Before the show
What is “Feeling Electric”?
This was the original 10-minute workshop title of Next to Normal.
Who is Diana Goodman?
The story centers around this mother living with bipolar disorder.
What is folk/rock?
The musical style blends contemporary rock, theatre pop, and this folk-influenced genre.
What is a two-level stage with stairs?
The set featured this structure to resemble a suburban home.
What is being completely “normal”?
The title argues that this idea is impossible.
Who is Brian Yorkey?
He wrote the book and lyrics for Next to Normal.
Who is Gabe?
This character is revealed to have died as an infant, though Diana sees him as a teenager.
What is “I’m Alive”?
This high-energy rock song introduces Gabe’s presence.
What is visible on stage during the performance?
The band was unique because the instruments were displayed in this way.
What are medication and ECT?
The show questions the ethics of these psychiatric treatments.
Who is Tom Kitt?
He composed the music for the show.
What is Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)?
This treatment causes Diana to lose her memory.
What is “I Miss the Mountains”?
This emotional solo features Diana longing to feel her emotional “mountains” again.
Who is the therapist/doctor?
This character breaks into song frequently as part of therapy sessions.
What is the 2024 London production of Next to Normal?
This 2024 West End revival moved to Wyndham’s Theatre in London.
Who is Sergio Trujillo?
This Broadway choreographer created the original choreography.
What is 733 performances?
The original Broadway production ran this many performances.
What is “Superboy and the Invisible Girl”?
This song expresses Natalie’s feelings of being overlooked.
What is that he is dead?
The audience discovers this shocking truth about Gabe at the same time Diana does.
What is Rent?
This earlier rock musical helped pave the way for shows like Next to Normal.
What is challenging the “happy musical” stereotype by exploring mental illness and grief in a typical family?
This was Yorkey’s main goal in creating the musical.
What is the Pulitzer Prize?
In 2010, the show won this prestigious award for Drama.
What is mostly sung through with minimal dialogue?
The musical is best described as this type of format.
What is anxiety, mania, and internal chaos?
The rock score was used not just for rebellion, but to represent this mental state.
What is the internal struggle of an average family dealing with mental illness?
Unlike mega-musicals about war or revolution, this show proved high stakes could come from this.