Don't Miss Award-Winning Musical "Next To Normal" at Westport Country Playhouse

Westport Country Playhouse kicked off their 92nd season with thee-time Tony Award®-winning musical and winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, “Next to Normal, from April 6 through April 24.

This compelling production lifts the veil on family loss and the individual responses to crisis and endurance, while pushing the boundaries of contemporary musical theater. "Next to Normal" brings light to an important issue affecting our society today, mental health. The story centers on a mother who struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effects that managing her illness has on her family.

L-R: Katie Thompson, Dar. Lee. See. Ah., Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Daniel J. Maldonado, Ashley LaLonde, and Gian Perez in the pop/rock musical “Next to Normal,” Photo by Carol Rosegg.

Packed with powerful vocal performances, this deeply moving show captivates the audience throughout the entire play and sends a message of hope and resilience.

A multi-racial cast is headed by Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Tony Award® winner for his portrayal of Angel in “Rent,” and Dar. Lee. See. Ah., who played Erzulie in the Tony Award®-winning revival of “Once on This Island.” The musical is directed and choreographed by Marcos Santana, who helmed the Playhouse production of “In the Heights” in 2019. Featuring a six-piece live orchestra, the pop/rock score is by Tom Kitt, with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey.

“It’s a powerful piece of musical theater, with a great score, and some absolutely amazing performers,” stated Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director. “In choosing ‘Next to Normal,’ Marcos [Santana], director, said it would be exciting to explore how issues presented in this musical challenge communities of color as much as they do white families. He noted that ‘you just don’t hear about it as much.’ Given the extraordinarily exciting artists of color hungry to bring their vision, skills, and voices to mainstream musicals, both Marcos and I decided this would be the show to open our 2022 season.”

Diversity in casting gives the audience a different perspective on the popular musical. The cast includes Dar. Lee. See. Ah. as Diana, the wife and mother. She was in Westport Country Playhouse’s “Nicolette and Aucassin” in 2000. Other credits include Broadway’s Tony Award-winning revival of “Once on This Island,” “Shuffle Along,” “The Color Purple,” and “Ragtime.”

Wilson Jermaine Heredia plays Dan, Diana’s husband. He was in Broadway’s “Rent,” for which he won the 1996 Tony Award® for the role of Angel, and Drama Desk and Obie awards for best featured actor in the musical. Heredia reprised the role in London and in the 2005 film. Other credits include Broadway’s “La Cage aux Folles” opposite Harvey Fierstein; films “Tick, Tick…Boom!” for Netflix and “Flawless” with Robert De Niro.

Others in the cast are Daniel J. Maldonado as Gabe, Diana and Dan's son (Off-Broadway’s “The Streets of New York”; regional theater’s “Newsies,” for which he earned a Helen Hayes nomination; Boston world pre

miere of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical”; “Grease,” “Pippin,” “The Graduate,” “Rock of Ages,” “The Who’s Tommy”); Ashley LaLonde as Natalie, Diana and Dan's daughter (vocalist at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, 54 Below, Don’t Tell Mama, U.S. Open; recent graduate of Harvard University); Gian Perez as Henry, Natalie's classmate (Broadway’s original cast of “Sing Street” as Kevin; Cantor in “Night Side Songs” at A.R.T.; new album “No Love for Cowboy”); and Katie Thompson as Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine (Broadway’s “Oklahoma” as Aunt Eller; world premiere of “Renascence,” “R.R.R.E.D. a Secret Musical,” which she composed; other theatrical credits include “Giant,” “Big Fish,” “Pump Boys and Dinettes”).

Director and choreographer Marcos Santana directed and choreographed Westport Country Playhouse’s “In the Heights” in 2019, and choreographed the Playhouse’s “Man of La Mancha” in 2018. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, his Broadway credits as associate choreographer include “On Your Feet!” (Tony Award® nomination), and “Rocky” (Tony Award® nomination).

L-R: Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Dar. Lee. See. Ah., and Ashley LaLonde in the pop/rock musical “Next to Normal,” Photo by Carol Rosegg.

The creative team includes Emily Croome, music director; Adam Koch, scenic designer; Jennifer Caprio, costume designer; Cory Pattak, lighting designer; Domonic Sack, sound designer; Sean Sanford, props supervisor; Katie Ciszek, dramaturg; Nicole Eastwood, behavioral health consultant; Tara Rubin Casting, Claire Burke, CSA, casting; and Caitlin Kellermeyer, production stage manager.

Performance schedule is Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 2 and 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

The Westport Country Playhouse is a non-profit that produces theater from playwrights, actors, directors, and designers of all backgrounds, while entertaining audiences and exploring human and societal issues along the way. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.westportplayhouse.org, or call the box office at (203) 227-4177, toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport.