Deep Dish Theater and Cary Arts Center Present NEXT TO NORMAL, Now thru 3/24

The Deep Dish Theater Company, in partnership with the Town of Cary, will present the Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical Next to Normal, tonight, March 1-24. Directed by Artistic Director Paul Frellick, with musical direction by Julie Florin, the production will be performed at the Deep Dish Theater in Chapel Hill's University Mall as well as at the Cary Arts Center.

Next to Normal tells the story of a woman and her family as they struggle to come to terms with her mental illness through a variety of tribulations and therapies. "I don't know of another piece like this," said Deep Dish Artistic Director Frellick. "It's as exciting and moving a work as we've ever done, and it is challenging us in all kinds of ways. We're especially thrilled to be collaborating with the Town of Cary on this production, and greatly looking forward to the chance to reach new audiences with this extraordinary musical."

Opening tonight, March 1, the show will play Wednesdays-Sundays through March 17 at the theater's home in University Mall, on Estes Drive and US 15-501, followed by performances on March 22-24 at the Cary Arts Center, 101 Dry Avenue in Cary. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoons.

The cast includes John Allore, Abigail Coryell, Lisa Jolley, Wesley Miller, Mark Ridenour and Jeffrey Vizcaino. The design staff includes Rob Hamilton (set), Scott Marlow (lights), Annika Pfaender (costumes), Brittany Bugge (properties), and Michael Betts II (sound). The stage manager is Jeff Phillips.

The theater will present post-performance discussions on Sunday, March 3 (with a panel of individuals impacted by mental illness); Sunday, March 10 (dramaturg Lisa Keaton, Director Paul Frellick and the cast); Thursday, March 14 ("Meet the Designers"); and Sunday, March 17 (with Dr. John Gilmore). Lisa Keaton will give a pre-show, "Meet the Play" talk on Friday, March 8, at 7 p.m. The Deep Dish Book Selection, Minrose Gwin's Wishing for Snow, will be discussed on Monday, March 11 at 7:00 p.m. at Flyleaf Books.

Tickets are $21 adults and $19 seniors, regularly, with a $2 discount for Wednesday and Thursday shows. Student tickets are $14 for all performances. Wednesday, March 6 is "Cheap Dish Night" - all tickets are $10 (no reservations accepted). For reservations and information, call (919) 968-1515 (Deep Dish Box Office) or (919) 481-5190 (Cary Arts Center), or go to www.deepdishtheater.org.

The Deep Dish Theater Company is committed to presenting compelling, human-centered dramatic work that contributes to the cultural richness of the Triangle area and challenges audiences to explore concerns of the community and the world-at-large.

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