The Sul Ross Department of Visual and Performing Arts opens “Next to Normal,” a musical, on Friday, April 4, in the Studio Theatre in the Francois Fine Arts Building.
A contemporary musical by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey and the winner of three Tony Awards in 2009 and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2010, “Next to Normal” centers around suburban mother Diana Goodman, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder brought on by a past family trauma. Her family struggles to cope with Diana’s condition and their own mental health. “Next to Normal” is the story of a family in crisis just trying to be “normal.”
“This musical isn’t all gloom and doom despite the heavy topics it explores. As a society, we still don’t talk about mental illness enough and so there’s still a lot of tiptoeing around it,” said Director and Sul Ross Associate Professor of Theatre and Cinematic Arts Marjie Scott. “This show dives in and explores the pain, sadness, and even humor in the story of a family’s struggle with mental illness. There is, in fact, humor in some of the darkest places. This show also has a lot of joy. And the music is beautiful and powerful, both in terms of lyrics and composition. I hope everyone sees it.”
“Next to Normal” began in 1998 as a short sketch about a woman undergoing electroconvulsive therapy under the title “Feeling Electric.” Over the next decade, the script and score grew and developed through a series of workshops and was retitled. The play debuted off-Broadway in 2008 and won the Outer Critics’ Circle Award for Outstanding Score, with Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Actress and Outstanding Score. After the run off-Broadway, the show was reworked and then produced at Washington, D.C.’s Arena Stage from November 2008 to January 2009. The musical opened on Broadway in April 2009. It was nominated for 11 Tony Awards that year, and won Best Original Score, Best Orchestration and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for Alice Ripley. It was also awarded the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, becoming only the eighth musical in Pulitzer history to receive the honor.
Performances run Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through April 13. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for seniors (age 65+) and children (12 and under). Admission is free for veterans and SRSU faculty, staff and students with valid ID. All proceeds benefit the Sul Ross Theatre Program. To purchase tickets, visit www.bit.ly/sulross-theatre
“Next to Normal” features Olivia Pertuso, Justin Hinton, Cristian Sanchez, Jenna Reyes, and Bret Scott. It is directed by Marjie Scott with scenic design by Ross Fleming, costume design by Carolyn Barrientes and lighting design by Adrian Soto.
Photo: Olivia Pertuso (Diana) and Justin Hinton (Gabe) rehearse a scene from “Next to Normal,” opening Friday at 7 p.m.