of If/Then, Wicked, Miss Saigon, and Les Miserables) will play Dan, Deedee Magno Hall (EWP's The Who's Tommy and Mama Bares in Concert: Once Upon a Play Date; Broadway national tours of If/Then, Wicked, and Miss Saigon) will play Diana, Scott Takeda (EWP's Mysterious Skin) will play Henry; Randy Guiaya (Mark Taper Forum's The Christians) will play Doctor Fine/Madden/Anesthesiologist. Making their EWP debuts are Justin Yu (NNC's The Winner Is) as Gabe, Isa Briones (Cabrillo Music Theater's Evita) as Natalie, and Anthea Neri (The New York Musical Theatre Festival's The Calico Buffalo) as the understudy for Diana.

The creative team includes Nancy Keystone (Director), Marc Macalintal (Music Director), Hana Sooyeon Kim (Scenic Design), Glenn Michael Baker (Assistant Scenic Design/Prop Master), Karyn Lawrence (Lighting Design), Bruce Yang (Assistant Lighting Design), Lena Sands (Costume Design), Cricket Meyers (Sound Design), and Letitia Chang (Assistant Stage Manager).

All performances of Next to Normal will be staged at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center of the Arts at 120 Judge John Aiso Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Previews are Friday, May 12 through Sunday, May 14, with 8pm shows from Friday to Saturday, and a 2pm matinee show on Sunday. All preview seats are $30. Regular performances run from Thursday to Sunday, with 8pm shows from Thursday to Saturday, and 2pm matinee shows on Saturday and Sunday. Opening night is Wednesday, May 17 at 8pm. "Pay-What-You-Can" performance is on Thursday, May 18 at 8pm. Rush tickets-$25 regular and $20 student/senior (with valid ID)-will be available starting on May 20 for Thursday 8pm and Saturday 2pm shows. The production runs until June 11.

Tickets may be purchased at www.eastwestplayers.org or call (213) 625-7000, making sure to mention any wheelchair/accessible seating needs. Student, senior, and group discounts are available. General Admission ticket prices start at $50. Dates, details, and ticket prices are subject to change.

East West Players is proud to stage Next to Normal as part of Radiant, a 51st Anniversary Season that focuses on featuring stories by and about women.

For more information about East West Players, visit www.eastwestplayers.org.

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