Photo provided by CCT Publicity
Presented by Curtain Call Theatre
Music by Tom Kitt
Book & Lyrics by Brian Yorkey
Directed by Jim Sullivan
Musical direction by Jose Merlo
November 6-8, 12-14, 2015
Braintree, MA
Curtain Call Theatre on Facebook
Review by Travis Manni
(Braintree, MA) From my own upbringing, I thought I understood the definition of dysfunctional, but nothing could have prepared me for the family dynamic put on display in the rock musical Next to Normal. Continue reading
The New England Theatre Geek occasionally reviews theatre outside of our typical jurisdiction. Reviewer Kate Idlebrook attended If/Then while on vacation in The Big City.
Photo by Joan Marcus
Presented by The Richard Rodgers Theatre
Music by Tom Kitt
Book and Lyrics by Brian Yorkey
Richard Rogers Theatre
New York City, New York
If/Then on Facebook
Review by Kate Idlebrook
(NYC) If you have been in the vicinity of a kid under the age of 12 in the past six months, you probably know Idina Menzel, or at least her voice. She’s the star behind the Disney phenomenon Frozen. But if you’re a Broadway aficionado, you already knew her name and have been following her since she came on the scene as Rent’s Maureen Johnson in 1995. Or, perhaps you remember her best as Wicked’s original Elphaba. Continue reading
A woman (Kerry A. Dowling) fantasizes about her psychopharmacologist (Chris Caron) in a scene from the SpeakEasy Stage Company production of Next to Normal, running now thru April 15th at the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont Street, in Boston’s South End. Tix/Info: 617-933-8600/www.SpeakEasyStage.com. Photo: Craig Bailey/Perspective Photo.
Next to Normal; Music by Tom Kitt, Book and Lyrics by Brian Yorkey, SpeakEasy Stage Company, Boston Center for the Arts Roberts Studio Theatre, 3/9/12- 4/15/12, EXTENDED THROUGH 4/22/12 (Second and Final Extension)!!! http://www.speakeasystage.com/doc.php?section=showpage&page=normal.
Read Rebecca’s interview with Kerry Dowling here.
Reviewed by Craig Idlebrook
(Boston, MA) Break a toe and you might end up with a sore back. Twist an ankle and your knee might have trouble compensating. A family is like that. It is a group of humans that moves in concert and is much more adaptable than a body, for better or worse. When a part of the social organism is injured, the other parts imperfectly try to take up the load. What else can you do, amputate?
Speakeasy’s production of Next to Normal provides a clear window into the holistic impact the mental illness of one member of the family has on the family-body. It realistically and powerfully illustrates how we all soldier on when there are pieces of us missing. But this isn’t an “Eat-Your-Vegetables-and-Learn-About-Mental-Illness” production. Next to Normal provides pitch-perfect comedic timing, layered action, great music and a stunning set. Life flows through this play; though it is heartbreaking, it is not a requiem. Tissues are a must, however. Continue reading
