PHOTO VIA SPARKIY ENTERTAINMENT FACEBOOK PAGE
Independent production company SparKlY Entertainment (Website), owned by husband-and-wife team Vince Farmer and Kyona Levine Farmer, will open Next to Normal at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on October 3. The production marks a return to the venue for the company, having staged The Color Purple there last year.
The rock-infused musical Next to Normal centers around Diana Goodman, a devoted wife and mother battling bipolar disorder and psychotic episodes in the wake of her son Gabe’s death. Her daughter Natalie struggles to be seen as her husband Dan fights to keep their lives intact. With a book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt, the musical scored three Tony Awards, including Best Original Score, in 2009 and received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2010.
Under the direction of Levine Farmer, SparKlY’s production features a local cast led by Angela Tims in the formidable role of Diana. The cast also includes Davi Vianna, a recent graduate of Freedom High School, as Gabe, while his former high school theatre teacher will play his father, Dan. The cast is rounded out by Rachel Hope lhasz, Ben Cornelius as Henry, and Shaquille Marcano Quiles.
“Next to Normal challenges us to confront what it means to live, love, and heal,” said Executive Producer Farmer in a press release. “We are excited to bring this powerful story to Orlando in a world-class setting, while also creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue about mental health, family, and hope.”
Next to Normal will be in Dr. Phillips’ black box space, the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, October 3-5. Tickets are $65.20 and $88.80 and can be purchased online at Dr.PhillipsCenter.org or in person at their box office. For more information on SparKyL, visit SparKyLEntertainment.com.
