NEXT TO NORMAL at MTH Theater - Crown Center this Fall

Next to Normal is best described as a "feel everything" rock musical. Playwright and lyricist Brian Yorkey employs humor through funny lines and situations to balance and lighten the play's serious and painful situations of human life. The music by Tom Kitt provides pleasure in itself, and connects the audience's emotions to the lyrics in ways that simple spoken words cannot.

Its story concerns a mother who struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effect that her illness has on her family. The musical also addresses such issues as grieving a loss, suicide, drug abuse, ethics in modern psychiatry, and love-- both old and new.

Next to Normal was nominated for 11 Tony Awards when it opened and was awarded 3 Tony Awards for Best Original Score, Best Orchestration, and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical. In addition, it also won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, becoming just the eighth musical in history to do so.

The show stars Ben Gulley, a film & studio recording artist whose phenomenal tenor voice has won numerous awards and competitions throughout the nation (Metropolitan Opera, Richard Tucker Finalist, Palm Beach Opera, Hellam, Girda Lissner); andAshley Pankow, who has worked in New York and all over the country including several national tours, and the first national tour of The Marvelous Wonderettes, with Roger Bean and Bets Malone. Both Mr. Gulley and Ms. Pankow have appeared in numerous MTH productions over the years.

KC newcomers, Corbin Williams and Paris Naster, as well as MTH alumnus, Daniel Verschelden and Robert Hingula, round out the show's cast. Sarah Crawford will be directing.

Conducting the orchestra and on piano will be Jeremy Watson, with Joe Levens on guitar, Zach Mejean on drums, Rachel Fuentes on Cello, and Brant Challacombe on keyboard.

MTH founder, George Harter will be giving the popular, MTH pre-show talk before each performance.

Tickets start at $17 and is recommended for mature audiences only, ages 14 and up. Performances are Thursdays thru Sundays at the MTH Theater at Crown Center, August 4-21. All seats are reserved.

The box office can be reached at (816) 221-6987 on Mondays - Fridays from 10am-5pm and one hour before performances. Tickets and additional information are available online atwww.MTHKC.com.