The Vokes Players roll up the curtain on what is probably their most ambitious undertaking yet. The Tony and Pulitzer-Prize winning, next to normal, is truly a musical written for our times. With music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, this engaging, powerful and utterly contemporary musical concerns a mother who struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effect her illness has on her family. next to normal’s stage director is Donnie Baillargeon with music direction by Howard Boles. Performances will be held at Beatrice Herford’s Vokes Theatre, Route 20 in Wayland, MA from October 31st through November 16th, Thursday-Saturday evenings at 8PM, Friday and Saturday, November 22th and 23rd at 8PM, with a 2PM matinee on Saturday, November 9th and 16th. For tickets order online at www.vokesplayers.org, or call 508-358-4034. Ticket prices are $18.00 for Thursday evenings & Saturday matinees; $25.00 for Friday & Saturday evenings.
After opening on Broadway in 2009, next to normal was nominated for eleven Tony Awards and won three of them. The following year, it won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, in no small part for its insightful story of a suburban housewife fighting through an all-too-common psychological problem to remain a part of her family. This groundbreaking musical explores how her family copes with crisis. Diana struggles to battle her mental demons, brought about, in part, by her bipolar disorder. Husband Dan fights to help keep both her mind and his family stable, even as Diana decides to stop taking her meds. Sixteen year-old Natalie, on the other hand, can’t seem to escape the shadow of her mysterious eighteen year-old brother. With its thrilling contemporary score next to normal is an intense, often times humorous, emotional powerhouse of a musical that aims right for the heart.
The cast of Vokes’ production includes Lea Oppedisano (Hopkinton), Robert De Vivo (Waltham), Kelsey Bevins (Wakefield), Brendan Paine (Quincy), Matthew Sherman (Newton), and Dan Masden (Newton). Director, Donnie Baillargeon, is from Waltham. Music director, Howard Boles, lives in Marlborough.
The historic Beatrice Herford’s Vokes Theatre in Wayland is one of the truly unique cultural and historical resources in Metrowest. The Vokes Players is a non-profit theatrical organization. next to normal is the first production of our 2013-14 season; our 307th production to date. The theatre is wheelchair accessible. For more information about the Vokes Players, visit our website – www.vokesplayers.org.
