NEXT TO NORMAL
Music by Tom Kitt, Book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey
A Tony and Pulitzer-winning Rock Musical on the power mental illness has in our families
Considered one of the best musicals of the 21st Century, Next to Normal, explores the complexities of a seemingly normal household. As a mother struggles with the crippling effects of Bipolar Disorder and family trauma, this 3 time Tony award-winning show pries into the suburban underbelly and dives into a family’s dark secrets. Diana Goodman and her family appear to neighbors as another family on a cookie-cutter block but family tragedies, medication, and doctors visits prioritize the Goodman’s time. Winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, it was hailed as “a powerful rock musical that grapples with mental illness in a suburban family and expands the scope of subject matter for musicals.”
“No show on Broadway right now makes as direct a grab for the heart — or wrings it as thoroughly — as Next to Normal does.” - The New York Times
Produced in special arrangement with Music Theatre International
Sponsored in part by
Sarah Daniel
(Diana)
Sarah got her start in theatre at Flowertown Players at the age of thirteen in a production of Winnie the Pooh. She holds a BA in Theatre Performance from the College of Charleston. She was seen most recently as God in Flowertown Underground’s production of An Act of God. Her past Summerville Credits include A Christmas Story (Mother), Legally Blonde (Paulette), and Oliver! (Nancy) with Flowertown Players and The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (St Monica), Stop Kiss (Mrs. Winslow), and Macbeth (Witch) with Flowertown Underground. Her Charleston credits include Sweeney Todd (Beggar Woman) at Village Repertory Co. and One Bear Lake(Gayle) at 5th Wall Productions. Sarah thanks her husband, John, and her sons, Josh and Sam, for all of their love and support.
Justin is excited to be in this wonderful show for the second time. His recent Charleston credits include Dogfight (Bernstein) and Sweeney Todd (Tobias) at Woolfe St. Playhouse, as well as Broadway Bound (Eugene) at Midtown Productions. His past NY credits include Next To Normal (Henry) at Pittsford Musicals, Spring Awakening (Georg) and Grease (Roger) at RAPA. He recently workshopped a Disney theatrical production and new musical Small Town Story in NYC. He is excited to be moving to Chicago soon to pursue improv comedy at Second City.
Allison Lee Zobel Brower is a Summerville native. She has a BA in Theatre Education from Winthrop University and a MA in Directing from Roosevelt University. Allison can usually be found acting within the Charleston community or directing her theatre students at Ashley Ridge High. Former credits at FTP include Margot in Legally Blonde, Snoopy in Charlie Brown, and a Doo Wop in Little Shop of Horrors.
Justin Borak
(Henry)
Allison Brower
(Natalie)
Carlos Nieto
(Dr.Fine/Dr. Madden)
Carlos has loved this music and show since he saw the Tony’s performance on tv, and hoped that he would one day be able to be in this wonderful show. Next to Normal marks Carlos’ third production on stage at Flowertown Players. Carlos Flowertown credits: Prof Callahan in Legally Blonde, Mr. Macaffee in Bye Bye Birdie and styled wigs for Sweeney Todd. Charleston Credits include Sweeney Todd at Village Rep, Company at Midtown and Disaster at Village. Thanks to his love David, fur babies and friends for all their support.
David McLaughlin
(Dan)
David McLaughlin is an award wining Director, Musical Director, Choreographer and Actor. Recent Credits: Miracle on 34th Street – Kris Kringle (Footlight Players), The Little Shop of Horrors – Seymour, Moonlight and Magnolias - David O. Selznick, directed/choreographed SWEENEY TODD, HAIRSPRAY, WEST SIDE STORY, BYE BYE BIRDIE, musically directed LEGALLY BLONDE, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, RENT and PLAID TIDINGS for Flowertown Players. David has directed over 130 shows, favorite directorial credits include HAIRSPRAY, RENT, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, LES MISERABLES, LEGALLY BLONDE, WEST SIDE STORY and A CHORUS LINE. Select performance credits include THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (PHANTOM) WEST SIDE STORY (TONY) THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (BRAD) LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (SEYMOUR) BYE BYE BIRDIE (ALBERT) and SUNSET BOULEVARD (Joe Gillis).
Jonathan Harper
(Gabe)
Jonathan Harper is a rising junior at the College of Charleston, and is currently studying theater performance. He has most recently been seen in Fun Home at Pure Theater, Singing in the Rain at Footlight Players, and as Mark in Rent at the College of Charleston. He will also be making his directing debut with Stop Kiss at Center Stage, the College’s student run theater, which runs October 3-6!
MEET THE CAST
VIDEOS/PHOTOS/PRESS
Sneak Peek Video
WHAT PRESS SAYS
CHARLESTON CITY PAPER
"Next to Normal, Flowertown's newest show — written by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey — reinforces the saying "everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about" by giving us a glimpse into a seemingly normal family living with the dark reality of mental illness and recovery from trauma."
JOURNAL SCENE
"Bates: It’s very relevant right now. Each character is three-dimensional, which people can really relate to."
POST AND COURIER
"The 2010 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical highlights the disorienting effects of Diana’s worsening bipolar disorder on her family and explores themes of grief, depression, suicide and the underbelly of suburban life."