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
Context
Brian Yorkey conceived of the idea for Next to Normal in 1998, first presenting it in the form of a ten-minute workshop called Feeling Electric. He brought the idea to Tom Kitt when they were both students at the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. Several readings later, Next to Normal was given a production Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre. It ran from January 16 through March 16, 2008. The Broadway production opened on April 15, 2009, and closed on January 16, 2011, after
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ACT ONE
The show opens with Gabe, Diana’s seventeen-year-old son, arriving home at 3:30 in the morning. She’s waited up for him anxiously for the past seven nights in a row, she tells him, imagining all the ways he might have died (“Prelude”). He tells her that she has to let him go; he’s almost eighteen. Dan, Diana’s husband, calls from offstage to ask who she’s talking to, and Diana tells Gabe to go upstairs the back way. “Just me talking to myself,” she tells Dan. Diana begins
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Interactive Character Map
Visualize how the characters in Next to Normal connect and drive the story.
Understand the relationships that shape the story of Next to Normal
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Character Portrayals
See StageAgent members who have performed roles in Next to Normal.
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Songs
Showing 8 of 36 songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number.
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
THEMES
Mental Illness and Treatment
The musical offers a raw, critical look at the medical ethics and modern psychiatry involved in treating chronic conditions like bipolar disorder. Diana’s journey highlights the tension between managing symptoms and maintaining one's sense of self, especially as she undergoes aggressive treatments like Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). The narrative suggests that while medication and therapy are tools for stability, they can also cause a numbing of
to read about the themes, symbols and motifs from Next to Normal and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Key Terms
A group of performers who function as a unit in a production rather than as individuals with leading roles.
Smaller New York theatres producing innovative and experimental works, often stepping stones to Broadway.
A prestigious U.S. award for achievements in journalism, literature, and drama. Many modern plays that reflect social and political themes have received this honor.
A rock musical is a form of musical theatre that incorporates the rhythms, instrumentation, and energy of rock-and-roll into its score. Emerging in the late 1960s with shows like Hair, rock musicals often bring a contemporary, rebellious edge to the stage. They blend theatrical storytelling with the raw power of popular music to attract younger and more diverse audiences.
A production created to showcase the talents of a specific star performer, often tailored to their strengths.
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Guide Written By:
Emma Houlahan
Canadian vocalist and actor now based in London.
