Next To Normal Tickets

I understood when I bought the tickets that I would be attending a musical dealing with a very serious issue but I thought that it would be more riveting. The show started at a very slow pace with some light humor. It took a while for the show to really draw my attention in any way. After a while the musical delved into the very concerning subject of a family member with very serious mental health issues. At times I was pulled into the emotion and feeling of the play only to be actually bored at other times. When lead actress and Tony Award winner Alice Ripley sang, as Diane, her words were very difficult to understand. I don't know if there was a problem with the sound system or it was her voice, I was not the only person who commented on this. The singing of Asa Somers as Dan, Curt Hansen as Gabe, Emma Honton as Natalie, Preston Sadleir as Henry and Jeremy Kushnier as Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine was solid but there were no standouts. Actually the highlight of the singing was when Asa Somers and Curt Hansen sang together, their harmony was superb. On another subject the set was incredible, three floors used thoroughout the musical. The musicians were placed on the upper two floors on both sides, it added a lot to the performance. Next to Normal dealt with a very tough subject but regrettably I was not drawn into the performance.

I accompanied my mom, who suffers from bipolar disorder, and a friend from her support group that also suffers from mental illness, to Next to Normal. For different reasons, all 3 of us reacted by saying "it was like seeing my own life before me on stage". The validation from that experience was immeasurable. This is not only a must see for anyone touched by mental illness, but particularly by those as yet untouched so that they can gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by consumers and families, and, hopefully in turn, become agents for change the fight against stigma.

I saw this show in New York back in December and I had mixed feelings about it. After seeing it in San Diego with Alice Ripley it was a million times better. It could have been the fact that I saw the show in New York on a Monday evening with about half an audience. You could tell the energy was low and about half way through "I miss the mountains" the audience began applauding, thinking (or rather hoping) the song was over. On top of having the star of the show Alice Ripley reviving her lead performance, I felt that the entire cast had so much more energy than the Broadway cast did. One thing that really hard for me with both performances i saw, was that I didn't feel Diana was the lead character in the show. It may have just been my reaction to those specific performances but both times I felt it was hard to connect with Diana, almost like she had to come through just a little bit more in order for me to completely follow her storyline. On the contrary, the first time I saw the production I walked out feeling that I had just watched Dan's story and with the touring cast I felt like it was Natalie's story. It's possible that because there are so few characters in the show the person who's story the audience follows really depends on what actor is fully present during that particular performance. Overall I enjoyed it much more seeing the show the second time. I thought Alice Ripley was wonderful and I felt like it was such a treat to get to see her perform in the role of Dianna. The show says so much and every time I see it or listen to the music I find another level to it.

I would highly recommend Next to Normal. It is intense and touching, with an infectious soundtrack and a talented cast. There are some really memorable scenes, and it tackles a subject matter that you don't typically see in a Broadway musical. The star, Alice Ripley, was a little tough to listen to vocally. Her voice sounds pretty strained and at parts she is hard to understand. But her acting is good, and the rest of the cast member's vocals make up for it. I LOVED the music and can't wait to get the soundtrack. Note: don't research the show or read up on it before seeing it. You will appreciate it more if everything hasn't already been given away.

One of the best musicals I have ever seen. It is simply brillant!

great production. all of the singers were great!!!!

This play was intensely absorbing, with excellent characterizations, fine acting, and a rousing rock-score that raised and defined the mood of the story. It was beautifully written with a tenderness and understanding of the tragedy of mental illness, and I shall consider it exceedingly memorable in my daily reality.

I had also heard great things about this musical and was excited to see it. The story line and performance was excellent overall. The biggest issue was the main singer Alice Ripley. Her voice was awful. It sounded distorted and was hard to understand. She wasn't able to hit some of the bigger notes without sounding raspy or off pitch. I listened to the recorded version after the show and was able to hear what her voice used to be like. I wish that I had gotten to see the show with an understudy or someone whose voice was less distracting. The rest of the performers were excellent.

It was absolutly fantastic!! The music was amazing and Alice Riply's performance was outstanding!! This show will forever be one of my favorite shows!

The play itself was great. The music was fantastic and the actors who portrayed Dad, Natalie, Gabe, and Henry did an outstanding job. My problem lies with Alice Ripley who played Diana. Her singing was terrible. She was sour and it sounded like she was compensating. It was painful listening to her sing. It wasn't until the intermission that I heard rumors that she strained her voice. If she was "injured', then why wasn't the understudy assigned to take the role?