Transport Group to Present New Musical, Normal; Barbara Walsh to Star

Transport Group, the acclaimed company that has produced such works as The Audience and First Lady Suite, will present the world premiere of Normal, a new musical with a book and lyrics by Yvonne Adrian and Cheryl Stern and music by Tom Kochan. The production, which will run October 20-November 12, will be directed by Jack Cummings III, and star Barbara Walsh, Erin Leigh Peck, Toni DiBuono, and Shannon Polly.

The winner of the 2002 Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Award, Normal concerns a seemingly happy American family — except the daughter has a life-threatening eating disorder. All three writers contributed to The Audience. Kochan wrote original music for the Off-Broadway productions of Psycho Beach Party and Smelling a Rat; and Stern is an actress with credits including the Roundabout’s revival of The Women and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.

Cummings, the Transport Group’s artistic director, received a Drama Desk nomination last year for his direction of The Audience. Walsh (who is married to Cummings) is currently onstage as Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray; her other Broadway credits include Big, Blood Brothers, and Falsettos (for which she earned a Tony Award nomination). Peck’s Broadway credits include Dance of the Vampires and Grease. DiBuono has been seen on Broadway in Wonderful Town and The Boys from Syracuse. Polly has worked extensively in regional theater.