Pulitzer Prize Winning Musical, NEXT TO NORMAL Comes to Hillcrest Center For The Arts

Producer Paul Panico along with Panic! Productions is pleased to announce their season opening musical production of 2018, NEXT TO NORMAL, a multi-award and Pulitzer Prize winning musical by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. The acclaimed rock musical will open June 2nd, 2018 at Hillcrest Center For The Arts. Tickets & info at: www.panicproductions.org

Next to Normal explores how one suburban household copes with crisis and mental illness. Dad's an architect; Mom rushes to pack lunches and pour cereal; their daughter and son are bright, wise-cracking teens, appearing to be a typical American family. And yet their lives are anything but normal because the mother has been battling manic depression for 16 years. Next to Normal takes audiences into the minds and hearts of each character, presenting their family's story with love, sympathy and heart.

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.

Next to Normal is winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize, becoming the eighth musical in history to receive the honor. In awarding the prize to Kitt and Yorkey, the Pulitzer Board called 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 was also chosen as "one of the year's ten best shows" by critics around the country, including The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone and The New York Times.

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