NEXT TO NORMAL Headed to Broadway's Longacre Theater, Previews Start March 27 — Page 9

Yeah, it'll definitely run longer than Story.

In this economic meltdown climate, NO SHOW CAN RUN EASILY UNTIL THE TONY AWARDS! This financial depression has only just begun. The worst is ahead of us. Next to Normal is likely to suffer the same fate as Title of Show and The Story of My Life. Most people do not have the kind of money to afford a ticket to a Broadway play or musical or even an off-Broadway show. I do agree that the producers of these shows should have had a regional production mounted for a long run that would have afforded them more time to further develop these shows, get some additional backing that would have made a cast recording possible and then maybe moved these shows to NYC in a smaller venue than a Broadway theatre. Next to Normal is very worthy but current conditions on Broadway are likely to make the fate of this show short and not even eligible for a Tony nod. The huge money people behind the mega musicals will most likely pull the power strings that will decide the fate of smaller new plays and musicals so don't get your hopes high for NEXT TO NORMAL. Very sad state of affairs on Broadway.

>Next to Normal is very worthy but current conditions on Broadway are likely to make the fate of this show short and not even eligible for a Tony nod.<

Next to Normal opens April 15. The Tony nominations are May 5. You honestly think that David Stone, the producer of Wicked, who is also producing Next to Normal, would not be able to get Next to Normal to run the two weeks to make it to the nominations?

And the economy doesn't seem to be fazing the producers of the other 20 shows that are slated to open this spring.

This same debate about viability always comes up when a slightly oddball, off-kilter musical moves to Broadway from Off-Broadway or a regional theatre. But by and large, the success rate (Rent, Noise/Funk, Urinetown, Avenue Q, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Spring Awakening, The Drowsy Chaperone, In the Heights) has exceeded the failures (Caroline, or Change, Passing Strange, [title of show]) in recent years.

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Updated On: 2/21/09 at 06:57 PM

I honestly feel it will be successful.

As it has been said.. if you didn't see the show at arena then you have not seen it yet. It will be one of the best shows on Broadway and feel it could draw in a much bigger than TOS, SOML and anything else small..

Sure it might struggle a little in previews but when the show gets rave reviews across the board... i don't think there will be an issue.

It's a STUNNING piece of musical Theater that can't be even compared to TOS or SOML. I think it will have a nice healthy run.

What could the show cost to bring in.. 3 Mil max? It's one simple set.. they could easily recoup in a year or even less.

Updated On: 2/21/09 at 08:27 PM

To be honest I like Bobby a lot more. He really sounds much better with Alice than Brian did.

I agree burntplains. Yes it took Bobby a little while to settle into the role, but by mid-December he was spellbinding.

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But that gets down to the question of would he rather have a steady job. If he's doing it just for creative purposes, than maybe the answer would be Next to Normal. But I think we can all agree at this point that even though it's opening on Broadway, the chances of Next to Normal lasting as long as Shrek probably will are slim. It's not just a creative expression, it's a job and sometimes a steadier job that you know you'll have for longer is better. I really don't know what Brian's opinion is, but I'm just trying to think of it from the other side.

"This show could shock everyone and become a huge hit. You never know."

I seriously don't think a show like this (dealing with mental illness) is made to be a HUGE hit. An artistic accomplishment, maybe... but I really can't picture this lasting years on broadway or seeing, say, the Korean touring company of Next to Normal or anything else that usually accompanies a HIT musical.

"It will be one of the best shows on Broadway"

If NEXT TO NORMAL is going to be one of the "best shows on Broadway" this season, that says a lot about the other shows that are being put up.... I didn't realize this season was that crappy. It must be for NEXT TO MEDIOCRE to become one of the best ones.

the point is though... is THIS the one show someone would want to spend their money on when they come to NYC? The economic climate is such that people are not going to be going to the theater like they used to and I think most will want that ONE experience to be fun... not depressing. sure it will have it's fans but i really don't think it will be a "hit." not in this economy.

And unless it's YOUR money invested, why are you so concerned?

If David Stone believes in it enough to bring it to Broadway, why not trust him?

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^ Exactly Snarky. And not to mention, an adult couple from oklahoma have no idea about The Arena Stage in DC. And not to mention that they're going to say. "Hey! Let's go to new york, NEXT MONTH!!!!". This is why the next to normal's run will be VERY rocky durry the begining

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Who the hell said he did? But he believes that it's a show that deserves a chance.

For people who are so adamantly upset that shows "aren't getting chances" you're sure complaining about one that is.

And they may not know Arena Stage, but there are some amazing pull quotes to start with from nationally known papers like the Washington Post. Even before NYC reviews. (Not to mention pull quotes that still apply from the Second Stage run.)

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