Stocking Productions Presents NEXT TO NORMAL, Beginning 5/23

For the last two years, the Memorial Day Weekend has seen special theatrical presentations from Stocking Productions. Last year's Frederick premiere of the smash hit musical RENT played to sold out houses. This year, Stocking Productions will once again produce a Frederick premiere with its presentation of the rock musical Next to Normal.

Pulitzer-Prize winning Next to Normal explores how one suburban household copes with crisis and mental illness. The award-winning musical tells the story of a mother, Diane Goodman, who struggles with bipolar disorder and the effect that her illness has on her family. This contemporary musical is an emotional powerhouse that addresses such issues as grieving a loss, ethics in modern psychiatry, and suburban life. With provocative lyrics and a thrilling score, this musical shows how far two parents will go to keep themselves sane and their family's world intact.

Originally a ten minute workshop piece presented in 1998, the show had its first reading as a full length musical in 2002. That initial reading was followed by several others in New York City before Next to Normal finally became a fully staged production in early 2008 when it was produced Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre. Later that year, a rewritten Next to Normal was produced at Washington, D.C.'s Arena Stage. The musical finally arrived on Broadway at the Booth Theatre on March 27, 2009.

Next to Normal ran for the next two years, garnering a number of award nominations and taking home the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, as well as three Tony Awards include one for Best Actress in a Musical, Alice Ripley. When the show closed in 2011, it had run for over 750 performances.

The cast of Stocking Productions' Next to Normal includes Alexandra Garcia Guyker as Diana, Laura Walling as Natalie, Jordan B. Stocksdale as Dan, Matt Rothenberg as Gabe, Joseph Waeyaert as Henry, and Jordan C. Allen as Dr. Fine and Dr. Madden.

Next to Normal has a book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. Stocking's production is directed by Genevieve Williams, with music direction by Jordan B. Stocksdale and choreography by Matthew Maestromatteo.

The limited engagement will be presented at The Way Off Broadway Theatre in the Willowtree Plaza off the Golden Mile (Route 40 West) in Frederick, Maryland with performances Thursday evening, May 23, Friday, evening May 24, and Saturday evening, May 25, 2013 at 8:00 p.m.Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students and must be purchased with cash or check. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the theatre's Box Office or calling (301) 662-6600.

Stock♦ing Productions, under the direction of its Founding Artistic Director, Jordan B. Stocksdale, and Executive Producer Laura Walling is an independent theatre Production Company. Previous productions include A New Brain, The Rocky Horror Show, Into the Woods, and RENT.www.stockingproductions.webs.com