Next To Normal (Off Broadway vs. Broadway)

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 3:40pm

Just curious, what were the changes made to Next to Normal when it transferred to Broadway? Specifically, what songs were cut and what new songs replaced them?

[dwwst12]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 3:46pm

I know the "Costco" song, which can be found online, was cut. And one called "Feeling Electric" (the original title of the show). I think there were a bunch more, but I didn't see it Off-broadway and don't know their names.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 4:24pm

Neither was a loss.

The ending was different as well. I'll try to explain more in detail a bit later.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 4:28pm

"Growing Up Unstable" was also cut from off-Broadway, too.

[MusicAndPassion]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 4:42pm

The feeling that you were peering into a dysfunctional family's past, present and future were also cut. Oh wait... But it was for the better. The intimacy of the Off-Broadway production made me fall in love with the musical, and I feel those who didn't catch it then missed out a bit. But it wasn't so much a lose when it moved a few blocks over to Broadway.

Growing Up Unstable was the only song cut that I missed when I saw it on Broadway. Costco was cut (thank goodness). Gabe (Aaron Tveit) entered in his boxers in the "attic" of the house for his "For just another day" entrance. That brought an awkward sex appeal to the character that seemed to be cut a bit (for the better) on the Great White Way.

My Playbill from the Off-Broadway production doesn't list song titles, which I enjoy.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 4:59pm

There also use to be a crib that was set up on the third level of the set as sort of a haunting reminder about Gabe.

[bdn223]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 5:03pm

The major difference between the Off broadway version and Broadway version was that thE off broadway version at times attempted to play off the more comedic elements of Diana's bipolar disorder...as well as made it more apparent that Gabe is dead
The broadway production fine tuned the tone of the show..maintaining the dark tone throughout except in dr Maddens office, during the "whose crazy/my pcytopharmaologist and i" duet which makes sence because it shows how serious Diana's situation is...while keeping the dark tone through Dan
also it isnt till its I dreamed a Dance until the audience truly know gabe is dead...while in the off broadway production this knowledge is Gained during "I'm alive"

Updated On: 5/7/12 at 05:03 PM

[BroadwayFan12]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 5:05pm

They changed Gabe's age when "it" happen from 18 months to 8 months. They cut a verse in the song Maybe (Next to Normal).

[BroadwayFan12]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 5:07pm

We learn Gabe is dead in the birthday cake scene, well before I Dreamed a Dance or I'm Alive.

[steven22]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 5:10pm

They also changed the involvement of Dan

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 5:45pm

Costco was cut (Diana's breakdown now occurs at the end of the opening number).

The act 1 finale was changed- Feeling Electric, an unintentionally campy number about ECT, was mercifully replaced with A Light in the Dark.

Growing Up Unstable was axed and act 2 now opens with Wish I Were Here, which featured a few lyrics from Feeling Electric.

Everything Everyone Ever Told You Was Wrong (a song I actually really enjoyed) was cut, though many of the lyrics made it into Maybe.

I've Been, which was in earlier versions of the show, but not the 2nd Stage production, was reinstated.

[someone.else's.story2]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 6:44pm

Yeah, "Everything I Told You was Wrong" was a good song. Otherwise, I feel the changes they made were for the best.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 7:31pm

The aforementioned crib actually made it to the first couple of Broadway previews. But it was cut after three shows, I believe.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 8:03pm

Lots of the things mentioned in this thread were not changed until previews on Broadway, and they are on the cast recording. The verse cut from Maybe and the timeline issue of when Gabe died were not changed until sometime during previews. Also, Costco was cut and replace with the making sandwiches bit toward the end of the off-Broadway run.

[ChildrenwillListen]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 8:31pm

I liked watching the video of Costco because it was entertaining but in the end I see why it was cut.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 8:35pm

I remember nothing about a baby crib. I actually really disliked it Off Broadway, but once the CD came out and I was able to acquire the taste I loved it at the Booth. I really wanted to see Costco but it was cut a few performances before I saw it.

[sally1112]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 8:41pm

I only saw the Broadway production, but I would swear Gabe was in his boxers in the opening number there too. Was I just dreaming this? It certainly would be a good dream.

[binau]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 8:44pm

He enters with a towel around his neck and shorts, shirtless...it is quite hot..not sure what changed from off-broadway.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 5/7/12 at 11:58pm

I guess I'm in the minority here. I really liked "Feeling Electric," even if it was at odds with the tone of the rest of the show and might have been more at home in ROCKY HORROR.

And that's obviously why it was cut.

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 5/8/12 at 12:32am

The lyrics to Light changed significantly from some versions available online from the off-broadway version (which i never saw live) and the broadway version (e.g. Diana's section changed a lot).

Better than Before also was added (its lyrics were previously presented more or less as dialogue).