Next To Normal

Infobox Musical
name= Next To Normal (previously called Feeling Electric)
subtitle=


caption=
music=Tom Kitt
lyrics=Brian Yorkey
book=Brian Yorkey
basis=
productions= 2002 New York City workshop
2008 Off-Broadway 2nd Stage Nov. 2008 VA/DC Arena Stage
awards= Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Grant

"Next To Normal" is a new musical directed by Michael Greif and Anthony Rapp starring Alice Ripley, Brian D'Arcy James, Aaron Tveit, Jennifer Damiano, Adam Chanler-Berat and Asa Somers. It transfers to Arena Stage in Virginia/D.C.

Cast (New York)

As a workshop, the musical was titled "Feeling Electric" and was directed by Peter Askin and starred Kiss Me, Kate's Amy Spanger, Joe Cassidy and RENT's Anthony Rapp.

History

Next To Normal was written by Brian Yorkey (Book and Lyrics) and Tom Kitt (Music), winners of the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation grant, and originally debuted as Feeling Electric in a 2002 workshop at the Cutting Room, starring Norbert Leo Butz (RENT, Thou Shalt Not, Wicked) as Dan Brown and Sherie Rene Scott (RENT, Grease, Aida) as Diana, and Benjamin Schrader as the son. The second workshop was in June 2005 at Village Theatre in Issaquah, WA. The cast featured Amy Spanger as Diana, Deven May as Dr. Madden, Jason Collins as Dan Brown, Mary Faber as Natalie and Benjamin Schrader as the son. The third workshop was in 2005 at the Barrow Group Arts Center, as part of The New York Musical Theatre Festival, which featured Amy Spanger as Diana, Joe Cassidy as Dan, Benjamin Schrader as the son, and Anthony Rapp as Dr. Madden. Although no official recordings of the musical exist, it has gleaned a small cult following from bootleg recordings of all three performances.

A production of "Next to Normal" premiered at Second Stage Theatre, January 16 - March 16, 2008. Two time Tony Award nominee, Michael Greif directs, Anthony Rapp assistant directs; with cast Alice Ripley, Brian D'Arcy James, Aaron Tveit, Jennifer Damiano, Adam Chanler-Berat and Asa Somers. Starting with this production, the surname of the family has been changed from Brown to Goodman.

Another production of "Next to Normal" will be presented at Arena Stage in Arlington, VA, November 21, 2008 - January 18, 2009. Michael Greif will be directing, including Alice Ripley and J. Robert Spencer as Diana and Dan Goodman. No other casting has been announced.

Plot Summary

The story revolves around Diana Goodman, a young mother who suffers from bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression), with frequent manic and depressive episodes and hallucinations. She is cared for by her husband, Dan, but as her depression and hallucinations get worse, she begins to see a new psychiatrist, Dr. Madden. But her hallucinations persist, and she becomes increasingly suicidal, which leads to her being treated with electroconvulsive therapy. The play also addresses such issues as grieving a loss, suicide, drug abuse, ethics in modern psychiatry, and the hidden realities of suburbia.

Synopsis

Act One

"Note: The 2008 Second Stage version differed significantly from this pre-2008 synopsis.""Note: The following contains key spoilers from the show." The story begins with the principal cast together, singing a song that seems to be full of hope and encouragement (Let There Be Light). Diana Brown is seemingly plagued with insomnia, her anxiety keeping her awake at night, and seems to be waiting for someone to come home (Night). Dr. Madden begins his narration by introducing "patient Q731: D. Brown", announcing the beginning of the plot by beginning the case history of the patient. Gabriel, Diana's son, comes home at 2AM, surprised that his mother waited up for him, as she hasn't done that in quite a long time. Diana is not distracted by her son's surprised reaction, instead relating all the (strange, unlikely) ways that he could have been killed while he was out this late, and as he had never called home, she wouldn't have had any idea what happened to him (So Many Ways to Die). Diana's husband, Dan, wakes up and asks what's going on. Diana tells Gabriel to go just as Dan comes out to check on his wife. He asks who she was talking to, and she claims she was just talking to herself, since she's crazy, and dismisses him, telling him she'll be up shortly for sex.

Dr. Madden continues his narration, remarking that while incidents occur at night, in the morning family issues prevail. While Diana, her daughter Natalie (who does not seem to want to get up), and Dan all lament their lives at present, only Gabriel seems ready to take the day head-on, but his intentions seem less than benevolent. While talking to his mother, he reveals that his father has been ignoring him, so Diana advises he should talk to him. Dan seems to confirm what Gabriel says as he asks Natalie about his favorite kid, to which she responds his favorite kid is dead (Just Another Day). As the family is finally up and ready, the cuckoo clock signals that it is only four in the morning and Diana has woken them all up far too soon, so Natalie dismisses herself to go back to bed. Dr. Madden explains that the patient's primary concern is family, which while seemingly normal, is not what it seems.

Later that day, Diana is grocery shopping at Costco, but as the trip goes on, she gets increasingly erratic and makes many impulsive purchases, before finally overwhelming herself and passing out in the store (Costco). We find out that Diana is, indeed, manic, and has had episodes like this in the store before. Dan suggests that they should get her medications adjusted. We also find out that Diana suffers from hallucinations, as she has a country-and-western fantasy about Dan and Dr. Fine, the psychopharmacologist (Up the Dose). Diana is getting her medications adjusted with Dr. Fine, whose instructions on what to take with what are complicated and sound like a logic puzzle, and she even hears him add a math word problem into the instructions. Diana reflects on how with her long history of medications, she has gotten to know Dr. Fine very well, almost intimately. Dr. Fine gives reports of Diana's progress as he frequently adjusts her medications over the course of five weeks, but her progress is sketchy at best. While Diana lists her medications, Dan reflects on the fact that he knows that he is also depressed, and wonders who is crazier: his wife, who is getting help, or himself, who ignores his problems (My Psychopharmacologist and I - Who's Crazy?). Dr. Madden notes that the patient first started having "nervous feelings" upon meeting future spouse at college in the late 80s, and a flashback to Dan and Diana's college years ensues, where we see that Diana has a long history of wild, erratic behavior, and also liked to frequently ditch class, taking Dan along for the ride (as he is her ride, and yields to her every request, especially since she gets upset if he does not). Back in the present, Diana is still musing on her relationship with her psychopharmacologist while Dan is still reflecting on whether he may be crazier than his wife. Dr. Fine announces that after five weeks and three medication adjustments, Diana is sinking back into her depression and anxiety (College Years - Who's Crazy? Part 2).

Dr. Madden notes that the patient's "roots of trauma" are an unplanned pregnancy, which resulted in Dan and Diana getting married. A flashback to their wedding, where the minister notes that the couple has written their own vows, and that this is an unusual ceremony for an unusual couple (and that the ceremony will be followed up by a reception at the circus). Dan's vows are touching and sentimental about how Diana has touched his life, and compares her to the Roman Goddess that shares her name (Electricity). Diana's vows are more upbeat and about how while Dan is not the most remarkable man, he makes her feel safe and good nonetheless (Dan Brown). Back in the present, at 2AM, she discusses these memories and her inability to feel happy with Gabriel, then tells him to go to bed, as tomorrow is his "special day". She threatens to hurt him if he does not, and he cryptically notes that she can't, but leaves anyway, telling her that he loves her. Alone, Diana admits that she misses her old life, and reflects on her current manic-depressive ways (I Miss the Mountains).

The next day, at school, Natalie is trying to transfer to art class, but is having trouble. First, they want her to submit a urine sample for drug testing (which she takes offense to), then they want her to get a parent or guardian's signature, which she explains is just not realistic. When encouraged to elaborate on why she can't do this, she describes just how crazy her home life is, especially in regards to her mother, who she obviously resents a great deal (Growing Up Unstable). At home again, Diana announces that she made dinner, since it is a special occasion. Natalie is wary, citing past culinary disasters, but Dan is optimistic, taking the fact that Diana wants to make dinner and have the whole family together as a good thing. He tries to spread the optimism to the rest of the family (It's Gonna Be Good). The whole family settles down for dinner, and Diana brings out a birthday cake, singing "Happy Birthday". Natalie is confused at first, then realizes what is going on and gets very upset: it is Gabriel's sixteenth birthday. Gabriel tells his mother he can't blow out the candles, but she seems unclear of why. Dan tries to gently explain to Diana what's going on: Gabriel is dead. He died sixteen years ago. As he tries to be understanding, Natalie gets more angry and upset with her mother, yelling at her about never doing anything like this on her birthday, and, in fact, never remembering her birthday at all. She leaves, and Dan is left to take care of his wife. He asks her about her medications, and Diana confesses she flushed them all down the toilet. Dan, undaunted, says they'll get more and tries to remain optimistic that they'll get over this together, but Diana is not convinced. She insists that Dan has no way of knowing how she really feels, describing what it is like to live her life and telling Dan there is no possible way he could understand this (You Don't Know). Dan's response is hurt, insisting that he has been with her this entire time, trying to help her, and how could he not understand what's wrong with her? Meanwhile, Gabriel is trying to get his father to acknowledge his presence in the room, turning Dan's statements to Diana back toward him (I Am the One).

Dan tells Diana they'll find a new doctor who can help her to not see Gabriel anymore. Diana insists that Gabriel is not a ghost, but agrees to see the new doctor. Gabriel explains what he is, insisting that he is really alive, and he's more complicated than a mere ghost or delusion (I'm Alive). The next day, Natalie finds herself in detention (a frequent occurrence) for being "unreasonable" in life skills class. She talks about reason, and even sympathizes with students responsible for school shootings. This attitude impresses a boy named Connor, called Tweak, who looks exactly like Gabriel. He tries to befriend Natalie, who is resistant to his attempts at first, but after confessing that she is sick of her life and is looking for any diversion, Tweak promises her that he can help her find a way to escape for a little while if she'll stick with him, and Natalie seems pleased with this offer, although it is clearly sex and drugs he is talking about (Blue Skies). Meanwhile, Diana is about to see a new psychiatrist. Dan mentions he came highly recommended by three women at work, but when Diana seems offended that Dan is discussing her problems at work, Dan distracts her by mentioning that Natalie did not get home until after midnight the night before. Dr. Madden appears and tells Diana that he will see her now.

Immediately after getting into Dr. Madden's office, Diana starts hallucinating that he is a super-sexualized rock star, and finds herself unable to pay attention to what he is saying as in her fantasy, he is singing, making therapy sound sexual and intimate (Open Your Eyes). Once the hallucination passes, Dr. Madden is able to speak to Diana, and gets her to discuss her past treatments, including medication and talk therapy. He also gets her to elaborate on her suicide attempt fifteen years ago, where she tried to overdose on her antidepressants, but couldn't keep them down. So she tried Pop Rocks and Coca-Cola, which did not work either, nor did sticking her head in an electric oven. So finally, she slit her wrists. She tells Dr. Madden that talk therapy has never worked for her in the past, and Dr. Madden assures her that if she wants to get better, then he can help her. Meanwhile, Gabriel is trying to get his mother to hold onto him and counteract Dr. Madden's therapy, criticising his style and begging his mother not to let him go. Diana continues to see Dr. Madden for a month, making progress, not listening to Gabriel, and describing her eight week stay in a mental hospital following her suicide attempt. She also confesses that she only had Natalie in an effort to forget about Gabriel, and that Natalie knows this, but she has never been able to get close to or love her daughter for fear of losing her as well. Dr. Madden urges her to finally let go of Gabriel, but Gabriel continues to insist that he's alive, and Diana admits she does not think she can let him go. Dr. Madden continues to urge her away from him, and she admits she would like to finally move past her need for him (Feeling Slightly Fine - Catch Me, I'm Falling). However, Diana seems to have fallen into her old habit of telling therapists what they want to hear, as she reflects on the fact that she still wants to be with someone, and is willing to die to be with them...and it seems that someone is Gabriel (I Dreamed a Dance, Act One). Gabriel comes back, telling his mother that she can be without pain and finally be happy if she'll just join him, gently urging his mother toward suicide again (Come With Me). Diana takes his advice.

At the hospital, Dr. Madden reads the report of her treatment following her suicide attempt, which indicates she tried to commit suicide in all the same ways she did before, and is upset to find that she has been recommended for electroconvulsive therapy. Dan, who is meeting with Dr. Madden to talk about Diana, is surprised that ECT is still used, and Dr. Madden tries to explain to him why this is the best course of treatment, but Dan is not sure and, taking Dr. Madden's advice, decides to go home and sleep on it. At home, Dan thinks about Diana's suicide attempts, and struggles to understand why she would still want to die after everything he's done for her, in the face of everyone telling him he should let her go and move on, and admits he's afraid to keep living without her (I've Been). Natalie, who has been gone for days, comes home to find Dan cleaning up the remains of Diana's suicide attempt. Dan asks her if she's doing drugs, which she vehemently denies, and turns the question back onto her father, then makes spiteful comments about her mother. When Dan tells Natalie where her mother is, Natalie puts the pieces together and becomes upset. Dan tells her that Dr. Madden suggested they should try ECT next, and explains to her what it is as Dr. Madden is doing the same with Diana...purposely omitting key risks of the treatment, which Gabriel is taking upon himself to tell his mother, unbeknownst to Dr. Madden. Diana starts remembering movies she's seen where ECT was shown in a negative light and her reactions to them, while Dr. Madden continues to push her to try it, but Diana will not hear of it and refuses to give consent (Didn't I See This Movie?). Diana goes home, where Dan tries to gently persuade her to try it, promising her some semblance of her old life if she does, and although she still has her reservations, Diana finally consents (A Light in the Dark).

Diana goes back to the hospital for the ECT, where Dr. Madden is waiting, along with the team of specialists who are going to be performing the procedure (which Diana has already begun to hallucinate as rock star Dr. Madden's back-up band). As she is being anaesthesized, her hallucination of rock star Dr. Madden begins again, with him promising to help her, again making it sound sexual (Intro to Feeling Electric). Meanwhile, Tweak has taken Natalie to a party/rave, where he gives her "EKG", a drug cocktail made from Ecstasy, Ketamine, and Gamma hydroxy butyrate (E, Special K, and GHB). Dr. Madden's "act" continues with him sexualizing the ECT. Diana begins to feel a little high herself, and actually ends up joining Natalie in her own drug-induced hallucination, reprimanding her for doing drugs (while Natalie is angry that her mother is intruding on her hallucination). Dr. Madden finishes his act, and Diana wakes up from her treatment, summarizing it as "Wow" (Feeling Electric).

Act Two

Following the ECT, Diana is sent home to recover. She is greeted by Natalie, who is shocked to find that her own mother does not remember her at all. She does not remember her own home, either, and as Dan and Natalie relate more things she should remember, it is discovered that apparently, as a side effect of the ECT, she has forgotten everything that happened in the past sixteen years, starting with shortly after she met Dan (Song of Forgetting). Dr. Madden assures the Brown family that while this much memory loss is rare, it is not unheard of, and not to panic just yet. Diana muses on the fact that she is now left to live a life without any idea of why she is living like this, wondering if she should start over now that she has a clean slate, so to speak, or continue with her "old" life (Four Seconds, Sixteen Years). Meanwhile, Dan goes to speak to Dr. Madden, who continues to insist that this is normal and a part of her healing process, while Dan is understandably upset and does not want to just accept what happened. Dr. Madden suggests he tries to help Diana remember the good times they had, but when Dan mentions that there haven't really been many good times for them, Dr. Madden suggests that if that's the case, maybe Diana losing her memory was for the best, to which Dan takes offense (Four Seconds, Sixteen Years, Part 2). In a group therapy session for the Brown family, Dr. Madden asks Diana questions about her mental state, namely about whether she is still suicidal or suffering from delusions. Diana says that she is not, and that she can see things more clearly now. When asked who the members of her family are, Diana lists Dan, Natalie, and herself, and does not mention Gabriel, even when pressed. Natalie sees this as cause for celebration, but Dan is still worried about her memory loss and wants to know how to help her. Dr. Madden offers some tips, such as showing her things that she should recognize, telling her stories about her past, and keeping a positive attitude. Despite his advice not to lie to her, Dan stretches the truth a little to try to put a positive spin on things, while Natalie has some fun messing with her mother. Dr. Madden and the family's attitude starts to spread to Diana, who begins to believe that she is getting well for the first time (Getting Better).

However, not everyone is happy about Diana's apparent progress: Gabriel is still lurking, now cut off from his mother. He muses about his mother's recovery, and about whether the things that she's lost, including him, were really worth it in the long run. Diana finds some things of Gabriel's in the garbage, which Dan had thrown out so she couldn't see them, and Dan dismisses her insistence on knowing the truth, trying to get her to let it go and go to bed. Gabriel continues to seemingly sympathize with his mother, noting that although they've taken him from her memory he knows that she still feels a part of her is missing, and he is that part of her. Diana starts to remember things that happened sixteen years ago, namely the birth of her son, and being told that he was very ill but the doctor not giving her any answers about why he is so sick (Aftershocks). Gabriel's presence begins to gradually return to his mother's life after this (I Dreamed a Dance Reprise). The next day, Natalie is going out again with Tweak, who has come to pick her up, but ignored her order to stay in the car and wait for her, obviously because she did not want him to meet her parents. Diana comes out and sees Tweak, asking about him, to which Tweak makes her condition worse by being vague. As Diana is about to point out that he looks exactly like Gabriel, Natalie gets upset again, accusing her mother of being as nuts as ever and angrily accusing her of never loving her at all, of only loving Gabriel, or her idealized image of him. Diana tries to assure Natalie that she does, indeed, love her, but the attempt seems half-hearted at best, so Natalie decides to remedy the situation by leaving home for good (Superboy and the Invisible Girl). As they leave, Diana imagines she hears Tweak, or rather Gabriel, mention meconium aspiration syndrome, although he claims he said "see you later".

This leads to another troubled night for Diana, as she finally remembers the events surrounding her son's birth: that he suffered from meconium aspiration, which caused him to go into respiratory failure and die. Diana begged to hold him just one time, but her request was denied. She wakes up to Dan trying to soothe her, but Diana insists that she saw Gabriel, and that he told her what happened. Dan, panicking, firmly tells her that Gabriel really wasn't there, and insists that they call Dr. Madden, but Diana remembers more: when Gabriel was dying, Dan got to hold him, and she did not. Dan tells her that their son was already dead when he held him, and that Diana was so hysterical they did not think it would do her any good to. Diana asks Dan to tell her their son's name, as she still can't remember, but Dan insists that it is not important, since he was only alive for an hour, anyway, but Diana will not hear of it, and gets more upset. Dan urgently insists that they can get through this, that she'll go back on her medications, continue to receive therapy, and get more ECT, but Diana will not let the issue go, and a fight escalates between them (It's Gonna Be Good Reprise). After the fight's violent climax, Diana, still angry and upset, insists to know why Dan continues to stay with her when it would be better for him to leave her, and it might even be better for her as well (Why Stay?). Dan once again regains the calm he's always used when dealing with Diana, and gently, but in a heartfelt way, explains to her that when they got married, he promised to always care for her and never leave her, and that part of him is hoping that this will all be over someday and they can go back to the way they were back when they were first married (It's a Promise). But Gabriel is back with a vengeance now, once again insisting that he is really alive, and that if his parents will not deal with him, then he's not going anywhere. While he is coming back in full force, Natalie is telling Tweak to give her more and more drugs, insisting that she needs to forget everything in her life (I'm Alive Reprise).

Diana does go to see Dr. Madden, but she visits him in the middle of the night, obviously distraught over what is going on with her now. She is urgently recounts all of the things people have told her while treating her, including what she was told when she was recommended ECT, but suggests that maybe her problem is not mental at all, but it is actually her soul that is wounded, which is why none of the treatments have worked so far and never will (The Break). Dr. Madden tries to reassure her that she's just having a temporary set-back, but with more treatment, they can get through it, but Diana does not want any more treatments, which is about the only thing she can be clear on following the ECT. She thanks Dr. Madden for his services and bids him farewell, effectively ending their relationship as therapist and patient, and ignores Dr. Madden's insistence that more can be done as she leaves him for good. Diana is now left to realize that she was hoping that someone could help her, but now she knows that no one will. Gabriel takes this chance to urge her to come with him again (I Dreamed a Dance, Act II).

At the hospital, Dr. Madden is in for a surprise when he is called in to check on an overdose patient who displays evidence of prior self-destructive acts, as the patient turns out to be Natalie. She is equally surprised to see him, and wonders why a psychiatrist would be called if all she did was overdose, insisting that the scars on her arms are from previous experiments with cutting and that she does not do it anymore. Dr. Madden insists on checking her out anyway, despite Natalie's negative attitude toward any help he could possibly offer her, citing his failure with her mother, which is obviously still a sore spot for him. He tries to be patient with her, but she continues to push him into losing his temper, where he angrily tells her that it is true that life sucks, but in the end, it is better than killing yourself. Natalie is surprised by this outburst, and Dr. Madden gets a rein on his temper again, telling her that yes, life is going to be very difficult, and yes, things are not going to go her way, but if she sticks with it, things will ultimately pay off and she'll be glad that she stayed alive (Live Every Day). Back at home, Diana is leaving Dan at last, citing that although she knows Dan loves her, and she still loves him, that she needs a chance to live her own life now, and that staying together will just hurt them both in the long run (So Anyway).

Dan is left alone for the first time in his life, his biggest fear, and his depression is now weighing on him in full force. He thinks about all that he has done for her and how she ended up leaving him alone anyway, and once again, Gabriel is turning his words back onto him, trying to get his father to see him (I Am the One Reprise). Only this time, Gabriel succeeds, and Dan finally sees him. Panicking, he insists that Gabriel leave him alone and go with Diana, that he can't deal with this, but Gabriel and Dan realize they've had similar roles in each other's lives, no matter how short Gabriel's was, and Dan finally, tearfully, names his son (I Am the One Reprise, Part Two). With Gabriel's encouragement, and with him playing witness, Dan uses his experiences taking care of Diana after her suicide attempts to prepare for his own suicide (I've Been Reprise). Natalie comes home just as her father is about to kill himself and manages to stop him by catching him off guard, and he tells her that her mother is gone, and he does not know to where or for how long. Meanwhile, Dr. Madden's narration begins again, and we learn that "patient Q731: D. Brown" is actually Dan Brown, and the entire play was actually about Dan and his descent into mental illness, not his wife, as Dr. Madden notes sadly how long Dan has been depressed and how long it took him to seek help. Natalie offers her father words of encouragement, trying to get him to keep living, and Gabriel joins in, as does Dr. Madden. Even Diana does, and Dan finally joins in as well, as the play ends the same way it began (Let There Be Light Reprise).

Musical Numbers

;Act I
* Let There Be Light Preprise
* Night
* So Many Ways to Die
* Just Another Day
* Costco
* Up the Dose
* My Psychopharmacologist and I - Who's Crazy?
* College Years - Who's Crazy?, Part 2
* Electricity
* Dan Brown
* I Miss the Mountains
* Growing Up Unstable
* He's Not Here
* You Don't Know
* I Am the One
* I'm Alive
* Blue Skies
* Open Your Eyes
* Feeling Strongly Fine - Catch Me, I'm Falling
* I Dreamed a Dance, Act I
* There's a World
* I've Been
* Didn't I See This Movie?
* Light in the Dark
* Intro to Feeling Electric
* Feeling Electric;Act II
* Song of Forgetting
* Four Seconds, Sixteen Years
* Four Seconds, Sixteen Years, Part 2
* Getting Better
* Aftershocks
* I Dreamed a Dance Reprise
* Superboy and the Invisible Girl
* It's Gonna Be Good Reprise
* Why Stay?
* It's a Promise
* I'm Alive Reprise
* The Break
* I Dreamed a Dance, Act II
* Live Every Day
* So Anyway
* I Am the One Reprise
* I Am the One Reprise, Part 2
* I've Been Reprise
* Let There Be Light

Cast

;2002 Cutting Room Cast
* Norbert Leo Butz - Dan Brown
* Sherie Rene Scott - Diana Brown
* Benjamin Schrader - Son/Gabriel Brown, Connor, also known as Tweak
* Anya Singleton - Natalie Brown
* Greg Naughton - Dr. Madden;2005 First Stage Theatre Cast (in Issaquah, WA)
* Jason Collins - Dan Brown
* Amy Spanger - Diana Brown
* Benjamin Schrader - Son/Gabriel Brown, Connor, also know as Tweak
* Ryah Nixon - Natalie Brown
* Deven May - Dr. Madden;2005 Barrow Group Arts Center Cast (New York Musical Theatre Festival Production)
* Joe Cassidy - Dan Brown
* Amy Spanger - Diana Brown
* Benjamin Schrader - Son/Gabriel Brown, Connor, also known as Tweak
* Annaleigh Ashford - Natalie Brown
* Anthony Rapp - Dr. Madden;2006 Second Stage Theatre Workshop
* Joe Cassidy - Dan Brown
* Alice Ripley - Diana Brown
* Benjamin Schrader - Son/Gabriel Brown, Connor, also known as Tweak
* Mary Faber - Natalie Brown
* Anthony Rapp - Dr. Madden;2007 Second Stage Theatre Workshop
* Greg Edelman - Dan Brown
* Alice Ripley - Diana Brown
* Van Hughes - Son/Gabriel Brown, Connor, also known as Tweak
* Phoebe Strole - Natalie Brown
* Anthony Rapp - Dr. Madden
* Skylar Astin - Henry;2008 Second Stage Theatre Performance (now Next to Normal)
* Brian d'Arcy James - Dan Goodman
* Alice Ripley - Diana Goodman
* Aaron Tveit - Gabriel Goodman
* Jennifer Damiano - Natalie Goodman
* Asa Somers - Dr. Madden
* Adam Chanler-Berat - Henry;2008 Arena Stage Theatre Performance
* J. Robert Spencer - Dan Goodman
* Alice Ripley - Diana Goodman
* Aaron Tveit - Gabriel Goodman
* Jennifer Damiano - Natalie Goodman
* Louis Hobson - Dr. Madden
* Adam Chanler-Berat - Henry

Additional Information

* [http://www.2st.com Second Stage Theatre]
* [http://arenastage.org] N2N production, 11/21/08 - 1/18/09, Virginia/D.C.
* [http://www.myspace.com/n2nthemusical] official page
* [http://www.villagetheatre.org/villageoriginals_feeling_electric.shtml Village Originals Official Website: Feeling Electric]
* [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/93639.html Playbill.com's article on the Village Theatre Production- "Musical Workshop of Feeling Electric, About a Frazzled Family, Stars a Bat Boy and a Lois Lane in Seattle" by Kenneth Jones]
* [http://community.livejournal.com/50thousandvolts Fifty Thousand Volts: The Feeling Electric Livejournal Community]
* [http://www.tomkittband.com Tom Kitt's Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/ripleytheband Ripley, the band - official] Alice Ripley's band at MySpace.com
* [http://nexttonormal.org] The Musical & the Mindset
* [http://www.myspace.com/nexttonormal] N2N Fan Community