Lesley Castay, Richard Hutton and More SEt for Southern Rep's NEXT TO NORMAL

Southern Rep Theatre announces the cast for NEXT TO NORMAL with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. Directed by Blake Coheley and musical direction by Jefferson Turner. The cast is as follows:

Diana Goodman Lesley Castay
Dan Goodman Richard Hutton
Natalie Goodman Madison Kerth
Gabriel "Gabe" Goodman Clint Johnson
Henry Matthew Thompson
Dr. Fine/Dr. Madden Michael Krikorian

NEXT TO NORMAL is a groundbreaking powerhouse musical starring Leslie Castay in a tour de force role! It is a heartbreaking but beautifully told story about a suburban mother's fight with mental illness and her family's attempt to hold it all together for her and themselves. Featuring an exciting contemporary score and thrilling lyrics, this prize-winning musical strives to understand what "normal" means in an unknowable, complicated world.

Leslie Castay starred in Southern Rep's productions of THE CLEAN HOUSE and in the award winning co-production of GREY GARDENS at Le Petit Theatre, (Big Easy award- Best Actress in a musical). Leslie lived and worked in NYC for many years and appeared on Broadway in 42nd STREET, 3PENNY OPERA, GUYS AND DOLLS and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. She was featured in the National Tours of ANNIE, CATS, and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, several off-Broadway productions and as a soloist at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops. She made her cabaret debut at the late great Le Chat Noir in her acclaimed one woman show, Leslie Castay...UNSCRIPTED. Leslie starred and directed (Big Easy Award) the New Orleans production of MUSICAL OF MUSICALS at Le Chat Noir, and has appeared in many productions at Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre (CHICAGO, COMPANY...) and Le Petit Theatre. Leslie played a recurring role in the USA TV series "Common Law" and can be seen on the big screen in the film "Beautiful Creatures" as Principal Herbert.

Richard Hutton has worked with many theatre companies around the Greater New Orleans area. He recently starred in Tulane Summer Lyric's SOUTH PACIFIC and MAN OF LA MANCHA winning Big Easy awards for both. At Southern Rep Theatre, Richard has appeared in many Southern Rep new play development works such as its 6x6 and 3x3 events.

Madison Lee Kerth is a freshman at NOCCA. She spent two years in the role of Annie in the 30th Anniversary National Tour of ANNIE THE MUSICAL under the direction of Martin Charnin. She has appeared regionally in CARNIVAL (U/S Rosalie), FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Schprinteze), FRECKLEFACE STRAWBERRY (Strawberry), LA BOHEME (Chorus/Ensemble) , as well as, many other great local productions and cabarets. She was recently chosen as a "Special Guest" for the Broadway Revival of ANNIE at BAA in NYC and a proud nominee of the 2009 Big Easy Foundation and Storer Boone awards for "Best Performance by a Child" for her role as Annie at Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre.

Clint Johnson won second place in the English Speaking Union's National Shakespeare Competition in New York City, at the age of eighteen, where he competed against high-school students from all over the country. His credits include: COUNTRY TONITE THEATRE (Featured Youth Performer), MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Claudio), AS YOU LIKE IT (Charles/Amiens), TWELFTH NIGHT (Aguecheek), and MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (Puck) with the Theatre Company at Hubbard Hall, KING ISLAND CHRISTMAS (The Oomiak) at New York State Theatre Institute directed by Pat Birch, THE NEW YORK RENAISSANCE FAIRE (Alan-a-Dale); IN THE NEXT ROOM OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY (Leo) at Southern Rep Theatre, TWELFTH NIGHT (Feste) and JULIUS CEASAR (Lucius) at Tulane Shakespeare Festival, LET FREEDOM SWING (Joey), ISLAND BREEZES (Mickey Rooney) and MY WAY: A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO Frank Sinatra (Man 2) at The Stage Door Canteen. Clint can also be seen singing with his band The Kitchen Sink at music venues around New Orleans.

Matthew Thompson is originally from Jacksonville, Florida. He had been acting professionally as a child and teen before receiving his BFA in Theatre Studies from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. After graduation, Matthew relocated to Los Angeles where some of his favorite theatre credits include: SLOW DANCE ON THE KILLING GROUND (The Lounge Theatre), PRINCESS BEAN'S MESSY WORLD (The Electric Lodge), A PRAYER FOR MY DAUGHTER (Crown City Theatre - LA Weekly Award Nominee, BackStage West Garland Award Nominee) and I'M JUST WILD ABOUT HARRY (Crown City Theatre - Stage Scene LA Award Winner). His film and television credits include "All That" (Nickelodeon), "Drake and Josh" (Nickelodeon), "Tru Loved" (Regent Releasing), "Mad World" (Breaking Glass Pictures), and "3 Times A Charm" (STARZ/Encore). Since his arrival to New Orleans last August, he has appeared alongside Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, and Steve Zahn in the locally shot feature film "The Dallas Buyer's Club," and had two original 10-minute plays produced as part of Southern Rep's 6x6 series.

Michael Krikorian, originally from Rockwall, Texas, received his BA in Musical Theater from Ouachita Baptist University and has performed in numerous productions around the city. He was most recently seen in the Harm's Way Theater production of BLOODY BLOODY Andrew Jackson.