All performances are at the FSCJ Nathan H. Wilson Center for the Arts11901 Beach Blvd. Jacksonville FL
Diana
Goodman, a suburban housewife, battles bipolar disorder and hallucinations that
stem from a trauma sixteen years earlier. Her husband Dan, an architect, struggles
to keep their family stable and give his wife emotional support. Their fifteen-year old daughter Natalie
feels frustrated and invisible because her mother persists in clinging to the
fantasy image of a son who may or may not really exist. Diana’s behavior
becomes increasingly bizarre after she decides to stop taking her
medication. She pursues talk
therapy and hypnosis, but eventually becomes so depressed that she attempts
suicide. Desperate to re-connect
with her family, Diana courageously agrees to electroconvulsive therapy. The treatment wipes out her memory,
leaving her frantically searching for a truth that seems just beyond her
reach. When Diana uncovers that
secret, she realizes that she must learn to face life’s problems on her own,
without relying on Dan to pick up the pieces. Dan and Natalie are devastated, but they comfort each other.
They will move forward, not sure of what lies ahead, but reassuring each other
that they will figure things out as they go. Dan visits Diana’s doctor, hoping for answers, and finally
begins opening up about his own struggles and hopes.
Next to Normal won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, becoming
just the eighth musical in history to receive the honor. 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.” It was
nominated for eleven Tony Awards and won three (Best Original Score, Best
Orchestration and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for Alice
Ripley.) The show was
hailed by critics and audiences alike.
Rolling Stone credits the show with “pushing Broadway in new
directions.” The show’s rock score
utilizes the genre to its fullest, ranging from the delicate “I Miss the
Mountains” to the high-energy “Wish I Were Here,” making it easy to see how Next To Normal won the 2009 Tony Award for
Best Score.