NEXT TO NORMAL's Twitter Song Project Announces First Round Of Voting Results

The Broadway musical Next to Normal has announced the voting results of the first part of its groundbreaking Twitter song project. Based on suggestions from Twitter followers, Next to Normal creators Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey will write a song for the show's characters Dr. Madden & Gab.

Kitt and Yorkey write on the official Next to Normal Twitter:

TOM: The decision has been made! We'll all be writing a song for Dr. Madden & Gabe!
BRIAN: This pairing really intrigued us since it hasn't been explored in the play.
TOM: We're breaking new ground.
BRIAN: This is definitely the most challenging option, but we are very excited to create this song w/ these two characters together.
BRIAN: The next thing we do is pick a "spot" for a song.
TOM: When you "spot" a song, you pick a moment of action or reflection important enough to be sung.
TOM: Look for turning points in the story, moments of crisis or decision, the high points of the drama.about
BRIAN: For the N2N Twitter Song, we want to pick a spot that fits into the story of the show, but is not seen in the show.
BRIAN: Bad example: What happens to Natalie on the school bus after "Just Another Day"?
TOM: Another bad example: Diana retiles the roof.
BRIAN: What moment would you like to see become a song? Tweet it now!

The Broadway musical Next to Normal's groundbreaking Twitter Performance has amassed over 560,000 followers since launching on May 5, surpassing such national brands as Starbucks and MTV and popular celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Jordin Sparks. The Twitter Performance, which unfurled from May 5 - June 7, told the story of the Tony-winning musical via Tweets from each of the characters, offering new insights into the storyline as well as a chance to hear sections from the Tony-winning score. The hugely successful performance also included questions for the cast and creative team submitted by the followers post-performance. The entire story can be viewed here.

The Twitter Performance will culminate with a new song written by the Tony Award-winning songwriters of Next to Normal, Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, based on suggestions from the followers - everything from which characters are performing the song and where it takes place in the story, to song structure and lyric suggestions. Suggestions are currently being submitted via Twitter @N2NBroadway.

The song will have its world premiere at an event at the 92nd Street Y Tribeca (200 Hudson Street) on Wednesday, October 28 at 7:00pm. For tickets and information, please visit www.92ytribeca.org or call 212-601-1000.

"The Twitter performance has allowed us to enrich the Next to Normal experience for the fans of our show and, even more exciting, to introduce the show and its story to a new audience which may never have heard of the show otherwise," states Tony Award-winning lyricist/book writer Brian Yorkey. "It's been a real success -- an exciting creative opportunity, and a chance to build a real community and dialogue with fans. Tom and I are really looking forward to the next step of writing this song with their input."

With a thrilling contemporary score, the Tony-winning Next to Normal is an emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other.

Ben Brantley of the New York Times calls Next to Normal "a brave, breathtaking musical. A work of muscular grace and power." Peter Travers of Rolling Stone raves, "Rock is alive and rolling like thunder in Next to Normal. It is the best musical of the season by a mile. Next time you think the Broadway musical is dead, head off to Next to Normal. It'll pin you to your seat." Joe Dziemianowicz of the New York Daily News proclaims it is "next to wondrous - hopeful and uplifting, Next to Normal is an exceptional show that says something meaning and powerful." Adam Feldman of Time Out New York calls it "surprising and moving, a thoughtful, emotional musical for grown-ups" and Robert Feldberg of The Record raves that Next to Normal is "an exciting leap into the possibilities of musical theater."

Next to Normal won three 2009 Tony Awards: Best Actress in a Musical (Alice Ripley), Best Score (Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey), and Best Orchestrations (Tom Kitt and Michael Starobin).