PANIC! Productions Announces Cast For NEXT TO NORMAL

Producer Paul Panico, along with Panic! Productions and well-known Casting Director Kymberli McKanna announce the complete cast of their season opening musical production of 2018. The multi-award and Pulitzer Prize winning "NEXT TO NORMAL" by Brian Yorkey, with music by Tom Kitt. They are thrilled to have an exceptionally talented team in place. The acclaimed rock musical will open June 2nd, 2018 at Hillcrest Center For The Arts. Tickets & info at: www.panicproductions.org.

Winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize, with the Pulitzer Board calling the show "a powerful rock musical that grapples with mental illness in a suburban family and expands the scope of subject matter for musicals." Next to Normal has been called one of the best musicals of the 21st century and its soundtrack one of the best original soundtracks in a musical due to its graceful handling of its dark, complex subject matter and its moving and brutally honest exploration into pain. It was nominated for eleven 2009 Tony Awards and won three, including Best Musical Score.

The production is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com

ABOUT THE CAST

Michelle Lane - "Diana"

Credits include: Ovation Award winner for SWING!. Along with Avenue Q, Finding Nemo The Musical, Mary Poppins, In The Next Room, Chess, Side Show, She Loves Me, Little Mermaid, and Measure For Measure. TV/Film Credits: Getaway, Married With Secrets.

BRENT RAMIREZ - "Dan"

Credits include: All Shook Up. Performance and Voice Coach at his very own Musical Theatre studio for young performers called Born to Perform Studio.

JULIA LESTER - "Natalie"

Credits include: Nickelodeaon shows include The Thundermans, Bella And The Bulldogs. Theatre includes Carrie: The Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, Les Miserables, and Into The Woods.

Renee Cohen - "Dr. Fine / Madden"

Credits include: The Marvelous Wonderettes, High Fidelity, I'm Just Wild About Harry, Nosferatu, Nunsense, Shrek The Musical, I Love You, You're Perfect Now Change, Cabaret, Pippin, Les Miserables and Hedwig And The Angry Inch. TV includes Freaks And Geeks and The Nanny.

Landen Starkman - "Gabe"

Credits include: Young Frankenstein, Peter Pan, and most recently The Bully Problem. TV & Music: So You Think You Can Dance, featured performer with The Rage Boyz Crew, and singing background vocal for the Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium album.

JOSH JOSEPH - "Henry"

Credits include: Batman Loves Superman, Much Ado About Nothing and Accrington Pals, The Pajama Game, Taming Of The Shrew, and The Crucible.

NEXT TO NORMAL is set to open June 2nd - June 17th, 2018, at Hillcrest Center For The Arts, located at 403 West Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA. 91360. Performances after opening will be Thursday and Friday 8PM, Saturday 2PM & 8PM, and Sunday 2PM. There will be one preview June1 8PM. General admission $28.00 / Students & Seniors $22.00 VIP Experience tickets $40.00 (2nd & 3rd row seating and include early seating & swag bag). Tickets and additional information available at: www.panicproductions.org.