Next to Normal (Original Broadway Cast) | Tom Kitt

Next to Normal (Original Broadway Cast) | Tom Kitt | "Next to Normal", Far from it

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	Next to Normal (Original Broadway Cast) Tom Kitt Sh-K-Boom, 2009 average customer review:based on 45 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Next to Normal has been described as a contemporary musical that explores how one suburban household copes with crisis. With provocative lyrics and an electrifying score of more than 30 original songs, Next to Normal shows how far two parents will go to keep themselves sane and their family's world intact. Next to Normal recently received five Helen Hayes Award nominations for its Arena Stage engagement, including Outstanding Non-Resident Production, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Non-Resident Production (Alice Ripley), Outstanding Lead Actor in a Non-Resident Production (J.Robert Spencer), and Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Non-Resident Production (Aaron Tveit and Jennifer Damiano). For its sold-out Second Stage Theatre engagement, Next to Normal won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Score and also received the following accolades: Lucille Lortel Award nominations for Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Featured Actor (Aaron Tveit), and Outstanding Lighting Design (Kevin Adams); Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Alice Ripley) and Outstanding Music; Outer Critics Circle Award nominations for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical and Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Alice Ripley); and a Drama League nomination for Outstanding Musical, among others.

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AMAZING Show!

First of all, I'd like to make it clear that I do NOT recommend this CD if you haven't seen the show. The CD gives away some things about the show that I think it's better to find out during the show.

Next to Normal is the best musical I've seen in the last couple years. It's incredibly moving and definitely sad at times, but the music is amazing and the cast is wonderful. I highly recommend seeing the show and then buying the CD! Or buying the CD and not listening to it until you see it (my best friend does that a lot).

"Next to Normal", Far from it

Not your typical Broadway show indeed.

If somebody were to approach me on the street and asked me if I would go see a show about a Bi-Polar depressant, usually, I would say something along the lines of "Hell no! Are you kidding!?" But after receiving this album, I plan on seeing it in December.

Next to Normal finds itself to be one of the best cast recordings I've ever heard (which encompasses quite a few shows, contemporary and "classic"). It's Tony-award winning orchestrations prove to be easy on the ear and incredibly satifying, while vocal performances from everyone in the cast are very strong; but that doesn't mean one doesn't stand above them all. Aaron Tveit proves to be the strongest voice, having excellent control that is well expressed in such songs as "I'm Alive (Reprise)" and "There's a World"

The music provides a great atmosphere, Tom Kitt really hammered the nail on this one. I have heard his only other recorded score, "High Fidelity", and I will tell you that while it did have a few gems, I was a bit disappointed. But after hearing this, I would not consider it a hyperbole to say that this could very well be Tom Kitt's equivalent of Stephen Sondheim's "Company", the show that first brought him to wide acclaim (as well as bringing him his second Tony award, his first for writing a score; his very first was for being a co-producer on "A Funny Thing Happened On My Way to the Forum") His music is well backed up with Michael Yorkey's exceptional lyrics, which perfectly communicate the feelings of the characters.

This show is just utterly fantastic, and finds itself to be my second favorite cast recording of the year (the first being Sondheim's "Road Trip", which only played off-Broadway but bested Next to Normal in winning the Drama Desk for Best Music and Lyrics (as well as winning the Obie in the same catagory)). I highly recommend it to anybody, whether they have seen the show or not (the album comes with a booklet summarizing the whole show so you can fully understand the lyrics).

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Just perfection

Nothing else to say, the lyrics, the music, Alice, the cast,
Aaron just perfection.
The words are simples and just.
The interpretation is pure delight.

Love it, Love it, Love it!