Sydney Premiere for Next to Normal

This April Rockdale Musical Society is staging the Sydney Premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal, which chronicles one woman’s struggles with mental illness and the impact of this journey on those around her as she tries desperately to hold her family and her sanity together.

Rockdale Musical Society are staging this production from April 4-12, 2014, starring Charmaine Gibbs as mother Diana, Patricio Ulloa as husband Dan, Emma Taviani as daughter Natalie, Ben James as son Gabe, Julian Luke as stoner Henry and Tyler Hoggard as psychopharmacologists Dr Madden/Dr Fine.

When asked about her vision for this production, Director Elle Zattera said, “My goal is to present a sharp, slick show that grabs the audience and takes them on the roller coaster of the Goodman family. I am inspired by indie musical theatre directors, such a Jay James Moody, who take risks with the genre and really present a fresh production in a way audiences don't expect with a strong sense of ensemble. It has been such a collaborative process with the whole team, cast and production team, which I think has made for a really interesting result”.

In describing the challenges in producing the show, Musical Director Josh Ransom says, “they include the high complexity of the score. The orchestration is so particular and beautifully crafted. Everything is so detailed down to the dot. We're dealing with six characters. And for the majority, there are six individual lines all written in concise and at times conflicting harmonies to express the plays themes. The cast's dedication to this show has certainly assisted in producing an inspiring and pleasing sound for what could have potentially been a complete flop and musical headache.”

Cast and production team members spoke to Stage Whispers about bringing Next to Normal to Sydney audiences for the first time.

Why did you want to do this show?

CHARMAINE - Firstly it is an important story to tell. There is so much in this that we can all relate to, on different levels of course, but I really believe it's almost tangible...the story and the characters.

PAT - I saw the show on Broadway and it blew me away.  A magnificent rock score with an excellent story. 

TYLER - On my first listening to the Broadway cast recording I instantly fell in love with the show. The sound of the show is so drastically different to anything I've ever heard (at least on stage), where the drastic changes in musical styling throughout the show seems to match the manic behaviour of Diana's Character.

JULIAN - Next to Normal is one of my all-time favourite shows. I’ve been obsessed with the score for years so when I saw auditions for the Sydney premiere I knew I had to go for it. I love that it is not your stereotypical musical – there is no corny ending where everyone falls in love and ends up happily ever after. It covers some pretty deep stuff, analysing suicide, marriage breakdown, heartbreak and the way society views and treats mental illness.

EMMA - Next to Normal is beautiful and touching and scary and challenging and everything you could ever possibly want in a musical! Aside from that, it's a very small cast which means a lot of really close collaboration and teamwork - and I love that.

Why did you want to audition for this particular role?

EMMA - The music is simply divine and for any girl my age Natalie is just a dream to sing. She's also a very real character. I think any one could recognise a part of themselves within Natalie's story. 

PAT - Dan gave me the opportunity to explore a different type of character than I’m used to playing.  It really made me think hard about how to portray the character

CHARMAINE - Well, it's not so easy to come by dynamic roles for women in their 40's. They are out there, but a bit hidden between the young leading lady and the older leading lady roles. Diana is dynamic yet so incredibly fragile and, to sound clichéd, I really feel it's a role that is that "dream" one. Challenging on every level, vocally, emotionally, ensuring that you don't become a caricature of the character but the character itself.

JULIAN - Henry is such a great character. While the qualities I’ve already mentioned are what attract me to this show, I love that Henry – the happy, loveable, hopelessly romantic stoner – provides some light to balance the dark and serious. In some ways I relate to him perfectly – he is so hilariously awkward and completely hopeless when it comes to girls – but in other ways exploring and discovering the parts of him that are alien to me have been the most rewarding and enjoyable part of this process.

TYLER - I auditioned for the psychologist because I saw it as a challenge. Besides the fact that he sings some of my favourite songs in the show, I am pushing myself vocally to sing some phrases that are in the top part of my register and also acting to play a character above my age.

What is different about this show to others you have done?

CHARMAINE – It’s one of the smallest casts I've worked with. The only one smaller was when I did the one woman show, Tell Me on a Sunday. The ability to investigate emotion, comedy, empathy is so great. It cuts to the core pretty much from the very first scene and gets straight to the point. No fussing around.

PAT - Most shows I do are of a comical nature. This show really makes you challenge yourself as a performer and a lot of work is required in analysing and studying the characters and how the story is told.

EMMA - I have always had a soft spot for rock musicals, so RENT and Spring Awakening were ticked off my bucket list and Next to Normal was next in line. And while the other shows were certainly heart-wrenchingly challenging, there is something about the intimacy and reality of this show that feels so different to everything else in its genre. The Goodmans are a very real family with very real problems, following the everyday routine we all know so well, so it’s easy to feel a true closeness to them.

JULIAN - So much. Previous shows I have done – like Guys and Dolls – are your stereotypical happy-go-lucky and superficial productions. This is at the other end of the spectrum; it has layers, explores real issues within society and asks a whole heap of questions about how we view mental illness. Best of all? It doesn’t try to answer any of them.

TYLER- As a Pulitzer Prize winner Next to Normal does not fit in the same category as other camp musicals I have previously been a part of, and is closer to a play with music. It is my first opportunity to portray realism on stage, with material that is both current and issues that are contextually relevant to a modern day audience.

What do you see as the challenges for producing this show?

JOSH - Challenges include the high complexity of the score. The orchestration is so particular and beautifully crafted. Everything is so detailed down to the dot. We're dealing with six characters. And for the majority, there are six individual lines all written in concise and at times conflicting harmonies to express the plays themes. The cast's dedication to this show has certainly assisted in producing an inspiring and pleasing sound for what could have potentially been a complete flop and musical headache.

How does it feel to be doing the Sydney Premiere?

CHARMAINE - Like a huge responsibility and an enormous privilege. To coin a song title, "My heart is split". I'm a Sydney born girl but my home is The Gong so I'd like to think I can bring a bit of each together and do both cities proud. 

TYLER - It's both exciting and nerve-wracking. It gives me a bit of a kick to know that I'm one of the first people to perform this material in my city. But then again, it's also difficult to expect how the public will receive the material as it is completely new to our contextual audience.

JULIAN - I am so incredibly proud to be playing a small part in the Sydney premiere of this musical. I just hope I do it justice!

PAT - Exciting.  It allows us to set the standard for other groups that wish to do the show.  It also helps elevate your level of performance to set that high standard.

JOSH - It's exciting. Again, it's so different to what everyone is used to seeing when going to view musical theatre. We had to make sure we got it right. The production team are amazing to work with. We're all so passionate about the material presented to us whether  its  the staging, sound, set and score.

EMMA- I certainly feel a small sense of responsibility being part of the cast that finally got to present this show to Sydney... especially being a Brisbane girl! But I'm really, really excited and desperately hoping that everyone embraces this show in the same way we have!

What do you hope the impact of this show will be on audiences?

JOSHUA - Hard hitting and inspiring. If the viewer is laughing one second, then reaching for the Kleenex; we know we've achieved our goal.

EMMA - I hope that people walk away with questions. Questions about bipolar disorder, modern psychiatry, drug abuse, suicide, loss and, most of all, about the scary and wonderful effects of unconditional love.

JULIAN - I want people who see this show to leave the theatre exhausted. And based on rehearsals, they will. This musical will take them on a rollercoaster of emotions – I hope they laugh at the idiocy of Henry and hilariousness of Dr Fine, want to tear their hair out at Natalie’s manic and infuriating behaviour, and ball their eyes out as the narrative teases out the intricacies of the relationship between Diana, Dan and their son Gabe.

CHARMAINE - Empathy and understanding. A greater awareness as to how we all impact one another and how we can try to understand this, look outside ourselves and acknowledge that everyone is on their own journey. That the lines of life are not black and white. That there is so much grey and that if we want people to understand our own journey, we need to understand theirs. 

PAT - I really hope it helps open people’s minds to the realities of depression.  Whilst it is a sad story, my hopes are that people walk away not sad but enlightened.

TYLER - . I think that audiences will be surprised at how different the show is (musically, visually and in regards to the themes involved), and will hopefully help to change attitudes towards musical theatre. With a subtle boom in the Sydney MT industry lately with shows like 'Carrie', 'Sweet Charity' and 'The Drowsy Chaperone' I believe that this premiere can be a part of an encroaching revolution of theatre into Australian culture.

Who should see this show?

TYLER - Being a Sydney Premiere, I can expect that Rockdale patrons, theatre-enthusiasts and fellow performers will be the kind of audience we can expect, as the show does not currently have the pop-culture appeal of recent shows to appear in Sydney, such as Grease or the Lion King. However the kind of audience that I expect to see the show is much smaller than the population of the audience that I expect would enjoy it.

PAT - The generic response would be everyone. But a realistic one would be everyone that deals with depression on a daily basis, or have friends or family suffering, and want to see an “insider’s view”.  Our challenge as performers is to work hard to provide that “insider’s view”.

JOSHUA- This show is definitely suitable for anyone over 17. The themes and issues explored are confronting and may go completely over younger heads.

EMMA - Anyone and everyone who is brave enough to love someone.

CHARMAINE - Everyone...over the age of 17 years. It has a message to offer everyone. Everyone needs to see that the fear HAS to be taken out of these life happenings and compassion be put in its place.

NEXT TO NORMAL
ROCKDALE TOWN HALL
April 4^th – April 12^th
BOOKINGS www.rockdalemusicalsociety.com
Phone 0433 990896

SPECIAL OFFER FOR STUDENTS Visit www.rockdalemusicalsociety.com, select tickets to Next to Normal and enter the code word “LIGHT” to claim the $20 online ticket offer. Must present student ID card at Box Office

Image, pictured left to right: Tyler Hoggard, Ben James, Charmaine Gibbs, Pat Ulloa, Emma Taviani and Julian Luke. Photo credit: www.francisfotography.com.au

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