Massey to Succeed Tveit in Tony-Winning Next to Normal in January 2010

By Andrew Gans
14 Dec 2009

Kyle Dean Massey
Kyle Dean Massey

Kyle Dean Massey, who played a brief stint as Gabe in the Tony-winning musical Next to Normal while the role's originator, Aaron Tveit, took a leave of absence to star in the world premiere of Catch Me If You Can, will assume the part of Gabe permanently next year.

Massey will return to the role of Gabe beginning Jan. 4, 2010 at 8 PM. Tveit will play his final performance Jan. 3 at 7:30 PM.

Massey has been seen on Broadway in Xanadu and Wicked, Off-Broadway in Altar Boyz and in the tours of Wicked and 42nd Street.

  Next to Normal, which won Tonys for Best Orchestrations, Best Score and Best Leading Actress in a Musical, plays the Booth Theatre. The original cast recording is available on the Ghostlight Records label.

Directed by Michael Grief, the cast also features 2009 Tony Award winner Alice Ripley (Side Show, Sunset Boulevard), J. Robert Spencer (original cast of Jersey Boys) and Jennifer Damiano (Spring Awakening) as well as Adam Chanler-Berat and Louis Hobson.

Next to Normal, which was penned by Tony winners Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (book and lyrics), is "a contemporary musical that explores how one suburban household copes with crisis. . . . [The musical] shows how far two parents will go to keep themselves sane and their family's world intact," according to production notes.

The Broadway production features 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), Charlie Alterman (musical direction), Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt (orchestrations) and AnnMarie Milazzo (vocal arrangements).

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

The Booth Theatre is located at 222 West 45th Street. Tickets are available by calling (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com.