Next To Normal Tickets

Mental health is something we tend to look away from but sadly afflicts many everyday people is the USA. This is a story of a family how the dynamics is on so many levels and how the whole family plays a part in this illness. Not to be missed!!!

I came into this show with low expectations but was i dead wrong. A hugely strong cast, every one of them, especially Alice Ripley. No actress could have played the part of a bi-polar afflicted person better than Alice Ripley. Her subtle gestures and that blank stare, wow. Really fantastic. This musical was atypical as far as musicals go. What really hit home is that this could happen (and does) to any family which added such an element of empathy not only for Alice Ripley's character, Diana, but for those of her family who struggled , albeit, more so than Diana herself. Excellent staging, lighting, and music. A definite must-see.

This play was very different than I expected. It was rock and roll and crying and funny and everything that I was hoping for.

I was really looking forward to seeing this show, due to seeing excerpts from the Tony Awards and hearing from people who had seen it in New York. One of the draws of seeing this show was the passionate performance of the star, Alice Ripley. From the very beginning, we could tell that something was wrong with her voice....we didn't know whether it had to do with the audio system, however all the other performers sounded just fine. Only after seeing the show and researching on the internet did we learn that she has been having these problems for months. We paid premium price for these tickets, and I believe that the producers have the responsibility to make changes when necessary. Sadly, it is necessary. The show is terrific, the rest of the cast do a great job. It's a shame that we had to leave the show saying BUT.....

I have been listening to the score and anticipating seeing this show for over 2 years and I was not disappointed. From the minute the show opened we were pulled into the energy and chaos of this family's world. We were sitting in the second row and I don't think we took a breath until intermission. Rarely has a show captured my attention for so long a time. The music, the singing and the dialogue blended together perfectly laying open the raw emotions of the characters. Alice Ripley gives one of the best performances I have ever see. We watched tears roll down her face many times during the play and afterwards wondered how she could put herself through that every night. This is not a feel good musical but an emotional and real musical that you will remember for a long long time.

This show is intense. The cast was awesome. The lead Alice Ripley sounds nothing like the CD so I think she might have been sick or something as I thought she sounded terrible. That was disappointing! She got out sung by the entire cast and it was almost painful to listen to her sing. Her acting was superb and I see why this has earned so many awards. The rest of the cast had the most beautiful voices and were fabulous choices for the roles. Although the musical is far from uplifting, it was outstanding! I highly recommend if you are into the arts and not looking for something to make you laugh and smile (there are some funny moments).

My wife and I have been involved with mental illness for many years, and show was simply wonderful. The story line was accurate, and not just glamorized for the stage. The show theme captivated the audience with its' real portrayal of families dealing with this horrible illness for which there is no cure. We can't wait to see it again.

Next to Normal is a musical that isn't affraid to explore the difficulties of life and the force of love that holds us together through these times. From the impossibly difficult situations to the playful (sometimes crude) humor, Next to Normal provides a story to which we can relate.

I would love to see this again, knowing that the teenage son was not really alive. Everything would seem different the second time around.

Overall, just a fantastic, realistic portrayal of the dysfunction in a normal and not-so-perfect family. The acting was excellent, the music was great. Overall, very, very well done!!

The music was excellent. The story line was a little heavy and was confused a couple of times. I think everyone had an excellent voice except I didn't care for the mother's scratchy voice. It got worse as the play went on. I have seen many broadway shows and it is not your typical broadway voice. Balcony seats were awful. No leg room and you could not see parts of the set.

This show is absolutely amazing. It touches the heart of issues in society today and handles then in a mature, yet sometimes funny, manner. It brought to light struggles that some families go through and it showed us that there is no such thing as normal. I really felt like the message was that everyone is different, there is no normal, and though some people strive to be normal, being something next to normal is perfectly okay.

I feel so lucky to see "Next to Normal" not only because Alice Ripley is part of the touring company but because the play itself is extraordinary and it certainly generated much conversation during intermission, "someone knows someone" who had mental illness of some sort. Mental illness is part of our fabric and because so often it is hidden, mental illness becomes shameful. "Next to Normal" brings mental illness front and center.

An amazing show. This was the fifth time I've seen this show and the cast just keeps getting better and better.

This was a disappointment in a few regards. Although Alice Ripley's acting was very good, both my 20-something daughter & I could not believe this actress won the lead part (much less a Tony award for the same part!), considering her barely average singing ability. She reminded us of the karaoke singer you cant wait to end. Her reviews were deceivingly positive so made for all-the-more an unpleasant surprise. All of the other actors' voices were fantastic, as off-broadway should be. The story was current and gripping. The set and lighting was expert. The musicians did not miss a beat. Patrons were mostly dressed in jeans and sandals. We felt very overdressed, but rightly so, in our dresses and heels. We had a blast after the matinee in the San Diego gaslamp district. Funny, too, that the bored drink bar attendant could not even help us determine which way to find our seat section.

My friend and I knew that it was going to be a thought provoking event, I wasn't prepared for how much the content would affect me. I thought it was really well done with great moments of humor amidst the darkness. My only suggestion would be to bring the music level down a few notches, there were times the orchestra was so loud we could not hear the lyrics. Overall I am really glad I saw this!

RIDICULOUSLY SPECTACULAR AND WONDERFUL. I've already reccomended several of my friends to see it if given the chance. The vocals were fantastic and the emotions were so intense and pure. Everything I wanted/hoped for, and more. :)

I loved how the stage was set up. The 3 tiers with actors coming and going from each level. The music was great. The lead had a very unusual voice. Not exactly my favorite, but it did portray a "manic-ness". I loved the daughter's and son's voices. In the second half, you really felt the whole families' pain. Overall, I felt the musical did a great job with a very painful subject.

absolutely amazing show. the songs and the characters are so easy to relate to!

Asa Somers and Emma Hunton were AMAZING!!!! totally made it worth it. I also saw it on Broadway with the entire original cast and these two totally kept the amazing standards.