Dark image depicting the words "next to normal" in a blurred font at the top, with musical notes in the background. A small, abstract house with one illuminated window is on the right.
2017 - 2018 Season

Next to Normal

November 9, 2017
Gorecki Family Theater, College of Saint Benedict
Dark image depicting the words "next to normal" in a blurred font at the top, with musical notes in the background. A small, abstract house with one illuminated window is on the right.

Next to Normal Book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey

Music by Tom Kitt

Directed by Sean Dooley

Gorecki Family Theater, College of Saint Benedict
November 9-12 & 16-18, 2017

Dad’s an architect; Mom rushes to pack lunches and pour cereal; their daughter and son are bright, wise cracking teens; they are the typical American family.  And yet their lives are anything but normal because the mother has been battling manic depression for 16 years.  Next to Normal, a winner of three 2009 Tony Awards and the 2010 Pulitzer Prize, explores how one suburban household copes with crisis and mental illness.

Congratulations to the cast

Jack Cassidy, Sarah Larson, Tom Richmond, Elliot Olson, Alexis Solheid, Joey Christenson

A group of six people sitting on a low wall outside. They are smiling and appear relaxed. The background shows a building with large windows and some plants.
A theatrical scene with a man kneeling and offering a ring to a woman standing in front of him. In the background, another couple holds hands on an elevated platform. The lighting is dramatic, casting shadows on the stage.
A woman stands on stage in a beige outfit, looking to the side. A man, in a suit, is seated behind her at a wooden table, also looking sideways. The stage is dimly lit with dark stairs in the background.
Two people kneel on stage, appearing focused and thoughtful. A wooden chair is in the background against a dark setting. The person on the left wears a dark jacket, and the one on the right wears a light cardigan.
A woman in a light brown outfit stands on stage, holding a blue book, with a serious expression. Behind her, a man in a white shirt and beige pants stands on a higher platform, looking in her direction. The stage is lit with blue and purple lighting.
Two people sitting closely at a wooden table, looking at a photo or document. The person on the left has long hair and is smiling slightly, while the person on the right has short hair and wears a checkered shirt. The background is dimly lit.
A person with red hair in a striped shirt kneels on the floor, looking ahead. Another person in a hoodie and jeans stands behind them, reaching out. The background is dimly lit with stairs.
Three people in surgical scrubs and caps are leaning over a gurney with a covered, indistinct object. The scene is lit with dramatic, dim lighting, and a metal framework is visible in the background, suggesting a stage or theatrical setting.
A group of actors in surgical scrubs stand around a person lying on a table, on a dramatic stage set with purple lighting. A woman with long hair observes from the left, while others are poised on stairs in the background.
A woman in a wheelchair, wearing a light-colored outfit, sits in front of a man in a suit who is standing on a dimly lit stage with a staircase in the background. The scene has a dramatic atmosphere.
A stage scene with a person kneeling and holding hands with another person sitting in a wheelchair, while a third person stands nearby, watching. The backdrop features geometric lighting and structures, giving a theatrical atmosphere.
A woman in a blue dress and beige coat stands on stage, pointing upward, with a confident expression. A man in a suit stands behind her with a serious look. They are under stage lights, with a dark backdrop featuring geometric structures.
A person kneels on a stage, holding a sponge in one hand with a bucket nearby. They wear a checkered shirt and light pants, and appear to be looking upward. The background includes a chair and part of a wooden table.
A man in a white tuxedo and bowtie sits behind a woman wearing a white blouse and black skirt. He holds her hands close to her chest. They are both smiling slightly, with the woman looking forward and the man gazing to the side.
A person in a suit stands on stage holding a clipboard, looking thoughtfully into the distance. A staircase is visible in the background, and stage lights illuminate the scene.
Three people perform on stage. A person in a suit stands and gestures with one hand, while a couple sits on a wooden bench embracing. The seated individual on the right wears a white jacket, and the background is dark.
A woman in a white blouse and black skirt stands beside a table, looking forward. A man in a white suit and bow tie stands behind the table, gesturing with one hand. The stage is dimly lit with blue light.
Two people are dancing on stage under colorful lights. The person on the left is wearing a white jacket and dark pants, while the person on the right is dressed in a white top and a black skirt, both looking at each other.
A man in a white suit jacket and a woman in a white blouse and black skirt dance together, facing each other under dim lighting. They hold each other's arms, with a stained glass background.
Two actors perform on stage in dramatic lighting. The woman is in a dark dress, standing behind a railing. The man, in a blue shirt and khaki pants, stands beside her with his hand on her arm, both looking intently forward.
Two people perform on stage. A woman in a black dress stands by a piano, looking dramatic, as a man in a denim shirt and khaki pants holds her arm, appearing concerned. The background features stage lighting and set pieces.
A woman sits on a chair looking forward while a man in a suit stands beside her on a dimly lit stage. The background features geometric patterns and subdued lighting, creating a dramatic atmosphere.
Three actors on stage: one seated in a wooden chair, gazing down, wearing a gray top and black skirt; another stands in casual attire, looking at the seated person; the third is in a suit, hands clasped, observing the scene. Industrial staircase backdrop.
Three actors perform on stage with a modern geometric backdrop. One actor is seated in a chair, another stands nearby in a casual outfit, and a third is in a suit, suggesting a dynamic or possibly tense scene.
A person wearing a blue shirt and dark pants stands on a platform, looking down with a relaxed posture. The setting has a theatrical backdrop with dramatic purple lighting.
A woman stands with arms crossed, looking thoughtful, while a man gestures with his hands in the background. They are on a stage with a modern, industrial set design.
A person stands confidently on a wooden table with arms outstretched, under stage lights. The backdrop is a geometric pattern. Two chairs and several bottles are on the table.
A person wearing a white lab coat sits on a chair while holding a clipboard and smoking a pipe. Behind them, five pink lab coats are hanging on a metal rack. The setting appears to be a stage with clipboards on display.
A group of people on stage perform a scene. A person in a white coat holds a clipboard, while another sits on a chair surrounded by others in pink lab coats. The scene is dimly lit, with a dark, industrial-style background.
A theatrical scene with actors in lab coats holding mannequin heads, standing around a person in a red-patterned dress. They are on a dimly lit stage with a dark background and an empty office chair in the center.
A group of actors on stage perform a scene. Four people in purple coats hold colorful objects, while a person in a white coat stands in the center, seemingly directing. Another person in a patterned dress faces them, with an empty chair nearby.
Five actors on stage are performing a scene. Four wear lab coats and one is in a dress. They are energetically throwing a large, colorful capsule prop into the air. A chair is in the center with a coat draped over it. Background is dark with a lit panel.