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The Normal Heart 2011

Opened: April 27, 2011
Closing: July 10, 2011

The Normal Heart - 2011 Broadway History , Info & More

The story of a city in denial, The Normal Heart unfolds like a real-life political thriller -- as a tight-knit group of friends refuses to let doctors, politicians and the press bury the truth of an unspoken epidemic behind a wall of silence. First produced by Joseph Papp at New York's Public Theater, the play was a critical sensation and a seminal moment in theater history. So ahead of its time was this play that many of the core issues it addresses - including gay marriage, the healthcare system and, of course, AIDS - are just as relevant today as they were when it first premiered.


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FEATURED REVIEWS FOR The Normal Heart

'The Normal Heart' pounds with anger over AIDS
9 / 10

Directed by George C. Wolfe and Joel Grey (who took over the role of Ned from Brad Davis during the original run), the production clearly is a labor of love. Under their guidance, the company’s acting is bold and powerful, with a genuinely raw edge to its emotions that rubs the starch out of the play’s overtly socio-political contents. The look is appropriately stark, with a white box of a set subtly designed by David Rockwell that gradually grows darker with the play’s mounting toll of mortality.

A Still-Blistering 'Normal Heart' Hits Broadway
8 / 10

Larry Kramer's historic play about the beginning of an epidemic that has killed millions can be seen as a time capsule of a period when the disease was first emerging. But it can also be a cautionary tale for any horror we have yet to fully grasp...Mantello manages to make his unlovable Weeks lovable and he steers clear of hagiography. Joel Grey and George C. Wolfe co-direct and push the throttle - each scene is fraught with emotion, anger is quick to explode, papers are tossed with abandon, and any moment of humor is milked for the relief it offers from a hectic production.

TV Flashback: THE NORMAL HEART Closes Today on Broadway
by Robert Diamond - July 10, 2011


The Broadway premiere of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play The Normal Heart will play the final performance of its limited, 12-week engagement this Sunday, July 10 at 7:00 p.m., as scheduled. Produced by Daryl Roth and directed by Joel Grey and George C. Wolfe, The Normal Heart began performances on Tuesday, April 19 at the Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street) and opened to rave reviews on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

THE NORMAL HEART Sells Out Remainder of Run; to Close 7/10
by Nicole Rosky - July 7, 2011


The Broadway premiere of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play The Normal Heart will play the final performance of its limited, 12-week engagement this Sunday, July 10 at 7:00 p.m., as scheduled. Produced by Daryl Roth and directed by Joel Grey and George C. Wolfe, The Normal Heart began performances on Tuesday, April 19 at the Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street) and opened to rave reviews on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

Photo Coverage: Lt. Dan Choi, Larry Kramer, Hugh Jackman & Senator Tom Duane Support LGBTQ Rights at THE NORMAL HEART
by Kevin Thomas Garcia - June 29, 2011


Lieutenant Dan Choi, the war veteran who was discharged from the Army under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' was welcomed at The Normal Heart last night by Normal Heart playwright Larry Kramer and New York State Senator Tom Duane, who was Senate sponsor of the recently passed New York Marriage Equality bill. Also on hand in the audience to show support was stage and screen favorite, Hugh Jackman. Lt. Choi, in his full military uniform, joined Larry Kramer to hand out 'Please Know' letters from the playwright to audience members immediately following the 7:00 PM performance.

THE NORMAL HEART Planning Tour & London Production
by Kelsey Denette - June 23, 2011


The Normal Heart made its World Premiere at The Public Theater in 1985 and premiered on Broadway on April 19, 2011 before opening to rave reviews on April 27, 2011. The limited engagement stars Ellen Barkin, Patrick Breen, Mark Harelik, John Benjamin Hickey, Luke MacFarlane, Joe Mantello, Lee Pace, Jim Parsons, Richard Topol and Wayne Alan Wilcox.

STAGE TUBE: THE NORMAL HEART and Today's Gay Youth
by Nicole Rosky - June 23, 2011


The Normal Heart made its World Premiere at The Public Theater in 1985 and premiered on Broadway on April 19, 2011 before opening to rave reviews on April 27, 2011. The limited engagement, which stars Ellen Barkin, Patrick Breen, Mark Harelik, John Benjamin Hickey, Luke MacFarlane, Joe Mantello, Lee Pace, Jim Parsons, Richard Topol and Wayne Alan Wilcox, runs through July 10, 2011. In the video below, Patrick Healy visited the Tony Award-winning revival of 'The Normal Heart' to see if its relevant to younger gay people today.

STAGE TUBE: THE NORMAL HEART Box Office Triples Since Tony Wins; Broadway Community Shows Support
by Jessica Lewis - June 15, 2011


On Sunday night, June 12th, the Broadway premiere production of Larry Kramer's ground-breaking play The Normal Heart took home the Tony Awards for Best Revival of a Play, Best Featured Actor in a Play (John Benjamin Hickey) and Best Featured Actress in a Play (Ellen Barkin). These wins helped 'The Normal Heart' become the number one search term on Google all across America on 'Tony Sunday.' Since then, The Normal Heart's daily box office wrap has more than tripled from their average daily sales before Sunday's Tony Awards.

STAGE TUBE: Cast of THE NORMAL HEART on the AIDS Epidemic
by Nicole Rosky - June 14, 2011


The Normal Heart made its World Premiere at The Public Theater in 1985 and premiered on Broadway on April 19, 2011 before opening to rave reviews on April 27, 2011. The limited engagement, which stars Ellen Barkin, Patrick Breen, Mark Harelik, John Benjamin Hickey, Luke MacFarlane, Joe Mantello, Lee Pace, Jim Parsons, Richard Topol and Wayne Alan Wilcox, runs through July 10, 2011.

TV: 2011 Tony Awards Winners Circle - Daryl Roth: 'THE NORMAL HEART is theater doing what theater does best'
by Jessica Lewis - June 18, 2011


Darly Roth, producer for The Normal Heart, accepted the 2011 Tony Award for Best Play. Broadway Beat's Richie Ridge spoke with the veteran producer immediately following her honor. Click below to catch up with Roth right after her big moment!

TV: 2011 Tony Awards Winners Circle - John Benjamin Hickey, Best Supporting Actor in a Play!
by Jessica Lewis - June 20, 2011


John Benjamin Hickey is the 2011 recipient of the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for The Normal Heart. Broadway Beat's Richie Ridge spoke with the star immediately following his acceptance about what winning the award means to him. Click below to catch up with Hickey right after his big moment!

TV: 2011 Tony Awards Winners Circle - Ellen Barkin, 'This is the Holy Grail of prizes'
by Jessica Lewis - June 16, 2011


Ellen Barkin is the 2011 recipient of the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for The Normal Heart. Broadway Beat's Richie Ridge spoke with the star immediately following her acceptance about what winning the award means to her. Click below to catch up with Barkin right after her big moment!

STAGE TUBE: Joel Grey Talks ANYTHING GOES, THE NORMAL HEART, and More!
by Kelsey Denette - June 9, 2011


Joel Grey has epitomized the entertainment industry's 'triple threat' for decades. His dynamic talent was confirmed when he created one of the iconic characters of film and theater-the magnetic, sinister Emcee in Cabaret-for which he won both the Tony and the Academy Award. With his unparalleled versatility, Grey has proven himself an outstanding dramatic actor on countless occasions - many of them on television. His television career began in the early 1950's, and sixty years later it shows no signs of slowing down. Better TV spoke to Grey about many of his acheivements, including two productions that he has a hand in on Broadway right now - ANYTHING GOES as an actor and THE NORMAL HEART as a director - and more! View the interview below.

Joe Mantello on His 'Completely Unexpected' Tonys Experience
by Nicole Rosky - June 8, 2011


The 2011 Tony Award nominees were announced live from the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in New York City on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. The next day, proud nominees gathered at the Millenium Hotel in Times Square to celebrate and meet the press. Broadway Beat caught up with Joe Mantello, Best Actor in a Play nominee for The Normal Heart, who had this to say about his nomination:

STAGE TUBE: Cast of THE NORMAL HEART Speaks for Marriage Equality
by Nicole Rosky - June 7, 2011


The Normal Heart made its World Premiere at The Public Theater in 1985 and premiered on Broadway on April 19, 2011 before opening to rave reviews on April 27, 2011. The limited engagement, which stars Ellen Barkin, Patrick Breen, Mark Harelik, John Benjamin Hickey, Luke MacFarlane, Joe Mantello, Lee Pace, Jim Parsons, Richard Topol and Wayne Alan Wilcox, runs through July 10, 2011.

SiriusXM 'Iconography' Series to Feature Larry Kramer Throughout June
by Kelsey Denette - June 3, 2011


AIDS activist Larry Kramer is the featured subject of the next installment of Iconography, an exclusive series that honors the life, career, and impact of iconic personalities on SiriusXM's 24/7 LGBT channel OutQ (channel 108). Iconography: Larry Kramer offers an intimate look at the life and work of playwright, author, public health advocate, and LGBT rights activist.

Photo Coverage: Sardi's Salutes THE NORMAL HEART's Tony Nominees
by Walter McBride - June 3, 2011


This week, Sardi's unveiled caricatures of THE NORMAL HEART Tony Award Nominees Ellen Barkin, John Benjamin Hickey & Joe Mantello with George C. Wolfe and BroadwayWorld.com was there!

THE NORMAL HEART Extends '30 for $30' Special
by Nicole Rosky - June 2, 2011


Last week, the acclaimed revival of The Normal Heart offered a special '30 for $30' night to help introduce Larry Kramer's powerful and important play to a new generation. Based on the success of the evening and the young people that filled the show's audience on May 26th, producer Daryl Roth announced today that the show will extend its '30 Under $30' discount for all Thursday performances in June (June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23, June 30).

STAGE TUBE: Elton John, Cheyenne Jackson, et al. on THE NORMAL HEART
by Nicole Rosky - June 2, 2011


The story of a city in denial, The Normal Heart unfolds like a real-life political thriller -- as a tight-knit group of friends refuses to let doctors, politicians and the press bury the truth of an unspoken epidemic behind a wall of silence. First produced by Joseph Papp at New York's Public Theater, the play was a critical sensation and a seminal moment in theater history. So ahead of its time was this play that many of the core issues it addresses - including gay marriage, the healthcare system and, of course, AIDS - are just as relevant today as they were when it first premiered.

The Normal Heart History

Other Productions of The Normal Heart

1985   Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
2004   Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
2011   Broadway Original Broadway Production
Broadway
2012   US Tour National Tour
US Tour

The Normal Heart - 2011 Broadway Awards and Nominations

Note: Award winners will appear on a background
Year Ceremony Category Nominee
2011 BroadwayWorld Awards Best Direction of a Play George C. Wolfe
2011 BroadwayWorld Awards Best Direction of a Play Joel Grey
2011 BroadwayWorld Awards Best Featured Actor in a Play Jim Parsons
2011 BroadwayWorld Awards Best Play The Normal Heart
2011 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Director of a Play George C. Wolfe
2011 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Director of a Play Joel Grey
2011 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Ensemble Performance Special Awards The Normal Heart
2011 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Revival of a Play 0
2011 New York Drama Critics Circle Awards Special Citations 0
2011 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Actor in a Play Joe Mantello
2011 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Revival of a Play 0
2011 The Hewes Awards Hewes Design Award Batwin & Robin Productions, Inc.
2011 The Hewes Awards Hewes Design Award David Rockwell
2011 Theatre World Awards Performance Ellen Barkin
2011 Theatre World Awards Performance Jim Parsons
2011 Tony Awards Best Direction of a Play George C. Wolfe
2011 Tony Awards Best Direction of a Play Joel Grey
2011 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play John Benjamin Hickey
2011 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play Joe Mantello
2011 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play Ellen Barkin
2011 Tony Awards Best Revival of a Play Jayne Baron Sherman/Alexander Fraser
2011 Tony Awards Best Revival of a Play Gregory Rae
2011 Tony Awards Best Revival of a Play Martian Entertainment
2011 Tony Awards Best Revival of a Play Paul Boskind
2011 Tony Awards Best Revival of a Play Daryl Roth

Videos