Play tackles ‘Next to Normal’

Originally slated to tackle the puppet-populated “Avenue Q,” the theater group had to make a last-minute switch when the rights for that show were pulled. So, instead, Plays and Players chose another off-beat musical, one that focused on a sober topic: mental illness. “This is certainly a show we wanted to do,” said Pat DeFusco, of Merchantville, who plays Dan in the rock musical. http://bit.ly/xtuGqw