Next To Normal going to Circle in the Square?- Page 2

[longshadowsfalling]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 2:02pm

And it's not about bipolar disorder either.

The show's really about mental illness in general, and how it affects those afflicted and people close to them.

And even if we're trying to pinpoint a specific disorder that the show focuses on... Diana's not bipolar.

[joniray]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 2:16pm

"Yes, it's a musical, but it's about bipolar disorder--not a spelling bee or even repressed teen sexuality."

Or a musical about a rocker and his heroin addict, s&m stripper girlfriend who is dying of AIDS. No one in the world would ever want to see something like THAT!

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 2:43pm

-thread jack- will they record the show?

[folkyboy]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 2:44pm

there's talks of a recording, yes, Theatreboy

[Roscoe]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 2:49pm

So it isn't just the subject matter that is the issue here. There've been far more challenging subjects that have made successful musicals. SWEENEY TODD, anyone?

The problem here is the just plain uninteresting treatment that NEXT TO NORMAL gives to its apparently deeply interesting to some people subject matter. It never once went deeper than an average Lifetime movie, something that most of the reviews mentioned in one way or another. I can't imagine that this show going to go any further than it already has.

[carolineorchange]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 3:38pm

In talking to people who work at both 2ST and Circle, it seems that they are def in talks to do a transfer, but nothing is set in stone yet.

I personally would love to see it on Broadway. It'll reach a broader audience there, and the show did change before opening, and if it moves will change some more.

This can be considered it's "out of town" just out of town happens to mean Off Broadway. And because 2ST is a non profit, it's very cheap for the producers to do it in New York. Shows always change. And I thought the reviews, while mixed, leaned on the positive side.

[BARNONE]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 3:45pm

I think once people saw the show, word of mouth would do a lot for it, however, I think that potential producers would have a tough time with the whole "promoting it" part. The difficult part would be getting people to give it a chance, in my opinion.

[April Saul]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 4:11pm

Okay, I stand corrected. It's about a woman who is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, perhaps incorrectly. It IS about psychiatric illness, which I personally think is a gutsy, terrific topic to take on, but which I think just might be a hard sell to the public---no matter how much I may value it.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 4:15pm

For starters, they could get a better logo. As someone else said, it looks like a bunch of people dangling their feet over a bridge. They need a logo that better encapsulates what the show is about.

[jake6970]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 4:26pm

http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Video.aspx?ci=560684

[Craww]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 4:45pm

And even if we're trying to pinpoint a specific disorder that the show focuses on... Diana's not bipolar.

The show isn't pinpointing a specific disorder, because there's really no one disorder that encapsulates all of Diana's symptoms. However, bipolar disorder is heavily suggested by the flashbacks and by I Miss The Mountains.

[carolineorchange]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 4:56pm

@ adamgreer

the logo does suck. But 2ST's logos always have, and always seem to have nothing to do with the play. The logo for Peter and Jerry was a picture of two dogs?!?

[jbdc]

Posted: 2/16/08 at 12:21am

"Every time somebody bumps this thread I get jumpy because I hope that somebody actually knows something - but what the first poster posted was just complete speculation, right? "

I wasn't just speculating. I know for a fact that discussions have happend and the producers have the option to take the theatre if they want. The producers, though, have not yet decided. That's why nothing has been announced for the theatre.

Limelight Mike... the question mark in the subject is there because a more declarative statement would be misleading.

[Sondheim_Geek]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 1:28pm

Anyone know how quick the cast is usually out the front door?

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 1:31pm

Asa's usually out pretty fast followed by Aaron, Adam and Jennifer (those three are around the same time, it varies), then Brian. Then Alice. She's been the last one out every time I've seen it. And Asa's been the first. He's usually within 5-10 minutes. And you have to make a point to stop him usually. LOL. I think he figures everyone's there for Alice and Brian and just books it. He's very nice if you stop him though.

[snl89]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 1:43pm

haha see it's funny because when I was there Asa was the person I DID actually talk to for a little while. But that was just because my best friend's sister was there, and she's good friends with him, so she was talking to him, we went to talk to her, and she introduced him to us lol. He's super nice, by the way! Really friendly and great

I saw Brian chatting in the lobby for quite a while when I was there (I was SO close to actually going up and saying thank you and everything, but he was with another group of people so I didn't want to interupt). I don't think I saw Alice, but I'm sure she was there somewhere! Aaron walked out pretty fast, and Jenn did too. Didn't see Adam. But yeah, they seem like a really nice cast, so I'm sure if you stop them they won't mind signing an autograph or taking a quick picture :)

Updated On: 2/22/08 at 01:43 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 1:48pm

Don't you think it's a little creepy you know this much about an actor's stage door activity?

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/22/08 at 1:52pm

Oh yeah. They're all really nice. I had my poster with me last night to get Asa, Aaron and Adam's signatures ~ when I had it initially I was only going to get Alice and Brian, but Jennifer came over and I felt bad to say "Um, no, that's ok. You're great though." or something like it, so I let her sign it. LOL. :) She was really sweet though. When I asked Asa if he'd sign last night he was really gracious and very nice. I said "I missed you the last time I had it" and he apologized and we chatted for a little while. The rest of them are cool too. The other night (Tuesday) they all seemed to have people with them, so they hung out a bit longer. While we were waiting for Alice to finish to whoever she was talking to, Jen ran by outside and sang "Alice Ripley" or something and we all laughed. Alice was like "She's a nut!" and laughed about it. They all seem to get along, which is cool.

A lot of the time Alice is talking with someone behind the doors for a while before she comes out, but she's really nice when she does. Like last night everyone else was long gone before she made it out the big grey doors, but she still chatted with us for a while.

And it's just an observation of how quickly they come out at this show to answer a question. That's all.

Updated On: 2/22/08 at 01:52 PM