Next to Normal
The unit set is comprised of a series of platforms and panels which open or slide away to reveal different furnishings, identifying the separate locations within the Goodmans’ home, Natalie’s school, and the various hospitals visited by Diana. The upstage panel and window units evoke the silhouette of the family’s home, but the obtuse angles and torn strips of muslin that adorn the entire structure evoke a setting that is harsh and cold instead of loving and warm.
A family of four struggles to overcome the fallout of a great personal tragedy they shared in their past, especially the mother’s resulting bipolar disorder with hallucinations. But when the prescribed medical treatments take as much mental and emotional toll on everyone as the illness itself, they must decide if true normalcy is such a worthwhile goal.
Book and Lyrics by Brian Yorkey, Music by Tom Kitt
Presented by the American Heritage Center for the Arts, November 2015
Directed by Johnpaul Moccia, Musical Direction by Nina VanDerhoof
Lighting Design by Ryan Bible
Costume Design by Nichole Dickey
Photographs courtesy of Ryan Bible
Devin Pierce Scheef
Scenic Design for Live Theatre
Copyright 2015. Devin Scheef. All Rights Reserved.