- published: 24 Jan 2014
- views: 414004
Next to Normal (styled as next to normal) is a rock musical with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. Its story concerns a mother who struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effect that her illness has on her family. The musical also addresses such issues as grieving a loss, suicide, drug abuse, ethics in modern psychiatry, and suburban life.
Next to Normal received several workshop performances before it debuted off-Broadway in 2008, winning the Outer Critics' Circle Award for Outstanding Score and receiving nominations for Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Actress (Alice Ripley) and Outstanding Score. After an Off-Broadway run, the show then played at the Arena Stage in its temporary venue in Arlington, Virginia from November 2008 to January 2009.
The musical opened on Broadway in April 2009. It was nominated for eleven 2009 Tony Awards and won three, Best Original Score, Best Orchestration and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for Alice Ripley. It also won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, becoming just the eighth musical in history to receive the honor. The previous musical to win the Pulitzer was Rent, in 1996, which was also directed by Michael Greif. In awarding the prize to Kitt and Yorkey, the Pulitzer Board called the show "a powerful rock musical that grapples with mental illness in a suburban family and expands the scope of subject matter for musicals."
Aaron Kyle Tveit ( /təˈveɪt/; born October 21, 1983) is an American theatre and film actor originally from Middletown, New York. He is known for originating the roles of Gabe in Next to Normal and Frank Abagnale Jr. in Catch Me If You Can. He also is known recurring role in The CW's teen drama Gossip Girl as Tripp, Nate Archibald's cousin and Serena van der Woodsen's ex-lover.
Tveit graduated from Middletown High School in 2001, where he was active both in theater and sports, playing golf, soccer and basketball while also performing in all four of his school's theater productions. He turned down business school scholarships to major in vocal performance at Ithaca College, a decision his parents supported, before switching to musical theater after his freshman year because he missed acting and theater.
Tveit left Ithaca College after two years to join the national tour of Rent as Steve and covering Roger/Mark. Following Rent, he was cast as Link Larkin in the first national tour of Hairspray.
Next to Normal - Broadway - Original Cast
'Next to Normal' - 2009 Tony Awards Performance - 'You Don't Know' & 'I am the One'
Next to Normal (Broadway) - Jessica Phillips and Kyle Dean Massey
NEXT TO NORMAL (Broadway) - "You Don't Know"/"I Am The One" [LIVE @ The 2009 Tony Awards]
Just Another Day- Next To Normal
Next to Normal Broadway - last performance of Alice Ripley, Jennifer Damiano, and Brian d'Arcy James
Next to Normal - "Superboy and The Invisible Girl" w/Jennifer, Alice & Aaron @ pre-Tony concert
Show Clip - Next to Normal - "Catch Me I'm Falling"
Next to Normal Broadway - Marin Mazzie, Jason Danieley, and Meghann Fahy
Next to Normal - Original Off-Broadway Cast (early version with Costco)
Next To Normal - I'm Alive
Verrry very Next to Normal :]
I Am The One (reprise) :: Next to Normal Off-Broadway
Next to Normal (2nd Broadway Preview) - Original Cast
DAN
Can you tell me what it is you’re afraid of?
Can you tell me why I’m afraid it’s me?
Can I touch you?
We’ve been fine for so long now
How could something go wrong that I can’t see?
‘Cause I’m holding on
And I won’t let go
I just thought you should know
I am the one who knows you
I am the one who cares
I am the one who’s always been there
I am the one who’s helped you
And if you think that I just don’t give a damn
You just know who I am
Could you leave me?
GABE
Hey Dad, it’s me
DAN
Could you let me go under?
GABE
Why can’t you see?
DAN
Would you watch as I drown
BOTH
And wonder why
DAN
Are you bleeding?
GABE
Are you waiting, are you wishing, are you wanting all that she can’t give?
DAN
Are you bruised, are you broken?
GABE
Are you hurting, are you healing, are you hoping for a life to live?
DAN
Does it help you to know
BOTH
Well so am I
DAN
Tell me what to do
GABE
Look at me
DAN
Tell me who to be
GABE
Look at me!
DAN
So I can see what you see
GABE (overlapping)
And you’ll see
DAN
I am the one who holds you
GABE
I am
DAN
I am the one who’ll stay
GABE
I am
DAN
I am the one who won’t walk away
GABE (overlapping)
I won’t walk away
DAN
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I am the one who’ll heal you
GABE
I am
DAN
And now you tell me that I won’t give a damn
GABE
You don’t give a damn
DAN
I know you know
BOTH
Who I am
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
DAN
That’s who
BOTH
I am
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
DAN
That’s who
BOTH
I am
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
DAN
That’s who I am
‘Cause I’m holding on
DIANA
You say you hurt like me
GABE
And I won’t let go
DIANA
You say that you know
DAN AND GABE
Yeah I thought you should know
ALL
Oh!
DIANA
You don’t know
DAN AND GABE
I am the one who knows you
DIANA
I know you don’t know
You say that you’re hurting
I know it ain’t so
You don’t know
Why don’t you just go?
It just lays me low
DAN AND GABE (overlapping)
I am the one who cares
I am the one who’s always been there
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I am the one who needs you
And if you think that I just don’t give a damn
DIANA
When I say
DAN (overlapping)
You just don’t know who I am
DIANA
You don’t know
DAN
Who I am
DIANA
You don’t know
DAN
Who I am
GABE
You just don’t know who I am