Tom Kitt News

Hollywood heavyweight Rob Reiner is eager to turn the Pulitzer and Tony-winning musical, Next to Normal into a movie musical. Says Reiner to The Malibu Times: 'I'd love to do Next to Normal...It's about ordinary people, but set to music. It's funny and dark and uplifting. You know, about real stuff.'

'Indeed it's the time of the year to give back', says Christopher Massimine, WPPAC representative, 'and in the spirit of the festivities we're happy to bring this exciting offer to theatre lovers.'

Next to Normal, with music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, is making its west coast premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.With a thrilling contemporary score, 'Next to Normal' is an emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other. The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical features original Broadway star Alice Ripley, who won the Tony for her performance. Next to Normal also features Asa Somers (Dan), Curt Hansen(Gabe), Emma Hunton (Natalie), Jeremy Kushnier (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine) and Preston Sadleir (Henry).

'Indeed it's the time of the year to give back', says Christopher Massimine, WPPAC representative, 'and in the spirit of the festivities we're happy to bring this exciting offer to theatre lovers.'

To keep up with the ultra-fast pace of the modern age is difficult for most 'normal' people. Dealing with emotional pain or loss on top of average daily strife can be overwhelming. It may easily destroy a life and those connected to it as well. In the Pulitzer Prize winning Next to Normal, the problem is presented via a wife and mother, who has been diagnosed as bi-polar. Her behavior patterns show extreme mental instability verging on insanity, and the effects on her husband and teen daughter are astronomical. Eventually a heartfelt loss from the past unravels that is at the core of the woman's suffering. Structured in a most unique way, Next to Normal is akin to a rock opera, but it is not completely sung; there is intermittent dialogue. The most emotional moments, though, come through song, so the music and book flow together, and with the three tiered open set and loosely structured staging, it all comes together as an unparalleled musical drama.

The producers of the critically acclaimed AMERICAN IDIOT announced today that Green Day frontman and the musical's composer and co-author Billie Joe Armstrong will return to the role of 'St. Jimmy' for 50 performances beginning on January 1, 2011. Armstrong made a triumphant Broadway debut in a one week engagement last September and played to sold-out houses at the St. James Theatre, 246 West 44 Street.

Next to Normal, with music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, is making its west coast premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. With a thrilling contemporary score, 'Next to Normal' is an emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other. The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical features original Broadway star Alice Ripley, who won the Tony for her performance. Next to Normal also features Asa Somers (Dan), Curt Hansen (Gabe), Emma Hunton (Natalie), Jeremy Kushnier (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine) and Preston Sadleir (Henry).

Next to Normal, with music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, is making its west coast premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.With a thrilling contemporary score, 'Next to Normal' is an emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other. The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical features original Broadway star Alice Ripley, who won the Tony for her performance. Next to Normal also features Asa Somers (Dan), Curt Hansen(Gabe), Emma Hunton (Natalie), Jeremy Kushnier (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine) and Preston Sadleir (Henry).

The startling new musical NEXT TO NORMAL, winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, will start the Denver Center Attractions 2011 season on an dramatic high note, playing the Ellie Caulkins Opera House January 4-16.

'Indeed it's the time of the year to give back', says Christopher Massimine, WPPAC representative, 'and in the spirit of the festivities we're happy to bring this exciting offer to theatre lovers.'

The national tour of 'Next to Normal' opens at the Ahmanson Theatre on Sunday, November 28, 2010. Previews of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical begin November 23; performances will continue through January 2, 2011.

Next to Normal, with music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, will be making its west coast premiere at the Ahmanson theatre in Los Angeles.With a thrilling contemporary score, 'Next to Normal' is an emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other. The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical features original Broadway star Alice Ripley, who won the Tony for her performance.

For a decade, Bound for Broadway has been letting audiences know about some of the best new shows currently in development. This 10th Anniversary Celebration at Kaufman Center's Merkin Concert Hall will feature four new musicals and then revisit some of the great shows featured over the past 10 years, including the 2010 Pulitzer Prize winner NEXT TO NORMAL, AVENUE Q, MUSICAL OF MUSICALS and THE DROWSY CHAPERONE.

The Alliance Theatre announced the cast of its world premiere production of Bring It On: The Musical.

Alice Ripley, who received the 2009 Tony Award® for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award®-winning Next to Normal, will reprise her acclaimed performance in the musical's 36-week multi-city North American tour, launching in November. It will play in San Diego January 18 - 23, 2011 at the Balboa Theatre, as a Broadway/San Diego ~ A Nederlander Presentation.

LaChanze_20010101 It was with great pride that twice Tony winner LaChanze Fordjour applied to the Board of Directors at White Plains Performing Arts Center, and with good reason: WPPAC has set out to be a gamechanger in the theatrical community. On Monday (11/15), 7:30pm, at WPPAC, LaChanze will present a public reading of REUNION IN BARTERSVILLE, as producer. Press Notes for the show indicate: REUNION IN BARTERSVILLE- The 1933 Class of Bartersville High reunites after 50 years...Good Times, Old Friends and Murder? A hilarious whodunnit in two acts.

The Kaufman Center has announced performers for its 'Broadway Close Up' series at Merkin Concert Hall.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) will honor producers Barry and Fran Weissler (Chicago, Wonderful Town, La Cage Aux Folles, Scottsboro Boys) and the winners of the NYMF 2010 Awards for Excellence at the Seventh Season Awards Gala taking place on Sunday, November 14th at The Hudson Theatre (145 W. 44th Street) beginning at 6:00pm.

LaChanze_20010101 It was with great pride that twice Tony winner LaChanze Fordjour applied to the Board of Directors at White Plains Performing Arts Center, and with good reason: WPPAC has set out to be a gamechanger in the theatrical community. On Monday (11/15), 7:30pm, at WPPAC, LaChanze will present a public reading of REUNION IN BARTERSVILLE, as producer. Press Notes for the show indicate: REUNION IN BARTERSVILLE- The 1933 Class of Bartersville High reunites after 50 years...Good Times, Old Friends and Murder? A hilarious whodunnit in two acts.

The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical, Next to Normal, will play its final Broadway performance on Sunday, January 16, 2011, announced Producer David Stone. Upon closing, the musical will have played 21 previews and 733 performances. Next to Normal is performed at the Booth Theatre (222 West 45th street).