Next To Normal Study Guide
Next To Normal Study Guide
Next
to
Normal
Alliance Theatre
October 17-November 11
Book and Lyrics by Brian Yorkey
Music by Tom Kitt
Directed by Scott Schwartz
This Study Guide was researched and prepared by students in Robert Connors
Musical Theatre Class at Tri-Cities High School in East Point, GA, under the guidance
of Alliance Theatre Teaching Artist Barry Stewart Mann.
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Plot Summary
Next to Normal is a contemporary family drama, about a womans
struggle with mental illness, and the effects of her illness on her family. At
the opening of the show, Diana seems to have an ideal life she is educated,
well-off, and happily married with two teenage children. But it soon
becomes clear that all is not as it seems. Diana has bipolar disorder, plagued
with anxieties, mood swings and delusions that trace back to a family
tragedy 16 years earlier and are growing worse with time. During the course
of the play, Diana goes through a series of doctors and treatments, in
response to and sometimes triggering the ups and downs of her illness.
Under the care of her primary doctor, Dr. Madden, Diana takes medication,
talks through her issues and problems, and undergoes the more
controversial option of electroconvulsive therapy. Meanwhile, her husband
Dan confronts his own confusion and depression; daughter Natalie deals
with isolation and a budding romance with a fellow music student, Henry;
and son Gabe serves as Dianas confidante and link to a happier past.
Though the family strives to establish some sort of normality, and each
character seeks his or her own peace and happiness, the ties that bind slowly
and inexorably unravel around them.
Next to Normal is considered a rock musical, and much of the story is
told through song. The melodies are often interwoven, and the action moves
back and forth among simultaneous scenes, as well as between literal and
psychological realities. Though serious in focus, the play is full of surprises
and humor as well.
Setting
Next to Normal is set in an unidentified suburban American
community. Much of the action takes place in the family home - in the
kitchen, living room, and family bedrooms. Additional locations include
various doctors offices, Natalies school, Dans car, Henrys house, the
hospital, and the dark corners of Dianas tortured psyche. Settings shift
frequently and quickly throughout the play.
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The Characters
Diana
by Rubin Barksdale and Mya Yorke
Diana is the main character of Next to Normal. She is a housewife in her late
thirties or early forties. In the character list in the script, the authors describe her as
sexy and sharp. From the outside, it would seem like she has it all, but Diana
suffers from bipolar disorder, which keeps her from living her life fully. She begins
to become delusional and live in a world that goes back and forth between reality
and fantasy. Before Diana was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, she enjoyed
climbing mountains. In the song, I Miss the Mountains, she explains, I miss the
highs and lows, all the climbing, all the falling, and all the while the wild wind
blows. Diana wants to move forward with her life, but she is unable to do so
because her past haunts her. The trauma caused by past losses has produced
distant relationships between her and both her husband and her daughter. Diana
and Natalie do not have a real bond or connection because Natalie feels that she is
invisible in her mothers eyes. Diana and Dan do not have a strong marriage
because they do not support each other when they encounter in an emotional
conflict. As time passes, she feels more isolated, and her bipolar disorder only
becomes worse. Diana strives to at least become next to normal, but in all actuality
the reality that has developed over the years is not normal at all.
Dan
by Jai Rodgers & James Young
Dan is the husband of Diana and the father of Natalie and Gabe. He is a man that
wants nothing more than for his family to be normal. As a husband, he is protective,
worried, and stressed; as a result, he can be selfish and even passive-aggressive. The
bottom line is that he struggles with an ongoing dilemma, the choice between his own
personal interest and happiness, and what he feels he needs to do to care for his wife. His
search for the best decisions for his family often just leads to additional problems. Dan
tries to keep his household together the best he can, but in reality it doesnt turn out the
way he would want, and he realizes that he has little control over his destiny. Still, he
chooses to stay with Diana and give her whatever support he can.
Natalie
by Samantha Axam-Hocker & Kaya Camp
Natalie is Diana and Dans daughter, and Gabes sister. She is a teenage girl
basically just trying to find herself. Dealing with her mothers mental illness, she is on a
emotional rollercoaster which she doesnt know how to get off. As a result, she pushes
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away the people that care for her most because she doesnt know how to accept their love
and concern. She is attracted to Henry, and to the attention he gives her, but also
frightened and intimidated. Her relationship with her father is ambiguous, and, as
evidenced in the song Superboy and the Invisible Girl, she is jealous of her brothers
central position in the familys emotional life, and in her mothers psyche. At times,
Natalie just wants to get away from all of it, but doesn't know how. She is eager to leave
and start her life and to stop feeling like a shadow at her own house.
Gabe
By Patrick Coleman and Tessence Pearson
Gabe is the son of Diana and Dan, and brother of Natalie. Toward the
beginning of the play, Gabe comes off as daring and rebellious. He is somewhat rude
and flippant when it comes to the other characters, such as Natalie, Dan, and Doctor
Madden. The only character for whom he ever shows any affection is his mother
Diana. Because of this, the two are very close.
Gabe is an enigmatic character, and as the play progresses, his role in the
family is more fully revealed. Gabe is scared of losing her, and scared that if shes
not around he will no longer be relevant to his family. This fear causes him to cling
to her and to prevent her from fully living her life. Gabe is also extremely jealous,
and gets upset whenever someone challenges his hold on Diana. His songs often use
irony to fully convey the nature of his character. They are usually upbeat, in sharp
contrast to the dark subject matter. Gabe is in some ways on the periphery of the
action of the play, and, paradoxically, also central to the dramatic conflict and
resolution.
Henry
By Jenai Howard
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Dr. Madden
Dr. Madden is Dianas primary
physician through the action of the
play. He attempts to reach her
through a variety of treatment
methods, and in the course of their
relationship he unearths crucial family
secrets. He is fairly easygoing and
hip, and in Dianas mind he assumes
glamorous roles a rock star! providing excitement and fulfilling
fantasies. In reality, he is a proficient
doctor, clearly concerned for the
welfare of his patient and her family.
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What
is
Bipolar
Disorder?
Four Moods of Humanity, by John Rudolph (2011)
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Simple Coping Strategies for Bipolar Disorder: View an original Public Service
Announcement created by the High School Dramaturgs at
http://youtu.be/4IcdkZLt53E.
Medications
Compiled by Odjkni Simmons & Leonardo White
In Next to Normal, a variety of medications are mentioned and/or prescribed for
Diana. Here are some, with details about what they are and how they work.
Ambien (zolpidem) is a sedative, also called a hypnotic. It affects chemicals in the brain
that may become unbalanced and cause sleep problems (insomnia).
Ativan (lorazepam) is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines. It is used to
relieve anxiety. It works by slowing activity in the brain to allow for relaxation.
Buspar (bupirone) is an anxiolytic psychoactive drug of the azapirone chemical class that
is used to treat anxiety disorders, helping to alleviate fear, tension, irritability, dizziness,
pounding heartbeat, and other physical symptoms.
Depakote (divalproex) is a anti-convulsant. It is usually prescribed for persons who are
Bipolar (Manic Depressive), or a similar illness. It is sometimes prescribed for people
who experience chronic migraine headaches.
Klonopin (clonazepam) is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines (ben-zoe-dyeAZE-eh-peens). Clonazepam affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced
and cause anxiety.
Paxil (paroxetine) is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Paxil affects chemicals in the brain that may become
unbalanced.
Prozac (fluoxetine) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) antidepressant.
Prozac affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression,
panic, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
Xanax (alprazolam) belongs to a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. It works by
slowing down the movement of chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced. This
results in a reduction in nervous tension (anxiety).
Zoloft (sertraline) is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Zoloft affects chemicals in the brain that may become
unbalanced and cause depression, panic, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
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A BPD pharmacopia, clockwise from top left: Ambien, Ativan, Buspar, Paxil, Zoloft,
Xanax, Prozac, and Klonopin. (Prozac photo by Tom Varco, 2006.)
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Electroconvulsive Therapy
by Kristen Armour and Jahmad Juluke
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a treatment in which electric currents are
applied to the head to induce small seizures for specific patients. These patients
include those who are mentally diagnosed for severe depression and other mental
illnesses or conditions, including schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and
Tourette syndrome. This treatment is administered after patients are given
sedatives and/or muscle relaxers. It can be given in different amounts, with
different frequency, and for different durations, depending on the individual
patients case. It is often used together with other forms of treatment, including
drugs and talk therapy.
ECT has been used since the 1930s, when it was first developed by
neuropsychiatrists in Italy. In spite of almost a century of use, there is still no theory
to explain how the process actually works. Supposedly, it causes alterations in how
the brain responds to chemical signals. Mental health providers agree that it works
best in producing short-term results, but it is unclear what long term effects are.
There are many positive aspects to electroconvulsive therapy: it is quick and
easy to administer, fairly efficient in achieving results, and not reliant on patients
taking a confusing variety of pills everyday. On the other hand, electroconvulsive
therapy has side effects: patients have frequent loss of memory, including
disorientation from family affiliations, location, and time of year; they experience
headaches, stiffness, and confusion as well. Also, ECT can be fatal; the death rate is
estimated at 1 out of 1,000.
There are strong opinions on both sides of the ECT issue. Some people are
appalled at the idea of basically electrocuting patients, even if in very small doses,
and they worry about the long term effects and other aspects that are not yet
known. But many people feel that anything that can work to ease patients suffering
should be used.
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Case Studies
Compiled by Tessence Pearson
I. Jessie is a 30 year-old married female. She has a very demanding, high stress job as a
second year medical resident in a large hospital. Jessie has always been a over achiever.
She graduated in the top honors in both college and medical school. She always has had
very high standards for herself and can be very self-critical when she fails to meet them.
Lately, she has struggled with significant feelings of worthlessness and shame due to her
inability to perform as well as she always has in the past.
For the past few weeks Jessie has felt unusually fatigued and found it increasingly
difficult to concentrate at work. Her co-workers have noticed that she is often irritable
and withdrawn, which is quite different from her typically upbeat and friendly
disposition. She has called in sick on several occasions, which isn't like her. On those
days she stayed in the bed all day, watching TV or sleeping.
At home, Jessies husband has noticed changes as well. Shes shown little interest
in wanted to be physically involved and has had difficulties falling asleep at night. Her
insomnia has been keeping him awake as she tosses and turns for an hour or two after
they go to bed. Hes overheard her having frequent tearful phone conversations with her
closest friend, and that causes him to worry. When he tries to get her to open up about
whats going with her, she pushes him away with the reply everythings fine.
Jessie has found herself increasingly dissatisfied with her life. Shes been having
frequent thoughts of wishing she were dead. She gets frustrated with herself because she
feels like she has every reason to be happy, yet cant seem to shake the sense of doom
and gloom that has been clouding each day as of late. Yes, these thoughts are extreme but
she isn't suicidal. (Source: www.psyweb.com/Casestudies/CaseStudies.jsp)
II. Carmen is 46-year-old female who suffered from bipolar disorder for 30 years prior
to seeking help from upper cervical chiropractic care. The episodes of depression and
mania started during adolescence and she had tried numerous medications over the years.
During her upper cervical chiropractic evaluation, an upper neck injury was
discovered. She recalled experiencing a horseback riding accident during her junior high
years in which she sustained a concussion. She concluded her neck injury could have
occurred then. After receiving treatment for her neck injury, she reported a marked
improvement in her health; specifically, the bipolar problem was reduced tremendously.
She reported that she received more results from upper cervical care than any other
treatment or medication she had tried over the years.
(Source: www.erinelester.com/CaseStudies.aspx?ConditionID=4)
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Famous People
(who have been discussed as having signs of Bipolar Disorder)
Note: inclusion in this section should in no way be construed as an attack on
these individuals. Many people throughout society exhibit symptoms of bipolar
disorder; this list is intended to further the open discussion of this topic by
providing common points of reference among individuals in the public eye. Only
these individuals and their physicians know the details of their personal lives and
medical histories.
Britney Spears
"While the pop princess, 28, kept quiet about possible mental health problems,
speculation and rumors about a possible bipolar diagnosis swirled around Spears since
the infamous shaved-head photos surfaced in 2007. A parade of psychiatrists and
psychologistsnone of whom actually treated Spears, mind youdiagnosed her as
bipolar in various media outlets. A January 2008 People magazine cover story about
Spears referred to a likely bipolar disorder, and in it, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based
psychiatrist said Spearss actions suggested classic bipolar behavior, including
hypersexuality, poor judgment, and impulsivity. Whatever mental health condition
Spears may (or may not) have been suffering from, the beleaguered singer seems to have
regained her footing."
Demi Lovato
"It wasnt until she entered a treatment center for her struggles with anorexia,
bulimia, and cutting that teen pop star Demi Lovato found out she had bipolar disorder.
"Looking back it makes sense," she told People magazine of her diagnosis. "There were
times when I was so manic, I was writing seven songs in one night and I'd be up until
5:30 in the morning."
The Disney darling has since completed treatment and will continue to see doctors
at home in L.A., but says, "I feel like I am in control now."
Kurt Cobain
"The grunge rocker took his own life at age 27 despite the success of his Seattle
based band, Nirvana. Noting that one of the bands songs is titled Lithium, which is
also a mood stabilizer used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, Time magazine included
him in a 2002 list of manic geniuses who made great contributions to music, art, or
literature and who may have had bipolar disorder. "
(Source: Health.com)
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In Person:
A Class
Visitor
by Odjkni Simmons
and Leonardo White
During the course of our Dramaturgy work on Next to Normal, a visitor came to
speak with our class about his own journey with Bipolar Disorder (BPD). He was a tall,
thin middle-aged man with dark hair; to respect his privacy, for this essay we will call
him Jack.
Though Jack seemed unique in ways, he was not someone we would have
immediately identified as having a mental illness. He sat with his legs crossed, was a
little fidgety, and messed with his hair a lot. He seemed very intelligent and a little
intense, as if he were an artist or performer. As he introduced himself, Jack explained
that he first discovered he had BPD in college when he was studying depression and
schizophrenia and recognized some of the symptoms in himself. He explained that
people sometimes treat him differently because he has BPD. People with BPD are often
marginalized or isolated from their families and friends. He suggested that the scenario
in the play is unusual for someone with such extreme symptoms to be living a fairly
normal life as a wife and mother.
Jack suggested that BPD is in some ways similar to how life is for high school
students: we go through things that constantly cause changes in our feelings and moods.
We all know the emotional roller coaster of adolescence. Jack said that for someone
suffering with BPD, the emotions and changes are more extreme, happen more
frequently, and last longer. He also explained how his emotions can mix, meaning that
he can simultaneously experience two emotions that usually don't go together, like
feeling unhappy and mad at the same time, or sad and anxious at once. Thinking of our
Musical Theatre class, Jack also said that having so many emotions could be great for
singing and acting. It may be easier to reach the emotions that the singer or actor must
convey. However, with BPD, the emotions last longer for those without the disorder; he
said he cant just cut emotions off. But, he reminded us, sometimes normal people
cant control their emotions either. In some ways, its really a difference of amount and
intensity for a person with BPD.
Jack explained there are medications for BPD, and that he had taken some in the
past. The medications helped, but the side effects for him were sometimes rough: the
whole day would feel like a blur or he couldn't remember certain things. He gave the
analogy of being drunk. He also said it wasn't good to drink or smoke while on
medication there can be bad interactions. He had taken medication for a while, but he
doesnt take them currently simple because he feels he doesn't need them. He said he has
a variety of coping strategies, and that his doctors tell him he copes well without the
medications. But he may decide to go on them again at some point.
It was fascinating to the class that Jack was very comfortable telling us about his
life with Bipolar Disorder. He provided interesting insights into this fascinating topic,
and our study of Next to Normal.
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Being a Caregiver
by Bobbi Bass and Toni Robinson
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Tom Kitt
Brian Yorkey
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Production History
Next to Normal is a musical with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by
Tom Kitt. The piece began in 1998 as a short sketch about a woman undergoing
electroconvulsive therapy, under the title Feeling Electric. Over the next decade, the
script and score grew and developed through a series of workshops, and was retitled Next
to Normal. The play debuted off-Broadway in 2008, and won the Outer Critics' Circle
Award for Outstanding Score, with Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding
Actress and Outstanding Score. After the run off-Broadway, the show was reworked, and
then produced at Washington, DCs Arena Stage from November 2008 to January 2009.
The musical opened on Broadway in April 2009. It was nominated for eleven Tony
Awards for the 2009 and won three; Best Original Score, Best Orchestration, and Best
Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, for Alice Ripley. It was also awarded the
2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, becoming only the eighth musical in Pulitzer history to
receive the honor. In awarding the prize to Next to Normal, the Pulitzer committee called
the show "a powerful rock musical that grapples with mental illness in a suburban family
and expands the scope of subject matter for musicals." The Broadway production closed
on January 16, 2011 after 21 previews and 733 regular performances. Since then, the
show has toured nationally in the U.S., and received productions abroad in Canada,
Australia, Holland, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Korea, Israel, and several countries in
Scandinavia.
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In the musical theatre, how does music relate to text? Songs and musical numbers
are interjected periodically throughout a show. There are a plethora of reasons as to why
this happens. Some believe that words can no longer express how the character feels; the
emotions are so strong that he or she has to sing. The tone, mood or style of music
perfectly expresses way the character is feeling. When the characters sing in a specific
key, tone, or melody, the song directly connects to how the audience and performers feel.
For example, early in Next to Normal, there is a scene in a doctors office. Diana is
speaking with Dr. Fine about how to take her medicine; when all of a sudden Dan sings:
Whos crazy? The husband or wife?
Whos crazy? To live their whole life
Believing that somehow
Things arent as bizarre as they are?
Dan is clearly frustrated that the love of his life is losing her mind. He is
genuinely wondering who is crazy, the person with the illness or the one who stays with
the ill person, and his inner confusion bursts out in song, basically interrupting the
doctors explanations about the pills. A few minutes later in the same scene, distant
voices are heard singing, listing medicines in the style of a radio commercial. This is a
unique way the lyricist and composer connect the text to music. The exaggerated list of
medicines gives the audience a mental image of how strenuous it is to have an illness
where many pills are needed on a daily bases. The song lets the audience see, hear and
feel how exhausting and tedious a mental disorder can be for the sufferer.
In the play, songs and text are constantly interwoven. Also, sometimes characters who
are not in a scene come out to become part of a song. Each character sings from his or
her own viewpoint. Often the same lyrics can mean different things to the different
characters; in songs words and phrases can be repeated many times for emphasis.
Sometimes the songs express what the characters might actually be saying, but much of
the time the songs convey the psychological reality of the character their inner thoughts
and feelings. They are often part of the imagination of the characters that sing them, and
the style of the song relates to the specific character at the specific moment of the action.
It is the job of each audience member to determine how each song helps to tell the story
of the play.
Finally, the music provides pleasure in itself. Music can connect to the
audiences emotions in ways that simple spoken words cannot. So the audience has the
experience, in a way, of attending a concert as well as a play.
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People use humor in life to cover or add joy to pain. Playwright and lyricist Brian
Yorkey employs humor in the musical Next to Normal to balance and lighten the plays
serious and painful situations.
For example, Dianas fantasies to add humor to her doctor visits. At one point,
she imagines that she and her doctor, Dr. Fine are in a romantic relationship when she
says, My psychopharmacologist and I . . . . Its like an odd romance, intense and very
intimate, we do our dance. Later, she also fantasizes that another of her doctors, Dr.
Madden, is a rock star; as she deals with him, the play shifts back and forth between
reality and fantasy. Humor is also brought into the play when Diana blurts out random
comments or does random things that are not normal. For example, Diana tells Natalie
that she is going to have sex with her Dan, Natalies father, and she calls her son a twat
-- these are not common things a mother would say to her children. Early in the play,
Diana makes sandwiches on the floor, also very unusual. All of these examples are
drawn from Dianas illness, and the abnormal ways that such a patient might act.
Diana is not the only source of humor; Yorkey also uses the character of Natalie.
When Natalie meets Henry, she thinks hes a creeper because he knows so much about
her and she has never met him before. Natalies relationship with Henry is humorous
because their personalities are so different. Natalie is a fairly structured person, and
Henry is more free-spirited, so their interaction brings up contrasts and contradictions.
Yorkey also finds opportunities for humor in Dan. As Dianas husband, he tries to cope
with and help her, but when he talks to the audience, it becomes clear that he really
doesnt understand her.
Given the seriousness of the plays topic, the funny lines and situations provide
welcome balance and relief and add to the plays humanity.
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The Director
by Kennedy Bright and Carly Savoy
Scott Schwartz is internationally known for his
works off and on Broadway, across the United States,
Great Britain, and Asia. For nearly two decades, he has
built a reputation for working with a wide range of
productions, from new plays to operas, and everything
in between.
Mr. Schwartz is a graduate of Harvard
University, an Associate Artist at the Alley Theatre in
Houston, and a member of the Stage Directors and
Choreographers Society.
Schwartz made his Broadway career debut as
co-director (with John Caird) of the musical Jane Eyre,
a national tour of the musical Godspell, and the British tour of Godspell as well. He has
directed for many of the nations premiere theatres, including the Ahmanson in Los
Angeles, Alley Theatre, Cleveland Playhouse, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Dallas
Theater Center, Denver Center Theatre, San Jose Rep, the Old Globe Theatre in San
Diego, Virginia Stage Company, Pasadena Playhouse, Arizona Theatre Company,
Berkshire Theatre Festival, and the Alliance. Credits in New York and around the
country include Goldas Balcony, Sance on a Wet Afternoon, Bat Boy, Shakespeares
Othello and Much Ado About Nothing, the world premiere of Theresa Rebecks What
Were Up Against, and many more.
Schwartz is the son of Stephen Schwartz, renowned composer and lyricist of such
stage classics as Godspell, Pippin, and Working, and such well-known films as
Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt, and Enchanted. A
book about the life and career of Stephen Schwartz, Defying Gravity, includes interviews
with Scott and a portrait of his relationship with his famous father.
Theatre Etiquette
When you attend a play at the Alliance Theatre, you are in the same room as a lot
of other people, including the actors, who can both see and hear you. For your own and
everyone elses enjoyment, there are simple rules to follow. Turn off any electronic
devices that you brought in, and leave them off. Sounds can be distracting, even loud
whispers; and stray lights can as well, so refrain from texting and checking email.
Responding to the play is fine, with laughter, tears, gasps, and the like, but anything
louder or more verbal will take the focus off the play and put it squarely on you. If you
must exit the theatre, do so quietly, and at an opportune moment in the action. If you are
coughing a lot, please discreetly leave the theatre. And the most important rule:
pay attention, listen, watch, think, feel, and enjoy.
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Vocabulary
by Alex Albritton and Kayla McCrary
Here are some interesting, unusual or unfamiliar words from Next to Normal, with the
lines from the script showing their usage.
Twat - A foolish or despicable person
grappling
nimble
Nimble - Quick and light in movement; moving with ease; agile; active; rapid
Natalie: But his musics not crazy,
Its balanced, its nimble,
Its crystalline clear.
Therapeutic - Having or exhibiting healing powers
Henry: Dude. Its therapeutic.
Oblong - Having an elongated, esp. rectangular, shape
Dr. Fine: The triangle yellow ones are taken with the oblong green ones with food
but not with the pink ones.
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Psychopharmacologist a scientist or doctor who specializes in the study of drugs and how they
affect the mind.
Diana: My psychopharmacologist and I
Its like an odd romance.
Predisposition - Tendency to a condition or quality, usually based on the combined effects of
genetic and environmental factors.
Traumatic- Psychologically or physically painful
Dr. Madden: Sometimes theres a predisposition to illness, but actual onset is only triggered
by some . . . traumatic event.
Sedated - Calm, quiet, or composed; undisturbed by passion or excitement; calmed through the
administration of drugs
Restrained - Held back from action; kept in check or under control; repressed
Dr. Madden: Saline rinse, sutures, and gauze. I.V. antibiotics. Isolated, sedated, and
restrained.
Anesthesiologist - A physician who specializes in anesthesiology, the study of medications and
procedures that temporarily take away or block sensation and feeling.
Dr. Madden: I see youve met our anesthesiologist. Now, just breathe normally.
Lethargy- The quality or state of being drowsy and dull, listless and unenthusiastic, or indifferent
and lazy; apathetic or sluggish inactivity
Diana: Its like someone let my brain out,
Set my frozen mind to thaw,
Let the lethargy and pain out
While I stood and watched, in awe.
Euphoria - A state of intense happiness and self-confidence
Natalie: Its euphoria, its anger.
Its the winter wind, its fire.
lethargy
euphoria
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sear
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regimen
Circuitry - The detailed arrangement of electronic circuits (complete pathways of electric currents)
Diana: And then they told me chemistry,
The juice, and not the circuitry,
Was mixing up and making me insane.
Relapse - To fall or slip back into a former state, practice
Dr. Madden: Relapse is very common, Diana. Its upsetting that the delusional episodes
have returned, but not entirely unexpected.
Reprieve - respite or temporary relief
Gabe: Your heart is in your chest again, not hanging on your sleeve.
Theyve driven out your demons and theyve earned you this reprieve.
Pathological - Relating to, involving, or caused by disease
Diana: My first psychologist told me that according to the manual, grief that continues past
four months is pathological and should be medicated.
Lucid - Clear; pellucid; transparent
Diana: Maybe Ive lost it at last.
Maybe my last lucid moment has passed.
Stolid - Not easily stirred or moved mentally; unemotional; impassive
Steadfast - Firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment, etc., as a person
Stoic maintaining or affecting the mental attitude advocated by the Stoics, characterized by
strength, freedom from passion, and indifference to pleasure and pain
Diana: Why stay?
Why stay?
So steadfast and stolid
And stoic and solid.
steadfast
stolid
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stoic
Activities
Developed by Barry Stewart Mann and the High School Dramaturgs
Here are some activities to prepare students for Next to Normal and to help them
reflect on their experience of the play.
- Which characters in the play were selfish, and which were generous and giving? When
and why?
- Remembering that Bipolar Disorder includes behaviors that most people manifest at
some time or another, explore the question: what should qualify a set of behaviors as a
mental illness?
Character Tableaux
Objective: To explore the characters and their interrelationships through physicalization.
Format: Small groups of 5 or 6
Procedure: Groups assign roles based on characters in the play; then create a tableau
(frozen group pose) to express individual character qualities as well as interrelationships
through facial expression, shape, spatial relationships, etc. Present tableaux to the class
and allow the observers to guess at characters, or simply to comment on what the tableau
expresses. Variation: do tableaux for the beginning, middle or end of the play. Have
each student choose or improvise a line of text to express the characters thought or
feeling, then activate the tableau one actor at a time to speak the chosen text.
Sample tableaux:
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Resources
Bipolar Disorder
Gold, Susan Dudley. Bipolar Disorder and Depression. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow
Publishers, Inc., 2000.
Roleff, Tamara L. & Laura Egendorf, Eds. Mental Illness: Opposing Viewpoints. San
Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2000.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
www.nimh.nih.gov/health/.../bipolar-disorder/complete-index.shtml
www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar-disorder/DS00356
Treatments
Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. "Bipolar Disorder." Bipolar Disorder. U.S. National Library
of Medicine, 18 Nov. 2012. Web. 25 Aug. 2012.
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001924/>.
Bradley, Bob. How to Survive Your Bipolar Brain (and Stay Functional). Houston, TX:
Emerald ink Publishing, 2001.
Burgess, Wes. The Bipolar Handbook: Real-Life Questions with Up-to-Date Answers.
New York: Avery, 2006.
Fawcett, Jan, Bernard Golden, and Nancy Rosenfeld. New Hope for People with Bipolar
Disorder. Roseville, CA: Prima Publishing, 2000.
Grohol, John M. "Psychotherapy - Psych Central." Psychotherapy - Psych Central. Psych
Central, 1992-2012. Web. 24 Aug. 2012. http://psychcentral.com/psychotherapy.
Guyol, Gracelyn. Healing Depression and Bipolar Disorder Without Drugs: Inspiring
Stories of Restoring Mental Health Through Natural Therapies. New York:
Walker & Co., 2006.
National Institute of Mental Health. "Bipolar Disorder." NIMH Bipolar Disorder.
National Institutes of Health, 2008. Web. 23 Aug. 2012.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/completeindex.shtml.
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/bipolar_disorder_diagnosis_treatment.htm
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Dukakis, Kitty & Larry Tye. Shock: The Healing Power of Electroconvulsive Therapy.
New York: The Penguin Group, 2006.
http://m.dictionary.com/d/?q=electrocunvulsive%20therapy&o=0&l=dir
http://bipolar.about.com/od/glossaryef/g/gl_ect.htm
http://wordnetwoeb.Princeton.edu/Perl/webwn
www.mayoclinic.com/health/electroconvulsive-therapy/MY00129
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYl13Relzbs
Caregivers
www.bipolarcaregivers.org
www.managingbipolar.com
www.caregiver.com
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Top row (kneeling on rear shelf unit): Tessence Pearson, Samantha Axam-Hocker
Back row (sitting or leaning on rear shelf unit): Kaya Camp, Maya Yorke, Bobbi
Bass, Leonardo White, Carly Savoy, Jai Rodgers, James Young
Middle row (standing between shelf units): Richard Hatcher, Kayla McCrary, Rubin
Barksdale, Kristen Armour, Jahmad Juluke, Teaching Artist Barry Stewart Mann
Front row (leaning on front shelf unit): Musical Theatre Teacher Robert Connor,
Odjkni Simmons, Toni Robinson, Elyakeem Avraham, Kennedy Bright, Patrick
Coleman, Jenai Howard, Alex Albritton.
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