"Next to Normal"

Rock Musical "Next to Normal" Turns the Spotlight on Emotional Pain

A rock musical about the devastating toll of mental illness on a contemporary suburban family might seem odd, but "Next to Normal" became one of Broadway's biggest hits. This riveting show swept up three Tony Awards in 2009 and the Pulitzer Prize for its heartbreaking, humorous and unflinchingly authentic look at a seemingly normal modern family struggling with the effects of bipolar disorder. Each character's journey is further punctuated by powerful music scored by Tom Kitt ("American Idiot"). Featuring 30 original songs, including "Just Another Day," "You Don't Know" and "Superboy and the Invisible Girl," "Next to Normal" is, in the words of "The New York Times", "much more than a feel-good musical; it is a feel-everything musical."