Photo Flash: First Look at the Full Cast of Arena Stage's THE NORMAL HEART; Opens Tonight, 6/8

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will present the 2011 Tony Award-winning production of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart. George C. Wolfe, who directed the show's sold-out Broadway engagement last season, is mounting the professional D.C.-area premiere of this production, which features returning Broadway cast members Patrick Breen and Luke MacFarlane, among others. Presented by special arrangement with Daryl Roth, The Normal Heart begins performances tonight, June 8, and runs though July 29 in the Kreeger Theater. Below, BroadwayWorld bring you a first look at the DC company.

Breen (Broadway's Next Fall), who portrayed Mickey Marcus in the Broadway production, and MacFarlane (Scotty on ABC's Brothers & Sisters), who portrayed Craig Donner/Grady, return to take on new roles of Ned Weeks and Felix Turner respectively. Noted TV actress Patricia Wettig (Holly Harper on ABC's Brothers & Sisters, FOX's Prison Break) plays the paraplegic doctor Emma Brookner.

They are joined by Tom Berklund (Broadway's The Addams Family) as Craig Donner/Grady, Michael Berresse (Broadway's A Chorus Line) as Mickey Marcus, Christopher Dinolfo (Round House Theatre's Next Fall) as David, Christopher J. Hanke (Broadway's How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) as Tommy Boatwright, Jon Levenson (understudy for Broadway's The Normal Heart) as Hiram Keebler/Examining Doctor, Nick Mennell (Broadway's A Free Man of Color) as Bruce Niles and John Procaccino (Lincoln Center Theater's Blood and Gifts) as Ben Weeks.

Fueled by love, anger, hope and pride, a circle of friends struggle to contain the mysterious disease ravaging New York's gay community in The Normal Heart. Dismissed by politicians, frustrated by doctors and fighting with each other, their differences could tear them apart-or change the world. Hailed by critics as "riveting" (Newsday) and "a great night at the theater" (New York Times), Kramer's masterwork is an outrageous and totally unforgettable look at sexual politics during the AIDS crisis and remains one of the theater's most powerful evenings ever.

Cast of THE NORMAL HEART

Cast of THE NORMAL HEART with Director George C. Wolfe