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Community Corner

Drury Lane Theatre Presents: NEXT TO NORMAL from Aug. 15 - Oct. 6

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. - Drury
Lane Theatre
, 100 Drury Lane, presents
the regional premiere of the recent Broadway sensation NEXT TO NORMAL, previewing August 15,
opening August 22, and running through October 6, 2013. NEXT TO NORMAL stars
Jeff Award nominee Susie McMonagle as “Diana” (“Fantine” in Les Miserables on
Broadway and the first National Tours of Billy Elliot and
Mamma Mia) and Jeff Award winner Rod Thomas as
“Dan” (Big at Drury Lane Theatre and Little Shop of Horrors at
Theatre at the Center).The production is directed by Drury
Lane Theatre Artistic Director William Osetek (Drury Lane Theatre’s smash hit
production of Spamalot and Jeff Award nominee for Best Director and Best
Production for Thoroughly Modern Millie.) 



NEXT TO NORMAL has been hailed as a “Brave,
breathtaking musical!” by The New York
Times;
An emotional powerhouse. The best musical of the
season—by a mile. It’ll pin you to your seat
!” by Rolling Stone; “Uplifting,
marvelous, groundbreaking!” by the Los Angeles Times; and “The
future of American Musicals!” by The Washington Post.
NEXT TO NORMAL
opened off-Broadway in 2008 and moved to Broadway in April
of 2009. The groundbreaking production is one of only eight musicals in history
to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. NEXT TO NORMAL was nominated
for eleven 2009 Tony Awards and
won three, including Best Original Score and
Best Orchestrations. The musical features a Book and Lyrics
by Brian Yorkey and Music by Tom Kitt
(American Idiot).



The riveting story is
an unconscious dissection of a “normal” suburban American family. Driven
by a provocative score featuring more than 30 original pop/rock songs, the
narrative digs into the household’s foundation, unearthing skeletons of the
past. This is a musical that asks the question:
Can the seemingly perfect family survive an insurmountable event and tender the
untenable?  NEXT TO NORMAL is one family’s unflinching,
authentic and ultimately hopeful journey through the trials and tribulations of
modern life.

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NEXT TO NORMAL also
stars Skyler Adams
as “Henry” (“Claude” in Hair at The Paramount Theatre and The
Adventures of Pinocchio
at Chicago
Shakespeare); Callie Johnson as “Natalie” (Saloon at Peninsula
Players and Porchlight Music Theatre’s Pal Joey); Colte Julian as “Dr.
Fine”/“Madden” (Million Dollar Quartet at the Apollo Theater) and Josh
Tolle as “Gabe.”



Jeff
Award nominee Ben Johnson serves as Musical Director of NEXT TO NORMAL (Vocal Coach for the National Tour of The
Lion King
; The Goodbye Girl, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Mame at
Drury Lane Theatre; and Passion at Chicago Shakespeare).  The production is choreographed by Jeff Award
winner Tammy Mader (Hairspray at Drury Lane Theatre). The intricate set
by Scenic Designer Scott Davis (Sunset Boulevard at Drury Lane
Theatre and Romeo and Juliet at Chicago Shakespeare) is a perfect
replica of suburban America. Lighting Design is by Heather Gilbert. 
Costume Design is by Sally Dolembo.  Prop Design is by Nick
Haggestad.  Sound Design is by Jeff Award winner Ray Nardelli (Follies
at Chicago Shakespeare Theater). 

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The
performance schedule for NEXT TO NORMAL is as follows:  Wednesdays
at 1:30 p.m. ($35), Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. ($35) and 8 p.m. ($45), Fridays at 8
p.m. ($49), Saturdays at 5 p.m. ($49), and 8:30 p.m. ($49), and Sundays at 2
p.m. ($49), and 6 p.m. ($45). Lunch and dinner theatre packages range from $50
to $74 depending on the day of the week. Student group tickets start as low as
$30 and Senior Citizens start at $32 for matinees and $47 for a matinee
luncheon package. For reservations call the Drury Lane Theatre box
office at 630.530.0111,
call TicketMaster at 800.745.3000 or
visit www.drurylane.com.






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