NEXT TO NORMAL Plays The Ordway Thru May 22

The Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize Award-winning rock musical "Next to Normal" is coming to the Ordway for a two-week run from May 10-22. With a thrilling contemporary score, "Next to Normal" is an emotional powerhouse of a musical concerning a family trying to take care of themselves and each other, one about a mother struggling with worsening bipolar disorder and the effect that her illness has on her family. Rolling Stone says "it is the best musical of the season by a mile."

"This is a unique opportunity to present 'Next to Normal' here at the Ordway in its first national tour," says Patricia A. Mitchell, Ordway president and CEO. "To tackle the complex subject of bipolar disorder in a stage production strikes me as a harrowing challenge for any director, but "Next to Normal" takes on the challenge and does so with brilliant grace that showcases the unique power of musical theater."

Alice Ripley, who received the 2009 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in "Next to Normal," reprises her acclaimed performance in the musical's 36-week
multi-city North American tour. "Next to Normal" also features Asa Somers (Dan), Curt Hansen (Gabe), Emma Hunton (Natalie), Jeremy Kushnier (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine) and Preston Sadleir (Henry).

Winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and three 2009 Tony Awards, "Next to Normal" features music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, musical staging by Sergio Trujillo, and direction by Michael Greif. The creative team also includes Mark Wendland (set design), Jeff Mahshie (costume design), Kevin Adams (lighting design) and Brian Ronan (sound design). Musical direction is by Bryan Perri, orchestrations are by Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt, and vocal arrangements by AnnMarie Milazzo.

In 2009, "Next to Normal" was chosen as "one of the year's ten best" by the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Time Out New York, New York Daily News, the Bergen Record and NY1-more times than any other musical from that season.

"Next to Normal" has had a surprising and highly unlikely route to Broadway. The musical originally opened at Off-Broadway's Second Stage Theatre on February 13, 2008. The producer, David Stone, who had been guiding the musical since 2005, took the unexpected step of bringing the show to Washington D.C.'s Arena Stage where it was significantly reworked, and then back to New York and to Broadway, where it opened to rave reviews on April 15, 2009. This unusual trajectory from a New York Off-Broadway premiere to an out-of-town regional theater engagement and then back to New York is unprecedented.

Ben Brantley of the New York Times calls "Next to Normal" "a brave, breathtaking musical. A work of muscular grace and power. It is something much more than a feel-good musical; it is a feel-everything musical." Peter Travers of Rolling Stone raves, "Rock is alive and rolling like thunder in 'Next to Normal.' It is the best musical of the season by a mile. Next time you think the Broadway musical is dead, head off to 'Next to Normal.' It'll pin you to your seat." And Peter Marks of the Washington Post calls it "a moving, blisteringly honest, and inordinately powerful new musical. It is stocked with beautiful songs that get to the heart of the story-and simply get to the heart. 'Next to Normal' strikes a blow for the American musical's future each night."

"Next to Normal" is produced by David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo and Second Stage Theatre.

Prior to the Wednesday, May 11 and 18 public performances, the Ordway will host Ordway Extras in the Ordway's Marzitelli Foyer at 6:30 p.m. and post-show Talk Backs. The Ordway Extras will be led by Dr. S. Charles Schulz, M.D. and will focus on the topic "defining normal." Since 1999, Dr. Schulz has been professor and head of the department of psychiatry at the University of Minnesota. His research work has continued in psychopharmacology and brain imaging of schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder. To learn more about pre- and post-show events, visit ordway.org/events.

The Ordway and the University of Minnesota have developed a unique partnership for the presentation of "Next to Normal" and the Ordway is grateful for their support and their contribution to the pre-show Ordway Extra. To learn more about the work the U of M Department of Neuroscience does in our community, visit their website at http://www.mmf.umn.edu/neuro.

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
The Ordway is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading nonprofit performing arts centers and Saint Paul's most elegant and inviting performance space. The Ordway's Music Theater and McKnight stages attract diverse audiences with an array of productions showcasing the finest in American musical theater, world music, dance, and vocal performance. Education and community engagement are integral to the Ordway's mission, with major initiatives including the annual Flint Hills International Children's Festival and Ordway Education programs that serve more than 50,000 students annually. The Ordway also serves as authorizer for the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, a professionally guided academic and artistic environment that trains aspiring pre-professional performing artists. Together with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera and The Schubert Club, the Ordway is a member of the Arts Partnership and serves as the principal venue for their performances.

Performance and Ticket Information
"Next to Normal"
May 10 - 22

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
345 Washington Street
Saint Paul, MN 55102
Ordway's Music Theater

Tickets start at $36 including fees.

Box Office: 651.224.4222
Groups: 651.282.3111
ordway.org
nexttonormal.com

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