VIDEO: Cast of NEXT TO NORMAL Perform Excerpts; Show Opens This Fri, 6 Mar

Manila, Philippines - IT'S GONNA BE GOOD! Pulitzer Prize-winning Next to Normal, which features the book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt, closes Ateneo Blue Repertory's (BlueREP) 28th theatrical season.

Starring Cris Villlonco (Diana Goodman) and Jef Flores (Dan Goodman), BlueREP's Next to Normal is co-directed by Missy Maramara and Darrel Uy, who also brought us the critically-acclaimed production of Duncan Sheik's Spring Awakening.

Three days before the opening night, give yourself an early treat with this video compilation (filmed at a recent press gathering), where the cast of Next to Normal, led by Villonco and Flores, perform musical excerpts from the show such as "It's Gonna Be Good," "I Miss The Mountains," and "Superboy and the Invisible Girl."

Next To Normal tackles sensitive themes such as mental health, drug abuse, and ethics in modern psychiatry. "In Next To Normal, the Goodmans seem to be perfect. Dad's an architect. In the morning, mom rushes to pack lunch and pour the cereal. Their daughter and son are smart. Yet, their lives are anything but normal because Diana, the mother and wife, has been battling bipolar disorder for years," its synopsis says.

In the cast, Villonco and Flores are joined by Tim Pavino and Adrian Lindayag (Gabe Goodman); Nikki Bengzon and Jam Binay (Natalie Goodman); Davy Narciso and Carlos De Guzman (Henry), and Jobim Javier and Jason Tan Liwag (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine).

Ejay Yatco is the musical director; Franco Ramos, choreographer; Tata Tuviera, production designer; Miyo Sta. Maria, lighting designer; Cholo Ledesma, sound designer, and Beatrice Jose, creatives coordinator.

Besides winning the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Next to Normal, a favorite show of many musical theater enthusiasts, also won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Original Score (Yorkey and Kitt), Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Alice Ripley, who played Diana), and Best Orchestrations (Michael Starobin and Kitt).

Next to Normal plays at the Gonzaga Fine Arts Theatre, Ateneo de Manila University, from 6-22 March 2020, at 8 p.m., on all dates except Sundays, with additional 3 p.m. shows on weekends.

Next to Normal is presented through Music Theatre International.

Get the best deals on tickets to Next to Normal HERE.

Video: Oliver Oliveros | Photo: Rene Lapena

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