Acting Against Cancer, formally known as Kids Acting Against Cancer, is back at it with their second show of the 2014-2015 season. Next to Normal, a riveting rock musical, will be performed at the MeX Theater of The Kentucky Center for the Arts. The show will begin tomorrow night, January 30, and it will run through February 9. The musical focuses on a seemingly typical American family of a mother, a working father, and a brother and sister who are high school students. However, the mother has been in a fierce battle with bipolar disorder for sixteen years, and it often comes with vivid hallucinations. It is a musical full of heart, compassion and an unwavering honesty that is emotional and powerful.
Directed by Whitten Montgomery and musically directed by Charlie Meredith, the cast of Next to Normal includes Sydney Magers as Diana, Wesley Thomas as Dan, Kelsey Cox as Natalie, Remy Sisk as Gabe, Miller Kraps as Henry, and Blake Cox as Doctor Madden. Remy Sisk said, "We are beyond thrilled to present the electric new Broadway musical Next to Normal. The show at first seems a standard presentation of the American family: Mom makes breakfast, Dad goes to work, and Sister and Brother go to high school. But as the plot unfolds, it appears this family isn't as normal as it may seem. A captivating story about mental illness and a family's struggle to cope, Next to Normal boldly challenges society's definition of normal and upends all preconceived notions regarding normalcy. It's been an incredibly cathartic process to stage this show and unearth the emotion that lies at the heart of the text and music; however, I believe it will certainly pay off as audiences will be engaged during this performance unlike they ever have before."
Tickets are currently on sale for $19, but they are going fast! You can purchase your tickets here. Additionally, more information can be found on the Next to Normal Facebook event page. The show contains some adult themes and mild language, so it is recommended for audiences 13 or over. It will also run for two hours with one fifteen minute intermission. If you are looking forward to this show like I am, then listen to this teaser of Wish I Were Here. Be sure to check out the video where J. Robert Spencer—the original Dan in the Broadway production of Next to Normal—visits Acting Against Cancer here, too. It's a pretty big deal. Lastly, follow along with Acting Against Cancer on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the AAC blog for updates!
Photos courtesy of Acting Against Cancer Facebook page.
