Next to Normal
Next to Normal, written by Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt, was performed in Tawes Theatre on Friday March 20, and Saturday March 21 as a senior directing thesis by Amanda Varvar. Debuted in 2008, the show deals with issues of mental illness, drug abuse, and the uncertainty of modern psychological treatment.
03/20/2015
Nina Sharp ’12 as Diana Goodman and Alana West ’16 as Dr. Madden performing “Who’s Crazy/My Psychopharmacologist and I”
Matt Ridge ’15 as Gabe and Nina Sharp debating over whether or not to throw Diana’s medication down the drain.
Erin Coffman ’17 as Natalie Goodman and Connor Monroe Lugo-Harris ’18 as Henry before the opening of “Superboy and the Invisible Girl”
Matt Ridge energizes the show with his dynamic performance of “I’m Alive”
Nina Sharp embraces Diana’s mental struggle.
Nicholas Staub and Nina Sharp during their performance of “A Light in the Dark”
Erin Coffman slumps down under the weight of such an emotional show.
The Goodmans gather around the table for their hopeful performance of “Better than Before”
Nicholas Staub seizes a music box from Diana’s hand during “It’s Gonna Be Good (Reprise)”
Nina Sharp as Diana is finally fed up with ineffective psychological treatment.
Diana and her daughter Natalie share an emotional hug during “Next to Normal”
Dan and Gabe finally confront their repressed relationship during “I Am the One (Reprise)”
Alana West looking professional in her costume, designed by Leslie Rothstein ’16.
Nicholas Staub ’15 as Dan Goodman watching his wife perform “You Don’t Know”
Nina Sharp and Erin Coffman performing “Superboy and the Invisible Girl”
Matt Ridge, Nina Sharp, and Alana West performing “Make Up Your Mind/Catch Me I’m Falling”
Nina Sharp and Alana West performing “Didn’t I See This Movie?”
Diana confronts her husband and doctor before her Electroshock Therapy.
Erin Coffman, Nina Sharp, and Nicholas Staub during “Song of Forgetting” after Diana loses her memory.
Nicholas Staub is excited by the prospect of a better life after Diana’s Electroshock Therapy.
Matt Ridge and Nicholas Staub during “I’m Alive (Reprise)”
Alana West performs “Make Up Your Mind/Catch Me I’m Falling (Reprise)”
Connor Monroe Lugo-Harris and Erin Coffman during their performance of “Hey #3”
Natalie attempts to comfort her father after Diana leaves.
The cast performs the last song of the show, “Light”
Nina Sharp performing “I Miss the Mountains”
Matt Ridge, Nina Sharp, and Nicholas Staub performing “I Am the One”
Matt Ridge hovering menacingly during “Suberboy and the Invisible Girl”
Nina Sharp catches Matt Ridge’s arm during an emotional performance of “I Dreamed a Dance”
Nicholas Staub as Dan getting frustrated with Diana’s lack of progress.
Nina Sharp and Erin Coffman performing “Wish I Were Here”
Connor Munroe Lugo-Harris and Erin Coffman during “Hey #1”
Matt Ridge during an emotional performance of “Aftershocks”
Nina Sharp performing “You Don’t Know (Reprise)”
Diana finally decides to forego her treatment and face the world alone.
Nicholas Staub laments Diana’s absence in “I Am the One (Reprise)”
Henry and Natalie finally have a reason to smile during at the end of Act 2.