Next to Normal

Next to Normal is a Pulitzer Prize-winning theatre piece that in many ways reshaped the world of musical theatre when it debuted on Broadway in 2009. While it is technically classified as a “rock musical”, it addresses themes of mental health, suicide, and the use of controversial medical treatments.

The story centres around a family, where the Matriarch, Diana, is struggling with severe mental illness, and it explores the effects of her illness on her family. Diana has bipolar disorder, plagued with anxieties, mood swings and delusions that trace back to a family tragedy. During the course of the musical, Diana goes through a series of Doctors and treatments, which trigger the extremes of her illness. Her husband, Dan, struggles with not knowing how to properly care for his wife while avoiding his own confusion and depression. Her daughter, Natalie, deals with isolation and struggling to connect with her parents while living in the shadow of her brother, Gabe; as well as a budding romance with a fellow music student, Henry. Though the family strives to establish some sort of normality while seeking their own peace and happiness, the ties that bind slowly and inevitably unravel around them.

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We are presenting Next to Normal through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

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As Next to Normal deals with a variety of mental-health related topics, we have put together a list of resources for all those involved with the project, including our community.