Next to Normal will launch its U.S. national tour Nov. 23 at the Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre. Performances are scheduled in Los Angeles through Jan. 2, 2011. An official opening has been set for Nov. 28.

The production will feature the musical's original star, Alice Ripley, reprising her performance as the grief-stricken family matriarch Diana Goodman. Ripley earned her second Tony Award nomination and first Tony Award for her performance. Tony-winning director Michael Greif will again direct.

Somers (Grey Gardens, Taboo) will co-star as Dan, with Hunton (Spring Awakening) as Natalie and Hansen (Hairspray) as Gabe. All three actors have appeared in the Broadway run of Next to Normal.

Also joining the touring cast will be Preston K. Sadleir (Me, Myself & I) as Henry and Jeremy Kushnier (Footloose, Rent) as Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine.

	Curt Hansen

The national tour will feature the work of the original Broadway creative team, including set design by Mark Wendland, costume design by Jeff Mahshie, lighting design by Kevin Adams and sound design by Brian Ronan. The creative team also includes Sergiio Trujillo (musical staging), Bryan Perri (musical direction), Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt (orchestrations) and AnnMarie Milazzo (vocal arrangements). Charlie Alterman will serve as musical supevisor. The current tour itinerary for Next to Normal follows:

Los Angeles, CA (Nov. 23-Jan, 2011, at the Ahmanson Theatre)
Denver, CO (Jan. 4-16, 2011, at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House)
San Diego, CA (Jan. 18-23, 2011, at the Balboa Theatre)
San Francisco, CA (Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2011, at the Curran Theatre)
Seattle, WA (Fed. 22-March 13, 2011, at the 5th Avenue Theatre)
Des Moines, IA (March 15-20, 2011, at the Civic Center)
Providence, RI (March 22-27, 2011, at the PPAC)
Hartford, CT (March 29-April 3, 2011, at the Busnhell)
Pittsburgh, PA (April 5-10, 2011, at the Benedum Center)
St. Louis, MO (April 12-24, 2011, at the Fox Theatre)
Chicago, IL (April 26-May 8, 2011, at the La Salle Bank Theatre)
St. Paul, MN (May 10-22, 2011, at the Ordway)
Cleveland, OH (June 7-19, 2011, at the Palace Theatre)
Philadelphia, PA (June 21-26, 2011, at the Academy of Music)
Washington, DC (June 28-July 10, 2011, at the Eisenhower Theatre)
Charlotte, NC (July 12-17, 2011, at the Knight Theater)
Toronto, ON (July 19-31, 2011, at the Four Seasons Centre)

Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (book/lyrics) penned Next to Normal, which puts a woman's struggle with bi-polar disorder and depression center stage. Next to Normal also explores the raw emotion of a family in crisis.

The writers earned the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2009 Tony Award for Best Score. Kitt was also Tony-honored for Best Orchestrations.

Next to Normal arrived on Broadway in March 2009 following an Off-Broadway run at Second Stage and a regional engagement at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.

Broadway producers are David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo and Second Stage Theatre.

Next to Normal currently plays the Booth Theatre. Visit NexttoNormal.