Next to Normal
Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt’s Tony Award winning rock musical about a family grappling with bipolar disorder. Filmed live in the West End in 2024.
Where to watch
- PBS (North America only from May 9, 2025)
- Further release dates TBA
theatrical history
BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop
Writer Brian Yorkey and musician and composer Tom Kitt met at Columbia University. The pair were accepted to the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop and were looking for material for a new musical. Yorkey was inspired by a news report about electric shock therapy, and was unnerved to find that the treatment was still being prescribed in the 21st century, and was overwhelmingly prescribed by male doctors to female patients.
The report inspired the creation of Feeling Electric, a ten-minute musical, which was first presented at the Musical Mondays Theater Lab in October 2002.
Feeling Electric received its first full workshop at the Village Theatre in Issaquah, Washington in 2002. This was followed by one-off club performances in New York.
Village Theatre 2005
In 2004, The Village Theatre received a grant from The Jonathan Larson Foundation to produce Feeling Electric.
The musical was presented at the Village Theatre in June 2005 as part of the theatre’s Village Originals program. Directed by Peter Askin, the cast included Amy Spanger (Diana), Benjamin Schrader (Gabe), Natalie (Mary Gaber), Deven May (Doctor), and Jason Collins (Dan).
2005 New York Musical Theatre Festival
In September 2005, Feeling Electric was presented at the Barrow Group Theatre as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Under the direction of Peter Askin, the musical was choreographed by Kathryn Van Meter, with musical direction by Alex Lacamoire (Hamilton), scenic design by Robert Brill, costume design by Jessica Jahn, lighting design by Jeff Croiter, sound design by Simon Matthews, and casting by Clemmons Casting.
The NYMF cast included Amy Spanger (Diana), Joe Cassidy (Dan), Annaleigh Ashford (Natalie/Dr. Wells), Benjamin Schrader as (Gabe/Dr. Fine/Tweak), and Anthony Rapp (Dr. Madden).
An audio recording of the NYMF performance can be found on YouTube.
Re-writes shifted the focus of the musical from being a critique of the medical system, to focusing on the human story of the woman receiving treatment.
World Premier at Second Stage
With the new title of Next to Normal, the Yorkey and Kitt musical received its official world premier off Broadway at Second Stage Theater, opening on February 13, 2008.
The Second Stage production was directed by Michael Greif (RENT), with musical staging by Sergio Trujillo (Memphis), scenic design by Mark Wendland, costume design by Jeff Mahshie, lighting design by Kevin Adams, sound design by Brian Ronan, musical direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, orchestrations by Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt, and vocal arrangements by AnnMarie Milazo.
The premier cast included Adam Chanler-Berat (Henry), Jennifer Damiano (Natalie), Brian d’Arcy James (Dan), Alice Ripley (Diana), Asa Somers (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine) and Aaron Tveit (Gabe).
Critics gave the show mixed reviews, praising the performances of the cast while noting that the book and lyrics were sometimes cliched. Some critics were also concerned about the portrayal of depression and mental illness in the show.
Writing for The New York Times, critic Ben Brantley felt the musical was akin to a Lifetime TV drama, though noted that the music, and singing of lyrics that seemed like “Lifetime buzzwords,” were “...transformative enough to make “Next to Normal” of real value to anyone who cares about the direction and possibilities of the American musical.” Brantley stated that Next to Normal “throbs with an emotional intensity that cannot be dismissed as synthetic” and praised the “ace” cast, notably Alice Ripley and Brian d’Arcy James for “their best work to date...”
In the blog Everything I Know I Learned from Musicals, C. Caggiano stated “At its core, [Next to Normal] has the seeds of a very good musical, but somehow that promise gets lost in the actual execution of the show.” Caggiano was highly critical of the musical’s message — that Diana would be okay if she stopped all treatment for bipolar mania — stating “I've never left a musical so angry.” Caggiano described the message as “uninformed and dangerous.”
As a result of Caggiano’s review, Yorkey and Caggiano began an email correspondence, which according to Caggiano “started out vitriolic but eventually took on a more collegial tone.” Caggiano later reviewed the Broadway production, and was more friendly toward the show.
The off Broadway run of Next to Normal closed at Second Stage on March 15, 2008.
Arena Stage Run
In late 2008, Next to Normal opened in Washington D.C. at Arena Stage on November 21.
Between the off Broadway and D.C. run, Yorkey and Kitt worked on rewrites. Two songs were cut, four songs were replaced with new ones, and an additional new song was added. Small changes were also made to the book and lyrics.
As quoted in Playbill, producer David Stone noted,
Writer Brian Yorkey and musician and composer Tom Kitt met at Columbia University. The pair were accepted to the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop and were looking for material for a new musical. Yorkey was inspired by a news report about electric shock therapy, and was unnerved to find that the treatment was still being prescribed in the 21st century, and was overwhelmingly prescribed by male doctors to female patients.
The report inspired the creation of Feeling Electric, a ten-minute musical, which was first presented at the Musical Mondays Theater Lab in October 2002.
Feeling Electric received its first full workshop at the Village Theatre in Issaquah, Washington in 2002. This was followed by one-off club performances in New York.
Village Theatre 2005
In 2004, The Village Theatre received a grant from The Jonathan Larson Foundation to produce Feeling Electric.
The musical was presented at the Village Theatre in June 2005 as part of the theatre’s Village Originals program. Directed by Peter Askin, the cast included Amy Spanger (Diana), Benjamin Schrader (Gabe), Natalie (Mary Gaber), Deven May (Doctor), and Jason Collins (Dan).
2005 New York Musical Theatre Festival
In September 2005, Feeling Electric was presented at the Barrow Group Theatre as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Under the direction of Peter Askin, the musical was choreographed by Kathryn Van Meter, with musical direction by Alex Lacamoire (Hamilton), scenic design by Robert Brill, costume design by Jessica Jahn, lighting design by Jeff Croiter, sound design by Simon Matthews, and casting by Clemmons Casting.
The NYMF cast included Amy Spanger (Diana), Joe Cassidy (Dan), Annaleigh Ashford (Natalie/Dr. Wells), Benjamin Schrader as (Gabe/Dr. Fine/Tweak), and Anthony Rapp (Dr. Madden).
An audio recording of the NYMF performance can be found on YouTube.
Re-writes shifted the focus of the musical from being a critique of the medical system, to focusing on the human story of the woman receiving treatment.
World Premier at Second Stage
With the new title of Next to Normal, the Yorkey and Kitt musical received its official world premier off Broadway at Second Stage Theater, opening on February 13, 2008.
The Second Stage production was directed by Michael Greif (RENT), with musical staging by Sergio Trujillo (Memphis), scenic design by Mark Wendland, costume design by Jeff Mahshie, lighting design by Kevin Adams, sound design by Brian Ronan, musical direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, orchestrations by Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt, and vocal arrangements by AnnMarie Milazo.
The premier cast included Adam Chanler-Berat (Henry), Jennifer Damiano (Natalie), Brian d’Arcy James (Dan), Alice Ripley (Diana), Asa Somers (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine) and Aaron Tveit (Gabe).
Critics gave the show mixed reviews, praising the performances of the cast while noting that the book and lyrics were sometimes cliched. Some critics were also concerned about the portrayal of depression and mental illness in the show.
Writing for The New York Times, critic Ben Brantley felt the musical was akin to a Lifetime TV drama, though noted that the music, and singing of lyrics that seemed like “Lifetime buzzwords,” were “...transformative enough to make “Next to Normal” of real value to anyone who cares about the direction and possibilities of the American musical.” Brantley stated that Next to Normal “throbs with an emotional intensity that cannot be dismissed as synthetic” and praised the “ace” cast, notably Alice Ripley and Brian d’Arcy James for “their best work to date...”
In the blog Everything I Know I Learned from Musicals, C. Caggiano stated “At its core, [Next to Normal] has the seeds of a very good musical, but somehow that promise gets lost in the actual execution of the show.” Caggiano was highly critical of the musical’s message — that Diana would be okay if she stopped all treatment for bipolar mania — stating “I've never left a musical so angry.” Caggiano described the message as “uninformed and dangerous.”
As a result of Caggiano’s review, Yorkey and Caggiano began an email correspondence, which according to Caggiano “started out vitriolic but eventually took on a more collegial tone.” Caggiano later reviewed the Broadway production, and was more friendly toward the show.
The off Broadway run of Next to Normal closed at Second Stage on March 15, 2008.
Arena Stage Run
In late 2008, Next to Normal opened in Washington D.C. at Arena Stage on November 21.
Between the off Broadway and D.C. run, Yorkey and Kitt worked on rewrites. Two songs were cut, four songs were replaced with new ones, and an additional new song was added. Small changes were also made to the book and lyrics.
As quoted in Playbill, producer David Stone noted,
From the day after Next to Normal opened off-Broadway through opening night at Arena Stage, Tom Kitt, Brian Yorkey, and Michael Greif were committed to improving and rewriting this show with a level of dedication and focus I have seldom seen from a creative team.”
The Arena Stage production utilized the same creative team as the off Broadway run. The cast was also primarily the same, with J. Robert Spencer replacing Brian d’Arcy James in the role of Dan. d’Arcy James was unable to do the DC run due to commitments with Shrek the Musical, which was filmed live on Broadway in 2010.
In a review for DC Theatre Scene, Gary McMillan praised the performances of the cast. McMillan lavished praised on Alice Ripley, effusing “She can take an audience out to the razor’s edge of an emotion and turn on a dime from harrowing sorrow to slapstick comedy, always utterly honest and convincing. It doesn’t hurt that she also has one of the best voices in American musical theatre.” McMillan also noted that J. Robert Spencer “deeply touches” the audience with his performance, Jennifer Damiano was “splendid,” and Aaron Tveit was “so powerful he‘s more electrifying than ECT.” McMillan concluded “The creative team is right on the money – the heightened, hyper-reality of some forms of mental illness and the emotional swells they engender are the perfect stuff of musical theatre.”
Broadway Run
Produced by David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo, and Second Stage Theatre, Next to Normal was scheduled to transfer to Broadway and open at the Longacre Theatre on April 15, 2009. The producers had desired an intimate theatre for the 6-person show, and planned to close the balcony in the 1091 seat Longacre, reducing the seating capacity to 850. When the Booth Theatre – with a smaller capacity of approximately 750 seats – became available, the decision was made to move the Broadway transfer to the Booth.
Next to Normal commenced previews at the Booth Theatre on March 27, 2009, before officially opening on April 15, 2009.
The Broadway production was directed by Michael Grief, with musical staging by Sergio Trujillo, scenic design by Mark Wendland, costume design by Jeff Mahshie, lighting design by Kevin Adams, and sound design by Brian Ronan. Michael Keller was the musical coordinator, and Charlie Alter was the conductor.
The cast included Alice Ripley (Diana), J. Robert Spencer (Dan), Adam Chandler-Berat (Henry), Jennifer Damiano (Natalie), Louis Hobson (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine), and Aaron Tveit (Gabe).
The musical was named by Ben Brantley of The New York Times as Theatre Critic’s Pick. In a glowing review, Brantley noted that the show had undergone significant changes since its off Broadway run, including removing “the last traces of cuteness” and self-aware irony. Brantley exclaimed “...the differences between “Next to Normal” then and now are substantial enough to inspire hope for all imbalanced shows in need of rehabilitation,” and “...transformed a small, stumbling musical curiosity into a work of muscular grace and power.”
Writing on his Everything I Know I Learned from Musicals blog, C. Caggiano felt the show still contained an “anti-psychiatry” bias, but stated “...Next to Normal has greatly improved in terms of quality musical theater. In fact, it's genuinely stirring, heart-breaking at times.”
The musical was nominated for, and won, several awards including 3 Tony Awards (see Awards and Nominations below).
In 2010, Next to Normal was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, becoming the eighth musical to win the prestigious prize. Previous winners include Of Thee I Sing (1932), South Pacific (1950), Fiorello! (1960), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1962), A Chorus Line (1976), Sunday in the Park with George (1985), and RENT (1996). Following Next to Normal, Hamilton (2016) and A Strange Loop (2020) have also won. Oklahoma was awarded a Special Pulitzer Prize in 1944.
A year into the Broadway run of Next to Normal, The New York Times reported that the musical had recouped its $4million capitalization.
A national tour was launched in November 2010.
After 11 previews and 733 performances, Next to Normal closed on Broadway on January 16, 2011.
Spanish-Language Production
A Spanish-language production, Casi Normales, opened in Buenos Aires in 2012. Produced by Pablo del Campo, the production ran for over a decade.
Immersive Production
In 2022, an hour-long immersive production of Next to Normal was performed at the Festival Grec de Barcelona in Spain. Produced again by Pablo del Campo, according to The New York Times, the show’s budget was $1.2million.
The immersive production was directed by Simon Pittman, with projection design by Desilence (Søren Christensen and Tatiana Halbach). The production featured Alice Ripley (Diana), Andy Señor Jr., (Dan), Lewis Edgar (Gabriel), Jade Lauren (Nathalie), Eloi Gómez (Henry), and Adam Pascal (Dr. Madden). Pascal’s scenes were pre-recorded to look like Zoom sessions. The production was performed in English with Spanish and Catalan supertitles.
UK Premier and Donmar Warehouse Production
Next to Normal premiered in the UK at the Donmar Warehouse, opening on August 14, 2023 for a limited engagement.
Directed by Donmar artistic director Michael Longhurst, the production was designed by Chloe Lamford, with movement, choreography, and additional direction by Ann Yee, lighting design by Lee Curran, sound design by Tony Gayle, video design by Tal Rosner, musical direction by Nick Barstow, orchestrations by Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt, and vocal arrangements by AnnMarie Milazzo.
The Donmar cast included Caissie Levy (Diana), Jamie Parker (Dan), Jack Wolfe (Gabe), Eleanor Worthington-Cox (Natalie), Trevor Dion Nicholas (Dr Madden/Dr. Fine), and Jack Ofrecio (Henry). Trevor Dion Nicholas played the Genie in Aladdin which was filmed live in the West End in 2019. A release date has not yet been announced.
The Donmar Warehouse production received mixed to warm reviews. Critics praised the ensemble cast, notably Caissie Levy, but were divided in their opinions on the effectiveness of the musical in portraying mental illness and depression.
Writing for The Guardian, Emma John felt the production to be “somewhat overwhelming,” though noted that the first act contained “plenty of verve and momentum” and “fizzes with humour.” John noted the strong ensemble cast, describing Caissie Levy as “compelling,” and Eleanor Worthington-Cox as “superb.”
The Independent’s Alice Saville described the show as an “unusual, wholly kitsch-free kind of musical, one that’s got the narrowed focus and emotional intensity of a kitchen-sink drama.” Saville praised the cast, stating “This small cast brings so much full-throated passion to a score that delivers belting ballad after belting ballad. It’s hard not to get swept up in it all.” Saville particularly highlighted Caissie Levy as “wonderful,” noting, “…it’s worth a trip to the Donmar’s small space purely to see her sing at the kind of close quarters you wouldn’t get on Broadway, filling each note with a yearning and intensity...” Despite warm praise for the production, Saville ultimately felt the musical fell short — “all this musical-theatre earnestness doesn’t ultimately feel like the best way to explore the painful, complex themes here, however powerful a drug it might be.”
These sentiments were echoed by Clive Davis in The Times, who wrote “a fine cast can’t compensate for the repetitive storyline and music.” Davis ultimately felt “Next to Normal isn’t a bad show by any means. It just doesn’t live up to the claims admirers have made for it.”
Matt Wolf, writing for The New York Times, noted the new production gave the musical “a renewed sting.” Wolf particularly praised Caissie Levy’s portrayal of Diana, stating Levy “steers the production,” and “Whereas the show I recall in New York… was commanding but chilly, this version owes its extra pathos to Levy’s innate warmth.”
WhatsOnStage reviewer Sarah Crompton wished there had been “fewer songs”, and felt “there was an awful lot of drumming,” but ultimately noted that director Michael Longhurst “…has produced an absolutely superb production with a cast who are pitch perfect dramatically as well as vocally. They make it impossible not to feel wrought and moved by the close.” Crompton referred to the production as “an astonishing, involving show,” and an “impressive piece of theatre.”
The Donmar Warehouse production closed on October 7, 2023.
West End Production
In November 2023, it was announced that the Donmar production would transfer to the West End for a special 14-week only engagement at the Wyndham Theatre (see Film History below).
Licensing
Next to Normal is available for licensing via Music Theatre International.
In a review for DC Theatre Scene, Gary McMillan praised the performances of the cast. McMillan lavished praised on Alice Ripley, effusing “She can take an audience out to the razor’s edge of an emotion and turn on a dime from harrowing sorrow to slapstick comedy, always utterly honest and convincing. It doesn’t hurt that she also has one of the best voices in American musical theatre.” McMillan also noted that J. Robert Spencer “deeply touches” the audience with his performance, Jennifer Damiano was “splendid,” and Aaron Tveit was “so powerful he‘s more electrifying than ECT.” McMillan concluded “The creative team is right on the money – the heightened, hyper-reality of some forms of mental illness and the emotional swells they engender are the perfect stuff of musical theatre.”
Broadway Run
Produced by David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo, and Second Stage Theatre, Next to Normal was scheduled to transfer to Broadway and open at the Longacre Theatre on April 15, 2009. The producers had desired an intimate theatre for the 6-person show, and planned to close the balcony in the 1091 seat Longacre, reducing the seating capacity to 850. When the Booth Theatre – with a smaller capacity of approximately 750 seats – became available, the decision was made to move the Broadway transfer to the Booth.
Next to Normal commenced previews at the Booth Theatre on March 27, 2009, before officially opening on April 15, 2009.
The Broadway production was directed by Michael Grief, with musical staging by Sergio Trujillo, scenic design by Mark Wendland, costume design by Jeff Mahshie, lighting design by Kevin Adams, and sound design by Brian Ronan. Michael Keller was the musical coordinator, and Charlie Alter was the conductor.
The cast included Alice Ripley (Diana), J. Robert Spencer (Dan), Adam Chandler-Berat (Henry), Jennifer Damiano (Natalie), Louis Hobson (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine), and Aaron Tveit (Gabe).
The musical was named by Ben Brantley of The New York Times as Theatre Critic’s Pick. In a glowing review, Brantley noted that the show had undergone significant changes since its off Broadway run, including removing “the last traces of cuteness” and self-aware irony. Brantley exclaimed “...the differences between “Next to Normal” then and now are substantial enough to inspire hope for all imbalanced shows in need of rehabilitation,” and “...transformed a small, stumbling musical curiosity into a work of muscular grace and power.”
Writing on his Everything I Know I Learned from Musicals blog, C. Caggiano felt the show still contained an “anti-psychiatry” bias, but stated “...Next to Normal has greatly improved in terms of quality musical theater. In fact, it's genuinely stirring, heart-breaking at times.”
The musical was nominated for, and won, several awards including 3 Tony Awards (see Awards and Nominations below).
In 2010, Next to Normal was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, becoming the eighth musical to win the prestigious prize. Previous winners include Of Thee I Sing (1932), South Pacific (1950), Fiorello! (1960), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1962), A Chorus Line (1976), Sunday in the Park with George (1985), and RENT (1996). Following Next to Normal, Hamilton (2016) and A Strange Loop (2020) have also won. Oklahoma was awarded a Special Pulitzer Prize in 1944.
A year into the Broadway run of Next to Normal, The New York Times reported that the musical had recouped its $4million capitalization.
A national tour was launched in November 2010.
After 11 previews and 733 performances, Next to Normal closed on Broadway on January 16, 2011.
Spanish-Language Production
A Spanish-language production, Casi Normales, opened in Buenos Aires in 2012. Produced by Pablo del Campo, the production ran for over a decade.
Immersive Production
In 2022, an hour-long immersive production of Next to Normal was performed at the Festival Grec de Barcelona in Spain. Produced again by Pablo del Campo, according to The New York Times, the show’s budget was $1.2million.
The immersive production was directed by Simon Pittman, with projection design by Desilence (Søren Christensen and Tatiana Halbach). The production featured Alice Ripley (Diana), Andy Señor Jr., (Dan), Lewis Edgar (Gabriel), Jade Lauren (Nathalie), Eloi Gómez (Henry), and Adam Pascal (Dr. Madden). Pascal’s scenes were pre-recorded to look like Zoom sessions. The production was performed in English with Spanish and Catalan supertitles.
UK Premier and Donmar Warehouse Production
Next to Normal premiered in the UK at the Donmar Warehouse, opening on August 14, 2023 for a limited engagement.
Directed by Donmar artistic director Michael Longhurst, the production was designed by Chloe Lamford, with movement, choreography, and additional direction by Ann Yee, lighting design by Lee Curran, sound design by Tony Gayle, video design by Tal Rosner, musical direction by Nick Barstow, orchestrations by Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt, and vocal arrangements by AnnMarie Milazzo.
The Donmar cast included Caissie Levy (Diana), Jamie Parker (Dan), Jack Wolfe (Gabe), Eleanor Worthington-Cox (Natalie), Trevor Dion Nicholas (Dr Madden/Dr. Fine), and Jack Ofrecio (Henry). Trevor Dion Nicholas played the Genie in Aladdin which was filmed live in the West End in 2019. A release date has not yet been announced.
The Donmar Warehouse production received mixed to warm reviews. Critics praised the ensemble cast, notably Caissie Levy, but were divided in their opinions on the effectiveness of the musical in portraying mental illness and depression.
Writing for The Guardian, Emma John felt the production to be “somewhat overwhelming,” though noted that the first act contained “plenty of verve and momentum” and “fizzes with humour.” John noted the strong ensemble cast, describing Caissie Levy as “compelling,” and Eleanor Worthington-Cox as “superb.”
The Independent’s Alice Saville described the show as an “unusual, wholly kitsch-free kind of musical, one that’s got the narrowed focus and emotional intensity of a kitchen-sink drama.” Saville praised the cast, stating “This small cast brings so much full-throated passion to a score that delivers belting ballad after belting ballad. It’s hard not to get swept up in it all.” Saville particularly highlighted Caissie Levy as “wonderful,” noting, “…it’s worth a trip to the Donmar’s small space purely to see her sing at the kind of close quarters you wouldn’t get on Broadway, filling each note with a yearning and intensity...” Despite warm praise for the production, Saville ultimately felt the musical fell short — “all this musical-theatre earnestness doesn’t ultimately feel like the best way to explore the painful, complex themes here, however powerful a drug it might be.”
These sentiments were echoed by Clive Davis in The Times, who wrote “a fine cast can’t compensate for the repetitive storyline and music.” Davis ultimately felt “Next to Normal isn’t a bad show by any means. It just doesn’t live up to the claims admirers have made for it.”
Matt Wolf, writing for The New York Times, noted the new production gave the musical “a renewed sting.” Wolf particularly praised Caissie Levy’s portrayal of Diana, stating Levy “steers the production,” and “Whereas the show I recall in New York… was commanding but chilly, this version owes its extra pathos to Levy’s innate warmth.”
WhatsOnStage reviewer Sarah Crompton wished there had been “fewer songs”, and felt “there was an awful lot of drumming,” but ultimately noted that director Michael Longhurst “…has produced an absolutely superb production with a cast who are pitch perfect dramatically as well as vocally. They make it impossible not to feel wrought and moved by the close.” Crompton referred to the production as “an astonishing, involving show,” and an “impressive piece of theatre.”
The Donmar Warehouse production closed on October 7, 2023.
West End Production
In November 2023, it was announced that the Donmar production would transfer to the West End for a special 14-week only engagement at the Wyndham Theatre (see Film History below).
Licensing
Next to Normal is available for licensing via Music Theatre International.
Film history
The Donmar Warehouse production transferred to the West End, opening at the Wyndham Theatre on June 18, 2024.
The original London cast reprised their roles, including Caissie Levy (Diana), Jamie Parker (Dan), Jack Wolfe (Gabe), Eleanor Worthington-Cox (Natalie), Trevor Dion Nicholas (Dr Madden/Dr. Fine), and Jack Ofrecio (Henry).
As announced on Instagram, the West End performance was captured between September 9-11, 2024.
The West End run of Next to Normal closed on September 21, 2025.
Next to Normal is scheduled to premier in North America on May 9, 2025 when it will air on PBS. The musical will also be available on demand via the PBS website and app.
Further international releases are to be announced.
The original London cast reprised their roles, including Caissie Levy (Diana), Jamie Parker (Dan), Jack Wolfe (Gabe), Eleanor Worthington-Cox (Natalie), Trevor Dion Nicholas (Dr Madden/Dr. Fine), and Jack Ofrecio (Henry).
As announced on Instagram, the West End performance was captured between September 9-11, 2024.
The West End run of Next to Normal closed on September 21, 2025.
Next to Normal is scheduled to premier in North America on May 9, 2025 when it will air on PBS. The musical will also be available on demand via the PBS website and app.
Further international releases are to be announced.
cast & creative credits
Theatre: Wyndham Theatre, London
Producer: David Stone, James L. Nederlander, The Donmar Warehouse
Book and Lyrics: Brian Yorkey
Music: Tom Kitt
Director: Michael Longhurst Film:
Musical Supervisor: Nigel Lilley
Musical Director: Nick Barstow
Orchestrations: Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt
Vocal Arrangements: Annmarie Milazzo
Movement, Choreography, and Additional Direction: Ann Yee
Scenic and Costume Design: Chloe Lamford
Lighting Design: Lee Curran
Sound Design: Tony Gayle
Video Design: Tal Rosner
Cast:
Caissie Levy (Diana)
Jamie Parker (Dan)
Jack Wolfe (Gabe)
Eleanor Worthington-Cox (Natalie)
Trevor Dion Nicholas (Dr Madden/Dr. Fine)
Jack Ofrecio (Henry)
Producer: David Stone, James L. Nederlander, The Donmar Warehouse
Book and Lyrics: Brian Yorkey
Music: Tom Kitt
Director: Michael Longhurst Film:
Musical Supervisor: Nigel Lilley
Musical Director: Nick Barstow
Orchestrations: Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt
Vocal Arrangements: Annmarie Milazzo
Movement, Choreography, and Additional Direction: Ann Yee
Scenic and Costume Design: Chloe Lamford
Lighting Design: Lee Curran
Sound Design: Tony Gayle
Video Design: Tal Rosner
Cast:
Caissie Levy (Diana)
Jamie Parker (Dan)
Jack Wolfe (Gabe)
Eleanor Worthington-Cox (Natalie)
Trevor Dion Nicholas (Dr Madden/Dr. Fine)
Jack Ofrecio (Henry)
awards & nominations
Original Broadway Production
2007-2008 Outer Critics Circle Awards
Nominations
2009 Tony Awards
Nominations
2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
2007-2008 Outer Critics Circle Awards
Nominations
- Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Alice Ripley)
- Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical
- Outstanding New Score (Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey)
2009 Tony Awards
Nominations
- Best Musical
- Best Director of a Musical (Michael Greif)
- Best Book of a Musical (Brian Yorker)
- Best Actor in a Musical (J. Robert Spencer)
- Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Jennifer Damiano)
- Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Mark Westland)
- Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Kevin Adams)
- Best Sound Design of a Musical (Brian Ronan)
- Best Original Score Written for the Theatre (Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey)
- Best Actress in a Musical (Alice Ripley)
- Best Orchestrations (Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt)
2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
research sources
Articles
Websites
- Arifa Akbar, “‘They’re about the mess of being human’: how the mental health musical won over the West End,” The Guardian (May 24, 2024)
- Ben Brantley, “There, Amid the Music, a Mind Is on the Edge,” New York Times (Feb 14, 2008)
- Ben Brantley, “Fragmented Psyches, Uncomfortable Emotions: Sing Out!,” New York Times (April 15, 2009)
- BWW News Desk, “Anthony Rapp and Amy Spanger headline 'Feeling Electric' at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, BroadwayWorld (Aug 24, 2005)
- C Caggiano, “Next to Normal: Shaky Show, Irresponsible Message,” Everything I Know I Learned from Musicals, (Feb 24, 2008)
- C Caggiano, “Next to Normal Vastly Improved, But Still Biased,” Everything I Know I Learned from Musicals (May 5, 2009)
- Sarah Compton, “Next to Normal review – astonishing UK premiere of Pulitzer-winning musical,” WhatsOnStage (Aug 23, 2023)
- Josh Darvill, “Next To Normal Proshot First Release Date Announced,” Musicals Daily (March 14, 2025).
- Clive Davis, Next to Normal review — farce and tragedy in a slick Broadway import,” The Times (Aug 23, 2023)
- Andrew Gans, “Next to Normal, with Entire Arena Cast, to Play Broadway's Longacre,” Playbill (Feb 17, 2009)
- Andrew Gans, “Donmar Warehouse's Next to Normal Will Transfer to London's West End,” Playbill (Nov 20, 2023)
- Josh Getlin, “The Ballad of Kitt & Yorkey,” Columbia Magazine (Fall 2010)
- David Gordon, “West End Next to Normal, Starring Caissie Levy, Sets PBS Air Date,” TheaterMania (March 13, 2025)
- Patrick Healy, “Broadway’s Unlikely Hit Gives Hope to the Bold,” New York Times (March 28, 2010)
- Emma John, “Next to Normal review – fizzing musical about mental illness,” The Guardian (Aug 23, 2023)
- Kenneth Jones, “Musical Mondays, Showcasing New Musicals, Begins Season Oct. 7 With Feeling Electric,” Playbill (Sept 6, 2002)
- Kenneth Jones, “Seattle Area Workshop of Larson-Winner Feeling Electric Stars a Bat Boy and a Lois Lane June 21-23,” Playbill (June 10, 2005)
- Gary McMillan, “Next to Normal,” DC Theatre Scene (Dec 12, 2008)
- Joel Markowitz, “Chatting with the creators of Next to Normal,” DC Theatre Scene (Dec 11, 2008)
- Alice Saville, “Next to Normal review: A musical about mental health that feels too neat and tidy,” The Independent (Aug 23, 2023)
- Jose Solis, “An Immersive ‘Next to Normal’ Debuts in Barcelona,” New York Times (July 20, 2022)
- Uncredited, “Next to Normal will now play at the Booth Theatre“ New York Theatre Guide (undated)
- Stephi Wild, “West End Production of NEXT TO NORMAL Will Be Filmed Next Week,” BroadwayWorld (Sept 6, 2024)
- Matt Wolf, “Review: ‘Next to Normal’ Is Back, With Extra Pathos,” New York Times (Aug 31, 2023)
Websites
- About the Artists, “Outer Critics Circle Awards: 2007-2008,” Accessed via: https://www.abouttheartists.com/award_groups/11-outer-critics-circle-awards/year/2007-2008
- American Theatre Wing, “Recipient: Village Theatre,” Accessed via: https://americantheatrewing.org/recipients/village-theatre/
- Donmar Warehouse, “Next to Normal: 14 August - 7 October 2023,” Accessed via: https://www.donmarwarehouse.com/whats-on/172//next-to-normal
- Donmar Warehouse, “Next to Normal: Wyndham’s Theatre,” Accessed via: https://www.donmarwarehouse.com/whats-on/189/wyndham-s-theatre/next-to-normal
- IBDb, “Next to Normal,” Accessed via: https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/next-to-normal-483136#ProductionStaff
- Next to Normal, “Cast and Creative,” Accessed via: https://www.nexttonormal.com/cast-creative
- Pulitzer Prizes, “Drama,” Accessed via: https://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-category/218
Written by Luisa Lyons (April 2025)