NEXT TO NORMAL Opens This Weekend at the Warner Theatre

The Warner Stage Company will begin the 2012-2013 Season on Friday, September 14 in the Warner's Nancy Marine Studio Theatre with the 2010 Pulitzer Prize winning, NEXT TO NORMAL.

Winner of three Tony Awards and a 2010 Pulitzer Prize, rock musical NEXT TO NORMAL, explores how one suburban household copes with crisis and mental illness. Its story concerns a mother, Diana Goodman (played by Dawn Brown) who struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effect that her illness has on her family.

This contemporary musical is an emotional powerhouse that addresses such issues as grieving a loss, ethics in modern psychiatry, and suburban life. With provocative lyrics and a thrilling score, NEXT TO NORMAL shows how far two parents will go to keep themselves sane and their family's world intact.

The Warner Stage Company production stars Dawn Brown, Thomas Doleger, Tom Denihan, Theresa Murphy, Alec Varcas and Rob Girardin and is directed by Isabel Carrington with musical director David Irvine.

Performances are Friday, Sept 14 & 21 @ 8pm, Sat, Sept 15 & 22 @ 8pm and Sunday, Sept 16 & 23 @ 2pm. Tickets are $26 and can be purchased by calling the Warner box office at 860-489-7180 or online at www.warnertheatre.org.