Next to Normal: Official Broadway Site

Next to Normal Facebook Quiz	01/27/2010
Take the official Next to Normal Facebook Quiz "What Song Are You Feeling?"

Next to Normal: The Road to Broadway	01/14/2010
Watch the creative team behind Next to Normal discuss the creation and development of the show on an episode of The American Theatre Wing's "Working in the Theatre."

Kyle Dean Massey Premieres Next to Normal Video Blog

Kyle Dean Massey Premieres Next to Normal Video Blog	01/ 7/2010
Kyle Dean Massey is Broadway.com’s newest backstage video blogger! Currently starring in the Tony-winning musical Next to Normal, Massey will bring you all the behind-the-scenes action in his weekly blog, Normal Life.

Kyle Dean Massey to Replace Aaron Tveit in Next to Normal

Kyle Dean Massey to Replace Aaron Tveit in Next to Normal	12/14/2009
Kyle Dean Massey has been tapped to replace Aaron Tveit in the Broadway musical Next to Normal, beginning January 4 at the Booth Theatre.

$Download \$

Download "On Stage with Next to Normal" Podcast	11/12/2009
Download the iTunes podcast of Next to Normal's event at the 92 St. Y Tribeca featuring the entire panel discussion with writers Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt, director Michael Greif and producer David Stone as well as a clip of the new song, "Something I Can't See", written in collaboration with Twitter followers.

Voices of Bipolar Disorder Anthology	11/ 2/2009
Next to Normal cast and crew were interviewed for the Introduction of the new anthology, Voices of Bipolar Disorder.

Tackling Stigma From the Stage	10/21/2009
When we found out earlier this year that a suburban mother with bipolar was the central character of a soon-to-be-opened Broadway musical, we knew it was time for a road trip.

NEXT TO NORMAL Announces New Ticket Lottery

NEXT TO NORMAL Announces New Ticket Lottery	10/ 5/2009
Beginning Monday, October 12, the Broadway musical Next to Normal will replace its current rush policy with a new ticket lottery. Beginning 2 hours before each performance patrons are invited to enter the lottery, and winners will be drawn 90 minutes before each performance.

Louis Hobson Gives Psychiatry a Good Name in Next to Normal

Louis Hobson Gives Psychiatry a Good Name in Next to Normal	09/10/2009
Currently making his Broadway debut as a pair of psychiatrists (including one who morphs into a rock star!) in the Broadway musical Next to Normal. Growing up in the Seattle suburbs, Hobson became serious about singing in high school, when he placed second among baritones in a statewide competition.

On Broadway, Battling Bipolar Disorder	08/31/2009
Broadway musicals about mental illness are rare. Next to Normal, the winner of three of Tony awards, including Best Actress and Best Original Score, is even rarer: A musical about bipolar disorder that has been embraced by the public, critics, and the bipolar community. We talked with Brian Yorkey, the Tony-award winning writer and lyricist for the show.

$NEXT TO NORMAL\'s Twitter Song Project Announces First Round Of Voting Results$

NEXT TO NORMAL's Twitter Song Project Announces First Round Of Voting Results	08/31/2009
The Broadway musical Next to Normal has announced the voting results of the first part of its groundbreaking Twitter song project. Based on suggestions from Twitter followers, Next to Normal creators Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey will write a song for the show's characters Dr. Madden & Gabe.

$Aaron Tveit to Return to Broadway\'s Next to Normal in September$

Aaron Tveit to Return to Broadway's Next to Normal in September	08/31/2009
Aaron Tveit, who was recently part of the cast of the Seattle world premiere of Catch Me If You Can, will return to the Broadway cast of Next to Normal in September. Tveit will resume performances as Gabe on Sept. 7.

It�s Broadway Gone Viral, With a Musical Meted Out via Twitter

It�s Broadway Gone Viral, With a Musical Meted Out via Twitter	08/17/2009
In early May, six weeks after opening, the production began what is by all accounts a Broadway first: over Twitter, the social networking site, an adapted version of the show began to be published in the form of short text messages, or tweets — just a line from a character at a time. Read about how Next to Normal has gone digital.

$Next to Normal on NPR\'s Science Friday$

Next to Normal on NPR's Science Friday	08/17/2009
Tony award-winning musical, Next To Normal, portrays a family struggling with mental illness and the treatments offered by modern psychiatry. With rock songs about Valium and bipolar disorder, the Broadway show is anything but typical. Tony Award Winners Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt appeared on NPR's Science Friday to discuss creating Next to Normal.

Fresh Face: Kyle Dean Massey	07/30/2009
Read Broadway.com's Fresh Face interview with Kyle Dean Massey, currently playing Gabe in Next to Normal.

Tom Kitt Wins Dramatists Guild of America Award

Tom Kitt Wins Dramatists Guild of America Award	07/21/2009
The Dramatists Guild of America announced the winners of its annual awards July 20. This year\'s winners include Tom Kitt, recipient of the Frederick Loewe Award for Dramatic Composition for his score to Next to Normal.

"Next to Normal" orchestrator Michael Starobin and music director Charlie Alterman on Playbill Radio	07/10/2009
2009 Tony-winning orchestrator Michael Starobin and music director Charlie Alterman walk Playbill Radio host Robert Viagas through some of the show's musical highlights.

$First Person: Adam Chanler-Berat: My Broadway \$

First Person: Adam Chanler-Berat: My Broadway "Graduation"	06/30/2009
Broadway.com asked Adam Chanler-Berat for a first person on what the Next to Normal journey has meant to him, and Chanler-Berat responded with an essay as appealing as the character he plays.

Comparing Notes: Kitt, Kander And Miranda - NPR Open Mic

Comparing Notes: Kitt, Kander And Miranda - NPR Open Mic	06/26/2009
Tom Kitt, Lin Manuel Miranda, and John Kander talked on NPR's Morning Edition about their musical training and how it helped shape their writing.

Studio 360: Listen to an interview with Alice Ripley and Tom Kitt and hear songs from the show

Studio 360: Listen to an interview with Alice Ripley and Tom Kitt and hear songs from the show	06/25/2009
Alice Ripley and Tom Kitt talk with Kurt Anderson on Public Radio’s “Studio 360”. Also includes an in-studio performance of the songs “I Miss the Mountains”, “A Light in the Dark”, and “Superboy and the Invisible Girl”.

$Next to Normal Tops Billboard\'s Cast Album Chart$

Next to Normal Tops Billboard's Cast Album Chart	06/17/2009
The original Broadway cast recording of new hit musical Next to Normal rose to the top of the Billboard cast album chart this week. The double-disc album, featuring original cast members J. Robert Spencer, Jennifer Damiano, Aaron Tveit, Adam Chanler-Berat, Louis Hobson and Alice Ripley, also placed in the 21st spot on Billboard's digital chart and broke the Top 200, landing at #103.

Multiple Tony Award Winner including Best Score and Best Leading Actress in a Musical	06/ 7/2009
Best Score of a Musical went to composer Tom Kitt and lyricist Brian Yorkey for their kinetic, rock-driven storytelling in Next to Normal...

Next to Normal performs on CBS	06/ 4/2009
The cast of Broadway's "Next To Normal" gave "The Early Show" a taste of the Tony-nominated musical.

THE LEADING MEN: J. Robert Spencer	06/ 3/2009
Read Playbill.com's interview with J. Robert Spencer, Tony nominee for Next to Normal.

Watch the Cast Perform at the Tony Awards	06/ 2/2009
Be sure to tune in to watch the cast of Next to Normal perform at the Tony Awards on Sunday, June 7 on CBS at 8pm. The show has been nominated for 11 awards, including Best Musical. For a full list of nominees and more details visit www.TonyAwards.com

Ask A Star: Alice Ripley	06/ 1/2009
The Next to Normal powerhouse (and 2009 Tony nominee!) takes on questions from Broadway.com users.

Go Ask Alice	06/ 1/2009
Tony Award nominee Alice Ripley reflects on the most difficult and rewarding role of her career: Next to Normal's Diana Goodman

On the Scene: Next to Normal at Barnes & Noble

On the Scene: Next to Normal at Barnes & Noble	05/15/2009
The cast of Next to Normal heads to Lincoln Square for a CD signing of their hot new original cast album.

$Broadway�s \$

Broadway�s "Next to Normal" - Made on a Mac free event

05/13/2009

Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, the Tony Award‒nominated songwriting team behind this season’s Broadway musical, "Next to Normal," will be joined by Grammy Award‒winning music producer Joel Moss to discuss how they used the Mac to create this Tony-nominated Broadway hit and produce the original cast recording. This event will also feature a live cast performance. May 18, 6:00 p.m.at The Apple Store SoHo NYC

Next To Normal Album Release In-Store

05/ 8/2009

The new Broadway musical, Next to Normal, which has been nominated for 11 Tony Awards including Best Musical, will celebrate the retail release of their Original Cast Recording with an in-store performance and CD signing at Barnes and Noble Lincoln Center (1972 Broadway at 66th Street) on Tuesday, May 12th at 4:00p.m.
The entire Broadway company as well as Tony nominated co-creators Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey will be on hand to sign CDs following the special free performance.

11 Tony Award Nominations Including Best Musical	05/ 5/2009
Best Score Best Director Best Leading Actress in a Musical – Alice Ripley Best Leading Actor in a Musical – J. Robert Spencer Best Featured Actress in a Musical – Jennifer Damiano

Next To Normal: The Twitter Performance	04/30/2009
For the first time ever, the full story of a Broadway musical will be told via Twitter. Follow the characters of Next to Normal as they tweet their story – all the lows, all the highs – day by day, song by song. Experience it like you never have before. No Twitter account required! Follow Now

NY Times Feature: An Out-of-Town Overhaul Helps a Musical Find Focus

NY Times Feature: An Out-of-Town Overhaul Helps a Musical Find Focus	04/29/2009
Michael Greif sensed something was wrong. It was February 2008, and Mr. Greif -- the director of the Tony Award-winning musicals "Rent" and "Grey Gardens" -- was watching his latest production, "Next to Normal," night after night during its Off Broadway run at Second Stage Theater....

Aaron Tveit: A Next to Normal Star Explodes on Broadway

Aaron Tveit: A Next to Normal Star Explodes on Broadway	04/27/2009
Next to Normal is a ground-pounding Broadway musical that demands you sit up straight and listen. It\'s a nonstop look into the stop/start life of a bipolar mother and the hell her unreality wreaks on her husband, daughter and son as she rides the sharp edge between coping and insanity.

$NY Times Feature: On Broadway, \'next to normal\' Aims for Truth About Mental Illness$

NY Times Feature: On Broadway, 'next to normal' Aims for Truth About Mental Illness	04/20/2009
�I wanted to get ahead on the lunches,� Diana tells her husband, Dan, as she frenetically lines up slices of white bread on the floor and begins piling on the lettuce and mayo. That is the moment in �next to normal,� the new musical at the Booth Theater, when Dan (J. Robert Spencer) realizes it is time for his manic-depressive wife (Alice Ripley) to go back into therapy....

Ripley & NEXT TO NORMAL Among 25th Annual Helen Hayes Award Winners

Ripley & NEXT TO NORMAL Among 25th Annual Helen Hayes Award Winners	04/14/2009
The 25th Annual Helen Hayes Awards were presented last night as one of our nation's most prestigious cultural events. Nearly 2,000 theatre artists and supporters filled the majestic Warner Theatre in downtown DC for an evening of dazzling entertainment replete with humor, celebration, and great tributes to Washington area professional theatre....

$PLAYBILL.COM\'S CUE & A: Aaron Tveit$

PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Aaron Tveit	04/14/2009
Aaron Tveit — who co-stars in the new Broadway musical Next to Normal — fills out Playbill.com\'s questionnaire with random facts, backstage trivia and pop culture tidbits....

$Unique path to Broadway for \'Normal\'$

Unique path to Broadway for 'Normal'	04/14/2009
When a new musical ends up on Broadway, chances are it\'s been road-tested either in an out-of-town tryout or an Off Broadway warm-up. "Next to Normal" took an idiosyncratic path to the Rialto: It got both....

Ripley, Rivera, Reinking Among DC Helen Hayes Nominees April 13

Ripley, Rivera, Reinking Among DC Helen Hayes Nominees April 13	04/13/2009
The 25th anniversary Helen Hayes Awards, celebrating excellence in Washington, DC-area theatre, will be handed out April 13. Broadway's Next to Normal, seen in an Arena Theatre staging in 2008, is among nominees.

Fresh Face: Jennifer Damiano	04/13/2009
Age: 17 Hometown: White Plains, New York Currently: Playing Natalie, the feisty teen daughter in a family dealing with the mother’s mental illness, in the new Broadway musical Next to Normal.

Q&A: J. Robert Spencer

04/13/2009

His Jersey Boys castmates got most of the glory, but J. Robert Spencer won the audience’s heart with his still-waters-run-deep portrayal of Nick Massi, the Four Season who quit the group at the height of its fame. As a follow-up to that smash hit, Spencer has nabbed the juicy role of Dan, a husband and father coping with his wife’s bi-polar illness, in the highly anticipated Broadway production of Next to Normal.

Video: Behind the Scenes at the Cast Recording

Video: Behind the Scenes at the Cast Recording	04/10/2009
In the studio with the talented company of NEXT TO NORMAL, the electrifying new musical at the Booth Theatre.

Leaving Normal: Alice Ripley	04/ 7/2009
Is Broadway ready for a rock musical about bipolar disorder? If so, it will be largely thanks to the efforts of Alice Ripley (Sunset Boulevard, Side Show, The Rocky Horror Show), who stars in the aptly named Next to Normal as a suburban mom with a difference.

Ripley, Spencer, Tveit and Damiano Are Next to Normal on Broadway Starting March 27

Ripley, Spencer, Tveit and Damiano Are Next to Normal on Broadway Starting March 27	03/30/2009
Next to Normal, the acclaimed, contemporary new rock musical seen Off-Broadway at Second Stage and more recently at Arlington\'s Arena Stage, arrives on Broadway March 27 at the Booth Theatre....

Ghostlight Records Announces Next To Normal Original Broadway Cast Recording

Ghostlight Records Announces Next To Normal Original Broadway Cast Recording	03/24/2009
Ghostlight Records is proud to confirm its release of the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the critically acclaimed new musical Next to Normal....

Behind the Scenes: Next To Normal Songwriters

Behind the Scenes: Next To Normal Songwriters	03/23/2009
Watch composer Tom Kitt and lyricist Brian Yorkey share stories and songs from their new musical, Next To Normal....

Watch the World Premiere Music Video: Super Boy and the Invisible Girl

Watch the World Premiere Music Video: Super Boy and the Invisible Girl	03/23/2009
Get to know Broadway's most electrifying new musical with a special exclusive music video for one of its songs from the upcoming Ghostlight Records original cast recording. Watch stars Jennifer Damiano, Alice Ripley and Aaron Tveit in the recording studio....

Boomtown! Next To Normal - Aaron Tveit Interview

Boomtown! Next To Normal - Aaron Tveit Interview	03/20/2009
Meet the rising star who plays a troubled teen in Next To Normal.

$Next To Normal Coming to Broadway\'s Booth Theatre$

Next To Normal Coming to Broadway's Booth Theatre	03/20/2009
The forthcoming Broadway production of Next To Normal will now play at the Booth Theatre rather than the previously announced Longacre Theatre. The Booth became available due to the closing of The Story of My Life on February 22. Previews for Next to Normal will begin on March 27 and opening night remains April 15, directed by Michael Greif....

Photo Coverage of Next To Normal Cast Recording

Photo Coverage of Next To Normal Cast Recording	03/20/2009
A month after wrapping up a limited engagement at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., the Next to Normal cast reconvened at Avatar Studios in Hell’s Kitchen on February 12, to record the musical for an upcoming release on the Sh-K-Boom label....

i laughed, i cried, i laughed while crying.	01/27/2010

Shelbie i saw next to normal on jan.24 and also when i found out alice ripley was not performing i was upset, but once i got in the theater and the show started i was BLOWN AWAY. all the emotion and powerfullness of the show kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to see more. this show was so emotionally powerful, and even before i saw it even reading about it online i knew that i needed to see it. i recommend this show to anyone and everyone!! it was incredible! but you must know that you are in for an emotional rollercoaster.:):)

Completely BLOWN Away ! ! !	01/21/2010

Cliff Sharpless I have to admit when I read that Alice Ripley would not be performing the role the night I chose to see this remarkable show I was so upset. It only took 5 minutes into the show for that notion to be swept away as I was swept away on a 2 hour journey that was nothing short of breathtaking. EVERY actor in the show was perfect and the overall effect was something that I have never experienced before. THE ABSOLUTE BEST SHOW ON BROADWAY.

Facing the Music	01/18/2010

Allison When it is described as facing the music, you have to see it to believe how accurate that description is. From the first song, you can see a facade falling apart, and through the show you see the utter destruction and then light slowly piecing things back together. These are the characters you wonder about during intermission, and when your foot leaves the Booth. This is a great cast working with a great book with a great set. See this if you can.

What A Show!	01/13/2010

Bryan Kinder This show was an absolute amazing experience. It was my first time to NYC, and my first broadway show, and it literally blew me away. I come from the Northwest, and its really hard to see this caliber show (besides tours and equity houses) and to see this show brought tears to my eyes. Kyle Dean Massey gives a stellar performance, as does everyone, especially Alice Ripley. She was so kind at the stage door, which made the experience all together a breath-taking experience! Shout out to Louis Hobson, representing the NW! He does amazing. Everyone should see this show. No doubt. Sincerely, A Fan

One word: Wow.	12/31/2009

Bruinsport If you see one musical on Broadway this year, THIS SHOULD BE IT!! The most moving play I have seen in years, and, although I was a bit worried it might not be the best "feel good" play to view during the Holidays, I was wrong. Not feel good, but oddly hopeful...and extraordinarily haunting. The music is great; performances stellar. Cheers!

THE BEST SHOW ON BROADWAY!!!	12/30/2009

Amanda I love this show!! I have seen it twice and it was worth it both times!! The actors are great and from meeting all of them they are the nicest people ever!!! If you have the chance to see this show I highly suggested you go see it!!!

Ultimate Broadway Experience	12/30/2009

Ashley B. This was one of my very first Broadway shows, and I have to say it was the ultimate Broadway experience! What an amazing cast with superb acting skills and unbelievable voices! I had chills the entire time. I truly believe this show has ruined any other Broadway show for me-- nothing will be able to top this! Thank you, thank you for bringing such an incredible cast and musical to Broadway!!

Very Intense	12/26/2009

Eileen From the first scene I connected with the characters. Their words reminded me of different people in my life, including myself. I laughed, I cried, I loved it.

Exceeds all expectations	12/25/2009

Tom V Having bought the cd months ago and loving every minute of it, I went to see Next to Normal with very high expectations. How often does it happen that a show largely exceeds those expectations? Perfect in any way. Although I was in town for 5 days only, I managed to see it 3 times!

Amazing	12/24/2009

Anne My fifteen year old daughter and I went on a trip to NYC over Thanksgiving. She saw the show the first night we were there. I do not approve of seeing shows twice when I have the opportunity to expand my horizons, but when she emerged from the theatre in tears and insisted I see it the next night, I gave in. It was the best broadway experience of my life. My heart rushes as I type. Marvelous. Just marvelous. ~Anne from Austin

Better Than Great	12/20/2009

Beth I was not sure what to expect even though I had heard a bit about the show before hand. While it was a very heavy topic it was not really depressing. I think that had to do with the rock musical aspect and some of the comedic parts of the show. I truly found it engaging and meaningful. The staging was wonderful. The cast was fantastic, with rich, full voices and extremely relate-able characters. I enjoyed a show that in any other genre would have been very heavy handed and made me feel depressed.

Real	12/18/2009

Katrina I loved Next To Normal. Unlike a lot of shows, Next To Normal is real and blunt and honest, with fantastic music. Love love love. :)

Astounding	12/14/2009

JT This is by far the most powerful and moving show I have ever seen. The cast was absolutely superb, making their characters so real as to make it seem more than a show. You get totally consumed by the story. May this show never close!

Incredible Performance!	12/14/2009

JT Went to this show last night and enjoyed every second of it! The setting is amazing. The musical performance was breath-taking. I liked the way the "orchestra/band" is part of the set. (usually they are hidden off somewhere). The story line is so realistic and keeps me waiting to see what will happen next. Great great show! BRAVO to cast, crew, musicians and all involved in this project. I will definitely pass along this show to all my friends and family as a "must-see" event. --JT

Mrs	12/13/2009

Phoebe Lou Roome I bought tickets for my two daughters, one grand daughter (23) and one son in law and myself. My son Jonathan Berger (sub) was the drummer so we were thrilled to see and hear him play this incredible music with such passion and feeling. We all laughed, cried and went through every emotion possible. It was spellbinding, breathtaking, marvelous, painful, beautiful. The sets were great. The actors were the BEST. The voices, the music - WOW. We were drained and stunned. I give it ******** Phoebe.

Best musical ever seen!	12/ 2/2009

Ludwig We came from Germany, visiting Next to Normal in September and both agreed: The best Musical we've ever seen!!! And we had seen a lot of shows all over the World. Many of them unforgettable, like "Sunset Boulevard" and "Beauty and the Beast"

LOVED IT!!!!!	11/22/2009

Elsie This is the best show I have ever seen. They grabed my attention from the very start. It made me feel so many different emotions like a roller coaster. I cried and laughed...and I plan to do it again. FYI: after the show, they were all so friendly and signed every playbill. That meant a lot.

Touched my heart	11/20/2009

Shannon This show was absolutely fantastic!!! One of the best I have ever seen. This show made me laugh, cry, sit on the edge of my seat, and laugh so hard. I felt like I was one of the family members, riding the roller coaster of their lives.

Next to Perfect	11/15/2009

Hannah On coming to new York for a five day holiday with my parents and brother, the most important decision to me was what to see on Broadway. The four of us have very different tastes, so it took a lot to persuade them to pay for us to see the show. However, when we left, they were just as drained and energised as I was. The show reached out to all of us in very different ways, but we were left with thoughts that refused to go away for quite some time. It touched me in a way i had not previously thought possible, and gave me such a huge new appreciation for my own family. The uplifting and beautiful music and the astonishing acting has left an imprint on all of our hearts!

Left Me Speechless	11/14/2009

Megan Haase Never have I experienced a show with such a moving, realistic storyline that hit as close to home as Next To Normal. The cast is amazingly talented, the set is gorgeous, and the music plays nonstop on my ipod and in my heart. Thank you for this wonderous, fantastic, flawless show!

Unique and Amazing Show	11/14/2009

Natalie This musical is an amazingly brave musical. Not many musicals have a story line containing bipolar disorder and such grief that this family endures. The music is fantastic as well is the amazing cast. Alice Ripley and the rest of the cast grasp the feelings perfectly. I recommend seeing this new musical.

Absolutely amazing	11/13/2009

Diane This show was the highlight of our trip to NYC. I was already in love with the music and actually seeing the show up close (third row!) was an experience I will never forget. The acting and singing was the best I have ever seen in a musical and the story is so relevant and thought provoking. If you go on tour, come to Milwaukee!!

Amazing, Haunting, and Overall Haunting Show	11/ 8/2009

Karl I just recently saw the show the score was amazing, and the script was cleverly written. The entire cast had amazing voices and were great actors. I hope to see it again soon.

5th time last night!	11/ 7/2009

Josh BEST show on Broadway! Saw it for my 5th time last night!

Left a piece of myself behind	10/26/2009

Kelly Marie McKenna Next To Normal touches a part of me that was hidden and separate for so much of my life that I am sometimes surprised it is still there. I see a little piece of myself in nearly every character. I see a story that is brave in its telling, taxing for the audience and tenacious in its goal of education and emotional growth for all involved. I am in love with the mess that is left for us at the end. It simply would have been outrageous to lay down a squeaky clean resolution, easier perhaps, though we would have been cheated. The things that are easy rarely carry much worth. I left the theatre on a Monday night secure in the knowledge that I had grown in spirit and soul. There is a piece of my being that now resides in the Booth, deeply invested into the heart of Next To Normal.

the best show i have ever seen in my life!!!!!!!!!!!	10/21/2009

michael As I entered the Booth theater I saw a lit up 3 level set and I knew that I was in for a real treat! The overture began and I was all ready in love!! When the first act was over I had gone through every emotion in my body. Then the second act started and i couldnt wait to see what else was in store! "There will be light" just ended and i was crying! I love this show i said to my self. NEXT TO NORMAL is now my favorite show!!! and since then i have seen the show a lot of times. This show is the best show I have ever seen in my life!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU NEXT TO NORMAL

Moved to Tears	10/21/2009

Connie I have never been so gripped and mesmerized by a performance as when we saw Next to Normal this past weekend. My youngest daughter is studying Drama in NYC so we go to the theater often. This is the one show she wanted to see for her birthday. Well we were all moved to tears....not once or twice but multiple times. Sad tears and happy tears. Alice Ripley was AMAZING! It was incredible to see how moved the audience was, and more so to see how moved and inspired my daughter was. No one can ever question her 2009 Tony for Best Lead Actress in a Musical! She certainly earned it, as did the entire cast for Best Musical! Bravo!!!

Next to London?	10/18/2009

David Baxter I had only read a few word of mouth recommendations for Next to Normal but the show was the undoubted highlight of our recent trip to New York from England. The story of the Goodman family is beautifully told but the decision to make it a musical is genius. The songs allow the characters to reveal their innermost thoughts and feelings to the audience. A remarkable cast show utter conviction and althogh a standing ovation is regarded as "unBritish" I was on my feet to salute this extraordinary show. Normal it is not in any sense and I hope that London producers will be brave enough to bring this show to the West End as it will live in my memory for a very long time.

GREAT GREAT GREAT!!!!	10/10/2009

Erika Z Amazing. A must see. I loved every second of it. I could feel exactily what the actors were feeling on stage. Bravo to the cast!

Next to Perfection - explosive and gripping	10/ 5/2009

Rob O from Toronto I came from Toronto to see this show in September. Never have I watched a musical that created such a heavy heart that the whole of the audience broke out into tears, laughter, and emotions. Bravo to a show where the audience was up on its feet to give a standing ovation before the curtain call formally began. Bravo to a show where people left this theatre thinking. This is not just a performance, this is something special. I returned a week later with two friends who I dragged to New York to see this. They cannot stop talking about it to this day. Next to Normal is now what Phantom was to us in the 80s and 90s.