The Normal Heart: complete cast announced

Mark Harelik (Mrs. Warren's Profession), Richard Topol (The Merchant of Venice) and Wayne Wilcox complete the cast for the Broadway premiere of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart playing a limited 12-week engagement at the John Golden Theatre from 19 Apr - 10 Jul 2011, opening on 27 Apr 2011.

Harelik will play the role of 'Ben Weeks,' Topol will play 'Hiram Keebler/Examining Doctor' and Wilcox will play 'David/Felix.'

They join the previously announcedEllen Barkin as 'Dr. Emma Brookner,' Patrick Breen as 'Mickey Marcus,' John Benjamin Hickey as 'Felix Turner,' Luke Macfarlane as 'Craig Donner/Grady,' Joe Mantello as 'Ned Weeks,' Lee Pace as 'Bruce Niles' and Jim Parsons as 'Tommy Boatwright.'

As previously announced, The Normal Heart will be directed by Joel Grey, who is now joined by George C. Wolfe who will co-direct.

The design team includes David Rockwell (sets), Martin Pakledinaz (costumes), David Weiner (lighting), David Van Tieghem (sound), and Batwin & Robin (projections). The Normal Heart Focuses on the early years of the AIDS plague in New York and the criminal silence of America's political and media powers in addressing the issue. A tight-knit group of friends refuses to let doctors, politicians and the press bury the truth of an unspoken epidemic behind a wall of silence.

Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart is being produced on Broadway by Daryl Roth and Paul Boskind.

A percentage of the production's weekly profits will be donated to a group of dedicated nonprofit organizations, including The Actors Fund and Friends In Deed, among others. In addition, a special partnership is being created with amfAR (Foundation for Aids Research).