Tveit, Hobson, Chanler-Berat and Damiano Added to 'Next to Normal' Cast at Arena Stage

The previously announced Alice Ripley and J. Robert Spencer will be joined by Adam Chanler-Berat, Jennifer Damiano, Louis Hobson and Aaron Tveit for the upcoming hit musical Next to Normal. Ripley, Berat, Damiano and Tveit will reprise their roles from the Second Stage Theatre premiere. With music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and direction by two-time Tony nominee Michael Greif, Next to Normal will officially open December 10, 2008 at Arena Stage in Crystal City. Full release to follow at a later date.

Alice Ripley will reprise her role as Diana for which she garnered Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk award nominations for her performance in the Second Stage Theatre premiere. Her original Broadway cast credits include King David (Disney), Side Show (Tony, Drama Desk nominations for Best Actress in a Musical), The Rocky Horror Show, James Joyce’s The Dead, Sunset Boulevard and The Who’s Tommy. Off-Broadway and regional: Tell Me on a Sunday (Kennedy Center, Helen Hayes Award nomination), Company (Kennedy Center, Helen Hayes Award nomination), Shakespeare in Hollywood (Arena Stage, Helen Hayes Award nomination), Five Flights (Rattlestick Playwrights Theater), The Vagina Monologues, Li’l Abner (Encores!), Cather County (Playwrights Horizons), Rock Shore (O’Neill Theatre Center) and The Baker’s Wife (Paper Mill Playhouse). With her band Ripley (www.myspace.com/ripleytheband) she has recorded Everything’s Fine (2001, Sh-K-Boom Records), Ripley EP (2003) and Outtasite (2006).

J. Robert Spencer (Dan) was in the original cast of Jersey Boys as Nick Massi and also appeared on Broadway in Side Show. He has toured in Heartland, Cats, Finian’s Rainbow and Tommy. Off-Broadway: Weird Romance; God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. Regional: Jersey Boys (La Jolla), Lucky Duck (Old Globe), Romeo and Juliet (Ordway). TV: All My Children, Girls Behaving Badly. Animated films: Grave of the Fireflies, Nightmare Campus. Independent films: starred in Night of the Dog, (Audience Award, Palm Beach Festival; Audience Award, Best Supporting Actor, SMMASH Festival). In 2004, Mr. Spencer began an independent film company, 7 Spencer Productions. His feature film Farm Girl in New York--which he wrote, produced, directed and starred in--will be released on DVD/cable in January of 2009. His second feature, Heterosexuals, wrapped in the summer of 2008. He also recently performed with the Boston Pops for Handel’s Messiah Rocks, which will air on PBS this holiday season. www.bobbyspencer.com

Adam Chanler-Berat will reprise his role as Henry from the Second Stage Theatre premiere. Mr. Chanler-Berat has appeared on Broadway in the final performance of Les Misérables. Recent workshops include A Civil War Christmas (dir. Tina Landau), Calvin Berger (Manhattan Theatre Club) and Dani Girl (dir. John Carrafa). Regional credits include Mae West at Club El Fae; Honk; Pippin; You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; Lord of the Flies. TV/film: Law & Order, The Life Before Her Eyes.

Jennifer Damiano will reprise her role as Natalie from the Second Stage Theatre premiere. Ms. Damiano started performing at the age of 10 in community theatre in Westchester, NY. Regional: Oliver! (Bet, WBT). She began working professionally in NYC when she was 12 performing in The American Girl Revue (original cast) and numerous national commercials/voiceovers. Ms. Damiano made her Broadway debut in Spring Awakening as the youngest member of the original cast at the age of 15 (Ensemble/Swing: Ilse, Martha, Thea, Anna).

Louis Hobson (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine) is a recent NYC transplant from Seattle now making his East Coast debut. Regional: Cabaret (Cliff), Evita (Che, Footlight Award), West Side Story (Tony, Footlight Award), Miss Saigon (Chris), HAIR (Claude, Footlight Award), Pippin (Pippin), Assassins (Czolgosz), Stupid Kids (Neechee, Footlight Award), Songs for a New World, Rocky Horror (Brad) and Gentlemen Prefer Blonds (Henry, with Faith Prince and Lucy Lawless).

Aaron Tveit will reprise his role as Gabe, for which he received a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for his performance in the Second Stage Theatre premiere. He is currently performing on Broadway in Wicked (Fiyero), adding to his other Broadway credit as Link Larkin in Hairspray. Mr. Tveit has toured nationally with Hairspray and Rent. Off-Broadway and Regional: Saved (Playwrights Horizons), Three Musketeers (NSMT), Calvin Berger (Barrington Stage). Pre-Broadway Workshop: Catch Me If You Can. Film: Ghost Town. TV: The Verdict (Lifetime).

Understudies for the cast of Next to Normal include Michael Berry, Meghann Fahy, Mary Mossberg and Timothy Young.

How does an almost average family navigate today's over-stimulated and over-medicated world? In this darkly funny and haunting new musical, one suburban household confronts its past and its future. With provocative lyrics and an electrifying score, Next to Normal explores how far two parents will go to keep themselves sane and their world intact. Straight from its successul run at New York's Second Stage Theatre, directed by Michael Greif (Broadway's Rent, Grey Gardens), Next to Normal was declared ‘‘audacious and original’’ by the New York Daily News, and ‘‘of real value to anyone who cares about the direction and possibilities of the American musical’’ by Ben Brantley of the New York Times.

Next to Normal will run from November 21, 2008 -- January 18, 2009 on Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday Evenings at 7:30pm, Thursday, Friday & Saturday Evenings at 8:00pm, and Saturday & Sunday Matinees at 2:00pm

TICKETS: Tickets for Next to Normal range from $55-$74, with discounts available for students and groups. A limited number of $10 tickets for patrons 30 and under go on sale beginning on Monday for the following week of performances (Tuesday through Sunday) until all available $10 tickets sell out. Patrons may purchase $10 tickets by phone, online or in person. (All patrons must be 30 or younger.) Patrons will be required to present valid ID for age verification. HOTTIX, a limited number of half-price, day-of-performance tickets, are available from 90 to 30 minutes before curtain prior to every performance for all patrons. For tickets or more information regarding performance schedules, accessibility and directions, please visit www.arenastage.org or call the Arena Stage Sales Office at (202) 488-3300.

Photo Credit Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.