Test Your Next to Normal Knowledge

Next to Normal: A Summary of the Broadway Musical

• Next to Normal is a 2008 American rock musical with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt.

• The musical addresses the struggles of a mother with worsening bipolar disorder and the effects on her family, including grief, depression, suicide, drug abuse, ethics in modern psychiatry, and the underbelly of suburban life.

• Before its Off-Broadway debut, Next to Normal won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Score and received Drama Desk Awards nominations for Outstanding Actress and Outstanding Score.

• The musical opened on Broadway in April 2009, was nominated for eleven Tony Awards, and won three: Best Original Score, Best Orchestration, and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for Alice Ripley.

• Next to Normal won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, becoming the eighth musical in history to receive the honor.

• The musical has had numerous international productions and a US tour with Alice Ripley reprising her Broadway role.

• The story is told in two acts, with Act I focusing on the family's struggles with Diana's mental illness and Act II dealing with Diana's memory loss following electroconvulsive therapy.

• The musical explores various forms of treatment for bipolar disorder, including psychopharmacological therapies, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy.

• The disorder is now separated into bipolar types I and II, and the musical's portrayal of bipolar disorder and treatment may not align with current diagnostic standards.

• Next to Normal began as a 10-minute workshop sketch in 1998 and went through several readings and workshops before premiering Off-Broadway in 2008.

• The musical has had several notable casts, including Norbert Leo Butz, Sherie Rene Scott, Anthony Rapp, and Alice Ripley.

• The musical's development and success reflect a growing openness and recognition of mental health issues in popular culture and the arts.Next to Normal: From Off-Broadway to International Productions

• Next to Normal is a musical that focuses on a family's pain and their struggles with mental illness.

• The show was workshopped in 2006 and 2007, with changes made to the book and score to focus on the family's emotions.

• The Off-Broadway production premiered at Second Stage Theatre in 2008 and received mixed reviews.

• The show moved to the Arena Stage in Virginia, where it received rave reviews.

• The Broadway production opened in 2009 and received critical acclaim, breaking box office records at the Booth Theatre.

• The original Broadway cast included Alice Ripley, Brian d'Arcy James, and Aaron Tveit.

• Next to Normal was the first musical to publish its script over Twitter, earning it an OMMA Award.

• The show went on its first North American tour from 2010-2011, with Alice Ripley reprising her role as Diana.

• International productions have been staged in Nordic countries, Asia, Australia, America, and Europe.

• These productions have featured changes in direction, design, and choreography, but have maintained the original music, lyrics, and book.

• Notable productions include a diverse and inclusive version at East West Players in Los Angeles and a Spanish-language production in Mexico City starring Susana Zabaleta as Diana.

• In October 2022, it was announced that Next to Normal will receive its London premiere at the Donmar Warehouse in August 2023, featuring Caissie Levy as Diana.International Productions and Controversies of Next to Normal

• Next to Normal is a musical that premiered in New York City in 2008, with music by Tom Kitt and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey.

• The musical tells the story of a suburban mother, Diana, who struggles with bipolar disorder and the effects of her illness on her family.

• The show has been produced internationally in countries such as Spain, Portugal, Russia, and Poland, with different translations and casts.

• The UK premiere of the musical is set to take place in 2023 at the Donmar Warehouse in London.

• The musical won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, although it was not on the shortlist of three candidates submitted to the Pulitzer Prize board by the Drama jury.

• The jury chairman, Charles McNulty, publicly criticized the board for overlooking three plays in favor of Next to Normal, which was running on Broadway at the time of the award.

• The musical has also received other major awards and nominations, including Tony Awards and Drama Desk Awards.

• In 2021, the songs of the musical were featured in a musical episode of the television show Riverdale, with a cast album produced via WaterTower Music.

• The musical contains literary references and allusions, including to the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

• The show has been praised for its frank portrayal of mental illness and its effects on families, but has also been criticized for its handling of certain themes and its portrayal of mental health professionals.

• The musical's original Broadway production featured a cast that included Alice Ripley, J. Robert Spencer, and Jennifer Damiano in the principal roles.

• The musical's legacy has included its impact on the portrayal of mental illness in popular culture and its influence on other musicals dealing with serious themes.

Next to Normal: A Summary of the Broadway Musical

• Next to Normal is a 2008 American rock musical with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt.

• The musical addresses the struggles of a mother with worsening bipolar disorder and the effects on her family, including grief, depression, suicide, drug abuse, ethics in modern psychiatry, and the underbelly of suburban life.

• Before its Off-Broadway debut, Next to Normal won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Score and received Drama Desk Awards nominations for Outstanding Actress and Outstanding Score.

• The musical opened on Broadway in April 2009, was nominated for eleven Tony Awards, and won three: Best Original Score, Best Orchestration, and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for Alice Ripley.

• Next to Normal won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, becoming the eighth musical in history to receive the honor.

• The musical has had numerous international productions and a US tour with Alice Ripley reprising her Broadway role.

• The story is told in two acts, with Act I focusing on the family's struggles with Diana's mental illness and Act II dealing with Diana's memory loss following electroconvulsive therapy.

• The musical explores various forms of treatment for bipolar disorder, including psychopharmacological therapies, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy.

• The disorder is now separated into bipolar types I and II, and the musical's portrayal of bipolar disorder and treatment may not align with current diagnostic standards.

• Next to Normal began as a 10-minute workshop sketch in 1998 and went through several readings and workshops before premiering Off-Broadway in 2008.

• The musical has had several notable casts, including Norbert Leo Butz, Sherie Rene Scott, Anthony Rapp, and Alice Ripley.

• The musical's development and success reflect a growing openness and recognition of mental health issues in popular culture and the arts.Next to Normal: From Off-Broadway to International Productions

• Next to Normal is a musical that focuses on a family's pain and their struggles with mental illness.

• The show was workshopped in 2006 and 2007, with changes made to the book and score to focus on the family's emotions.

• The Off-Broadway production premiered at Second Stage Theatre in 2008 and received mixed reviews.

• The show moved to the Arena Stage in Virginia, where it received rave reviews.

• The Broadway production opened in 2009 and received critical acclaim, breaking box office records at the Booth Theatre.

• The original Broadway cast included Alice Ripley, Brian d'Arcy James, and Aaron Tveit.

• Next to Normal was the first musical to publish its script over Twitter, earning it an OMMA Award.

• The show went on its first North American tour from 2010-2011, with Alice Ripley reprising her role as Diana.

• International productions have been staged in Nordic countries, Asia, Australia, America, and Europe.

• These productions have featured changes in direction, design, and choreography, but have maintained the original music, lyrics, and book.

• Notable productions include a diverse and inclusive version at East West Players in Los Angeles and a Spanish-language production in Mexico City starring Susana Zabaleta as Diana.

• In October 2022, it was announced that Next to Normal will receive its London premiere at the Donmar Warehouse in August 2023, featuring Caissie Levy as Diana.International Productions and Controversies of Next to Normal

• Next to Normal is a musical that premiered in New York City in 2008, with music by Tom Kitt and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey.

• The musical tells the story of a suburban mother, Diana, who struggles with bipolar disorder and the effects of her illness on her family.

• The show has been produced internationally in countries such as Spain, Portugal, Russia, and Poland, with different translations and casts.

• The UK premiere of the musical is set to take place in 2023 at the Donmar Warehouse in London.

• The musical won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, although it was not on the shortlist of three candidates submitted to the Pulitzer Prize board by the Drama jury.

• The jury chairman, Charles McNulty, publicly criticized the board for overlooking three plays in favor of Next to Normal, which was running on Broadway at the time of the award.

• The musical has also received other major awards and nominations, including Tony Awards and Drama Desk Awards.

• In 2021, the songs of the musical were featured in a musical episode of the television show Riverdale, with a cast album produced via WaterTower Music.

• The musical contains literary references and allusions, including to the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

• The show has been praised for its frank portrayal of mental illness and its effects on families, but has also been criticized for its handling of certain themes and its portrayal of mental health professionals.

• The musical's original Broadway production featured a cast that included Alice Ripley, J. Robert Spencer, and Jennifer Damiano in the principal roles.

• The musical's legacy has included its impact on the portrayal of mental illness in popular culture and its influence on other musicals dealing with serious themes.