Next To Normal WEST END - News & Discussion Thread- Page 4

[yyys]

Posted: 7/24/24 at 7:24pm

Perhaps he/she doesn't know what "period piece" means...?

[quizking101]

Posted: 7/24/24 at 8:30pm

Page Bump

[binau]

Posted: 7/25/24 at 12:28am

The show is not a period piece and works well today. Maybe even better. It has stood the test of time and you will notice small details in this production to bring it to 2024, including subtle staging in ‘light’ to make it clear what Diana’s choices are. The only thing that might be considered period is the music. It is what it is and I love it. Does anyone want to see a pasek & Paul bubble gum version or a Lin Manuel rapped version of next to normal? I like that the sound is a little rough in aesthetic, putting us in a very post rent inspired but not quite yet pasek & Paul pop sound yet. If it were done today I think it would be too polished, too clean. The score is a little wild and I love that because it kind of keeps you on edge. 

[EwanApollo]

Posted: 7/25/24 at 4:43am

Does anyone have any new insider info about the Broadway transfer?

Last I heard was somewhere in the first half of 2025, Caissie was a yes and at minimum they were trying to get Jack Wolfe too. 

Dying for more rumours/info

[infinitefoxes]

Posted: 7/25/24 at 9:09am

Could definitely be me reading into it too much but in several recent interviews where Jack Wolfe has been asked about his future acting plans he's always replied something along the lines of that he's "clinging on to Next to Normal for as long as he can", which to me implies that there's definitely conversations happening somewhere about him going over with it.

Caissie Levy's obviously a definite, but as much as I love Eleanor Worthington-Cox and Jamie Parker I'd assume that it'd be quite a fight to get three British actors across for one production that already has a small cast. I have no idea how likely it'd be but I just really hope that casting directors don't subscribe to some fans romantic notion of getting Aaron Tveit back to play Dan - I don't think he's right for the role at all, especially after seeing Parker's incredible interpretation.   

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/25/24 at 9:34am

There’s no point in transferring this production anywhere without Jamie Parker. His performance is just as strong as Levy’s and for me, one of the best male performances I’ve ever seen in a musical. And I mean EVER. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 7/25/24 at 7:22pm

infinitefoxes said: "Could definitely be me reading into it too much but in several recent interviews where Jack Wolfe has been asked about his future acting plans he's always replied something along the lines of that he's "clinging on to Next to Normal for as long as he can", which to me implies that there's definitely conversations happening somewhere about him going over with it.

Caissie Levy's obviously a definite, but as much as I loveEleanor Worthington-Cox and Jamie Parker I'd assume that it'd be quite a fight to get three British actors across for one production that already has a small cast. I have no idea how likely it'd be but I just reallyhope that casting directorsdon't subscribe to some fans romantic notion of getting Aaron Tveit back to play Dan - I don't think he's right for the role at all, especially after seeing Parker's incredible interpretation."

I mean, they’ve brought the entire British company of the …GOES WRONG series twice and also are working on getting MINCEMEAT with the 5 originals over here soon (ideally for 2025 - talks are ongoing).

I could see them coming over and then some of them leave after a limited run. Jack Ofrecio could easily be recast, as could (despite him being absolutely magnetic) Trevor Dion Nicholas. But the three Olivier nominated stars and “Tony Nominee Jamie Parker” make a good case to transfer 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 7/25/24 at 7:55pm

Y’all are making me about ready to hop on a damn plane to London. I really don’t want to miss this.

[TBFL]

Posted: 7/25/24 at 11:19pm

Jordan Catalano said: "There’s no point in transferring this production anywherewithout Jamie Parker. His performance is just as strong as Levy’s and for me, one of the best male performances I’ve ever seen in a musical. And I mean EVER."

PREACH!!

Jamie Parker has done 2 shows on Broadway and is a Tony Award nominee for Best Actor in a Play. There's no way he wouldnt be allowed to go if it actually does transfer.

[charlie525600]

Posted: 7/27/24 at 11:49am

I did find Jamie Parker's accent choice distracting, although his acting was great. Ofrecio similar could've used some more time with a dialect coach. I think some shaky American accents are understandable in London, but they'd need to fix them up for New York. On the other hand, Wolfe and Worthington Cox were flawless to my American ears.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/27/24 at 12:01pm

Ofrecio's american accent I think just kind of "is what it is" at this point. I think to a non American it probably sounds perfect. 

Parker, on the other hand, I've never noticed a single thing off about his American accent. 

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/27/24 at 2:51pm

No.  No, no, no.   Eleanor Worthington-Cox was the greatest Natalie I've ever seen.  She MUST transfer!!

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 7/27/24 at 2:59pm

I last heard the full cast is expected to transfer when it takes the Booth in the spring 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/27/24 at 4:28pm

Whereas I’ve been told one of them is very attached to another show possibly coming to Broadway next Spring. 

[infinitefoxes]

Posted: 7/27/24 at 4:37pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Whereas I’ve been told one of them is very attached to another show possibly coming to Broadway next Spring."

You’re presumably talking about Levy given that the rest of them all work in the UK?

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 7/27/24 at 4:47pm

I find the piece very engrained in 2008. I find the way characters communicate to be very 2000s playwright that hadn’t aged particularly well in my eyes. Sorry yall don’t agree! Im glad you liked it, so did I! 

[Jesse St. James]

Posted: 7/27/24 at 9:40pm

infinitefoxes said: "Jordan Catalano said: "Whereas I’ve been told one of them is very attached to another show possibly coming to Broadway next Spring."

You’re presumably talking about Levy given that the rest of them all work in the UK?"

yes, Levy is attached to the encores transfer of Ragtime 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 7/27/24 at 9:51pm

I don’t think there’s any theatres left honestly.  A transfer of Ragtime would hinge on the success of the show, which won’t be known until November.  And with so many other things waiting in the wings ready to go, including Dead outlaw, operation mincemeat, smash, motive and the cue, stranger things, gun&powder, hippest trip, frank Sinatra, I doubt Ragtime goes to the front of the line. Why would they even cast her if she was already attached to another show?  My feeling is Next to Normal comes in.  And Ragtime maybe next fall

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/28/24 at 12:13am

Why are already talking about a Ragtime transfer? The last revival was a big financial flop.

[binau]

Posted: 7/28/24 at 6:16am

The next to normal west end sales are a bit slow right now. I wonder if this will affect chances of cast recording, transfer etc. we desperately need this recording on disc!

Updated On: 7/28/24 at 06:16 AM

[steven22]

Posted: 7/28/24 at 9:21am

binau said: "The next to normal west end sales are a bit slow right now.I wonder if this will affect chances of cast recording, transfer etc. we desperately need this recording on disc!"

Here’s hoping it transfers and with Caissie. Regardless, we must get a cast recording from this production asap. Is it true it’s cheaper to produce cast recordings (I know pro shots are cheaper) in London? 

[LushyBear]

Posted: 7/28/24 at 1:44pm

I saw this production earlier this week and I loved it. For me (and I guess I am an outlier here) was Jamie Parker. His singing was the weakest of the bunch for me. He still acted amazingly but in a show that has strong singing, he seemed to struggle with the material a bit, especially the higher stuff.

Nonetheless, terrific production, terrific cast and performances. Easily the best thing I've seen in London this week.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 7/28/24 at 2:17pm

I didn’t realize what a musical person he is.  I thought he was a serious English Shakespearean dramatic actor.  I only knew him from Harry Potter but he’s done many musicals and concerts and plays the piano.  He’s also on the Sierra boggess Oklahoma! recording as will Parker. 

[DBAK]

Posted: 8/6/24 at 8:32pm

Seeing the show a few times the week of August 19th and I can't wait to see how everyone has grown since the Donmar last year. Caissie Levy's Diana sits easily in my top 5 musical theatre performances, comfortably next to Alice Ripley's. Personally speaking, I was diagnosed with bipolar 1 several years after becoming a fan of next to normal and seeing the 1NT/a few regional productions. While I related to the show from a teenage angst lens back in 2009/2010, I now see a lot of my own struggles with the diagnosis and what has led me to be stable with meds/therapy. Subtle changes were needed to emphasize the importance that Diana continue to explore meds options, so I really appreciated that. Even before I was diagnosed, I took issue with Diana kind of going off the grid (?) in the OG staging. However, I do think that the show's intentions have always been very well meaning and the story provides a very honest depiction of mental illness/grief. 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/9/24 at 5:10pm

Can we discuss the newly released remixed and “remastered” Next to Normal 15th anniversary OBCR here or should it have its own thread?