Stage Center’s ‘Next To Normal’ Is A Slice Of Real Life

The next offering by Shreveport based theatre company Stage Center is a Pulitzer Prize winning musical that offers an intimate look into a family's life.

"Next To Normal" is a musical about a family's struggle with the mother's descent into spiraling mental illness. Whereas most musicals that you may have seen have song-and-dance numbers, and are set in fantastical, over-the-top settings, "Next To Normal" is a slice of a real family's life in which the narrative is assisted through well placed songs.

Winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama (one of only nine musicals to do so since the 1930s), and 3 TONY® Awards including Best Score, "Next To Normal" was also chosen as "one of the year's ten best shows" by critics around the country, including The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone and The New York Times. It is the acclaimed, groundbreaking musical "that pushes Broadway in new directions" (Rolling Stone). 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. Dad's an architect; Mom rushes to pack lunches and pour cereal; their daughter and son are bright, wise-cracking teens, appearing to be a typical American family. And yet their lives are anything but normal, because the mother has been battling manic depression for 16 years. Next To Normal takes audiences into the minds and hearts of each character, presenting their family's story with love, sympathy and heart.

Featuring a cast of only six and a live, onstage band, the production stars Heather Bryson (Diana), Ryan Williams (Dan), Conor M. Donnelly (Gabe), Aubrey Buckner (Natalie), John Peyton Pou (Henry), and Gary Watson (Dr. Madden).

Tickets go on sale Tuesday, July 5 for Next to Normal, with music by Tom Kitt, and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey. SC’s Artistic Director, Jared Watson will direct the production, with musical direction by Seth Taylor. FLEXTIX, Stage Center's membership program, is still available for the remainder of their 2016 season.

Thursdays, July 21 & 28 @ 7:30PM
Fridays, July 22 & 29 @ 7:30PM
Saturday, July 23 @ 7:30PM
Sunday, July 24 @ 3:00PM
Saturday, July 30 @ 2:00PM & 7:30PM

StageCenterLA.com | 318.218.9978

All performances at Marjorie Lyons Playhouse on the campus of Centenary College.

Tickets: $20.00 – Adults/Seniors
$15.00 – Students

Note: Stage Center is proud to offer Student Rush Ticketing for College and High School students with valid I.D., 5 minutes prior to curtain, for $10.00, cash only. One ticket per I.D.