Sofa Snark: Backstage at Broadway's Next to Normal

James Sims is the Editor-in-Chief of TalkTVWorld.com and Senior Editor of BroadwayWorld.com. Sofa Snark is an ongoing critical blog focusing on all aspects of show business, from television entertainment to Broadway offerings and general pop culture.  This column also appears on the Huffington Post and SofaSnark.com.  Follow James on Twitter @simsjames for daily show business links, musings and a bit of snark.

Of all the shows on Broadway this season, “Next to Normal” packs the biggest punch. It’s a Heavy Dramatic story line following a family’s downward spiral as it deals with a crisis. Best of all is the score. With music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, the show explodes on stage with a rock edge, causing some to draw slight comparisons to those other rock musicals, “Rent” and “Spring Awakening.”

It certainly doesn’t hurt that “Rent” director Michael Greif also helms this production, or that Jennifer Damiano, a cast member of “Spring Awakening,” stars in this new groundbreaking show. “Next to Normal” also stars Alice Ripley, J. Robert Spencer, Aaron Tveit and Louis Hobson.

So, it was quite a thrill to join “Next to Normal” stars Jennifer Damiano and Adam Chanler-Berat to shoot a video feature for BroadwayWorld.com. I followed the duo all around Broadway’s Booth Theatre on 45th Street, getting a peak at the behind-the-scees happenings of the now Tony Award-nominated musical. We also had a chance to shoot on the stage admiring the fantastic set. Nothing like walking through a wall of vinyl.

If you are in New York, you must catch “Next to Normal.” Just be prepared for a rocking mind trip.

Check out the video I shot and edited for BroadwayWorld.com.

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