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Overview

Synopsis

Next to Normal is the story of Diana Goodman and her family. Traumatized by the death of her infant son from an undiagnosed intestinal obstruction, Diana has lived with bipolar depressive disorder and delusional episodes for the past seventeen years. The illness has affected everyone in her life, and has nearly torn her family apart on several occasions. With subject matter rendered achingly recognizable by Brian Yorkey, and a dynamic, energetic pop-rock score by Tom Kitt, Next to Normal is a show that enables a small group of actors to showcase powerhouse vocals while exploring pressing contemporary issues of trauma, loss, mental health treatment, and the meaning of family.

Show Information

Music
Tom Kitt
Lyrics
Brian Yorkey
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
2008
Genres
Drama
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
2000s
Cast Size
small
Orchestra Size
Rock Combo
Dancing
None
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Mature Audiences, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Dan

Lead

Male

Tenor

Natalie

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Diana

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Dr. Madden, Dr. Fine, Anesthesiologist

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Gabe

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Henry

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Songs

Act One

  • "Prelude" – Orchestra
  • "Just Another Day" – Diana, Natalie, Gabe, Dan
  • "Everything Else" – Natalie
  • "Who's Crazy" / "My Psychopharmacologist and I" – Dan, Doctor Fine, Diana
  • "Perfect for You" – Henry, Natalie
  • "I Miss the Mountains" – Diana
  • "It's Gonna Be Good" – Dan, Natalie, Henry, Diana
  • "He's Not Here" – Dan
  • "You Don't Know" – Diana
  • "I Am the One" – Dan, Gabe, Diana
  • "Superboy and the Invisible Girl" – Natalie, Diana, Gabe
  • "I'm Alive" – Gabe
  • "Make Up Your Mind" / "Catch Me I'm Falling" – Doctor Madden, Diana, Dan, Natalie, Gabe, Henry
  • "I Dreamed a Dance" – Diana, Gabe
  • "There's a World" – Gabe
  • "I've Been" – Dan
  • "Didn't I See This Movie?" – Diana
  • "A Light in the Dark" – Dan, Diana

Act Two

  • "Wish I Were Here" – Diana, Natalie
  • "Song of Forgetting" – Dan, Diana, Natalie
  • "Hey #1" – Henry, Natalie
  • "Seconds and Years" – Doctor Madden, Dan, Diana
  • "Better Than Before" – Doctor Madden, Dan, Natalie, Diana
  • "Aftershocks" – Gabe
  • "Hey #2" – Henry, Natalie
  • "You Don't Know" (Reprise) – Diana, Doctor Madden
  • "How Could I Ever Forget?" – Diana, Dan
  • "It's Gonna Be Good" (Reprise) – Dan, Diana
  • "Why Stay?" / "A Promise" – Diana, Natalie, Dan, Henry
  • "I'm Alive" (Reprise) – Gabe
  • "The Break" – Diana
  • "Make Up Your Mind" / "Catch Me I'm Falling" (Reprise) – Doctor Madden, Diana, Gabe
  • "Maybe (Next to Normal)" – Diana, Natalie
  • "Hey #3" / "Perfect for You" (Reprise) – Henry, Natalie
  • "So Anyway" – Diana
  • "I Am the One" (Reprise) – Dan, Gabe
  • "Light" – Diana, Dan, Natalie, Gabe, Henry, Doctor Madden

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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