Is He Dead vs. Next to Normal

#1

Is He Dead vs. Next to Normal

Posted: 1/3/08 at 8:35pm

I'm trying to decide which show I should see: Is He Dead or Next to Normal. (I can only choose one.) I would appreciate it if you would share your opinions with me.

Thanks - V

#2

re: Is He Dead vs. Next to Normal

Posted: 1/3/08 at 8:37pm

Um, they're pretty different. You might want to give people something to go on, like what your taste is, etc. Opinions will probably be more helpful that way.

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

#3

re: Is He Dead vs. Next to Normal

Posted: 1/3/08 at 8:37pm

NEXT TO NORMAL does not begin performances until January 16th, so nobody would be able to give an opinion on the show.

I can tell you that IS HE DEAD? is absolutely terrific. I hadn't laughed so hard in a very long time.

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"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

#4

re: Is He Dead vs. Next to Normal

Posted: 1/3/08 at 8:40pm

People have seen it in previous incarnations, though.

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

#5

re: Is He Dead vs. Next to Normal

Posted: 1/3/08 at 8:43pm

Oh, OK.

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"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

#6

re: Is He Dead vs. Next to Normal

Posted: 1/3/08 at 8:49pm

Is He Dead? is supposed to be great, BUT I have a feeling that Next to Normal is going to be absolutely amazing. Personally, that's what I would choose, but either one is a good choice.

#7

re: Is He Dead vs. Next to Normal

Posted: 1/3/08 at 10:04pm

Is He Dead?

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"Everytime you step on that stage it is somebody's first Broadway show and somebody's last Broadway show. Make it count."

#8

re: Is He Dead vs. Next to Normal

Posted: 1/4/08 at 12:09am

EDIT (I did not post this message, someone did under my name)

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"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

Updated On: 1/4/08 at 12:09 AM

#9

re: Is He Dead vs. Next to Normal

Posted: 1/4/08 at 11:37am

Is He Dead is a play, Next To Normal is a Rock Opera...which trips your trigger?
Next To Normal is wonderful, the storyline is difficult as it deals with Manic/Depression and the difficulty of managing the disease and what it does to the family. Emotional just begins to nip the surface of this show.

Is He Dead is Mark Twain....need I say more?

#10

re: Is He Dead vs. Next to Normal

Posted: 1/4/08 at 5:41pm

Next To Normal is FANTASTIC.

Don't know how much they've changed but when I saw it, I absolutely loved it.

I haven't seen Is He Dead? but I can tell you NTN is worth your money and then some...it's really great.

#11

re: Is He Dead vs. Next to Normal

Posted: 1/4/08 at 5:45pm

I'd say absolutely Is He Dead? Like WBaF, I don't think I've laughed that hard in a theater ever. I know I'll be returning there to see it because it was that good. I don't really no anything about Next to Normal, so Is He Dead? gets my pick.

#12

re: Is He Dead vs. Next to Normal

Posted: 1/4/08 at 5:46pm

is he dead? was a lot of fun.
it was great in the second act sort of like
a neil simon farce.

#13

re: Is He Dead vs. Next to Normal

Posted: 1/4/08 at 8:16pm

I am a big fan of Norbert Leo Butz, so I think I'm going to go with Is He Dead. I was given a ticket to Next to Normal, but I don't really know what it's about. I do really like emotional/dark musicals. Decisions, decisions. Oy! While in NYC, I'm going to see Spring Awakening, The Homecoming, and the Beckett Shorts with Baryshnikov.

- V

#14

re: Is He Dead vs. Next to Normal

Posted: 1/4/08 at 8:21pm

If you were given a ticket, why not go? Is it a time constraint? I saw Next to Normal back when it was Feeling Electric and loved it. It's about a family dealing with depression, and about the stresses dealing with illness can put on relationships. The score's awesome, and it's really moving.

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

#15

re: Is He Dead vs. Next to Normal

Posted: 1/4/08 at 8:34pm

You'll probably have a great time at Is He Dead?, but I have a feeling Next To Normal will be the kind of show that stays with you for a long time after you've seen it. My vote is for Next To Normal.

#16

re: Is He Dead vs. Next to Normal

Posted: 1/4/08 at 8:37pm

I'm thinking of seeing Is He Dead instead of Next to Normal because I am a Norbert fan and I've heard nothing but good things about the play. However, since I deal with depression, and have for several years, maybe I would find Next to Normal to be interesting. I have to choose between the two for the Sunday matinee because I'm leaving NYC Sunday night. What are the chances Is He Dead will still be open in June?

- V

#17

re: Is He Dead vs. Next to Normal

Posted: 1/4/08 at 8:48pm

As much as I love it, I think its gonna be really hard for "Is He Dead?" to last till June.

There are just so many good plays out right now, and seems to be getting lost in the shuffle.