Walking around New York City while in the city visiting colleges in 2009, there was down time that was spent seeing shows (duh...). Only winning two tickets to In The Heights (my sister won and took my dad), left me in search for tickets for the evening. I went over to Billy Elliot (this was before the Tony awards that year) to see if they had any tickets left for the evening. They did- $140. Um, no thanks. So, I wandered over to another theatre on the street- The Booth where Next to Normal was in previews. My one friend had seen it, so I figured I would like it. I went to the box office- $37 for partial view in the orchestra. Sounds MUCH better than the $140.
I went into the show knowing nothing besides the fact that my friend, Jackie, had seen the show before in previews. I was totally blown away by the show. I laughed, I cried, I had chills. The show was amazing. I ran out to the lobby at intermission. The only had a couple things you could buy- the poster (which I bought), pre-order the CD, and one t-shirt.
Fast forward to the summer of 2010- I hadn't seen the show for over a year, but I saw it four times, all with different casts (last weekend for Bobby Spencer, with Brian D'Arcy James, the new cast with Brian Justin Crum as Henry, and then the full new cast). I fell in love with the show again. I loved the story, every song, and every actor/actress. Of course I had to come and see the tour when it was in Pittsburgh.
There was a talkback on Wednesday night, so I convinced my sister to go with me. Pearl Sun was on for Alice and the talkback included her and all the "kids"- Curt Hanson, Emma Hunton, Preston Sadleir, Caitlin Kinnunen, and Perry Sherman. I was familiar with three of the cast members (Emma, Caitlin, and Perry) because of Spring Awakening. The talkback was informative and I was happy to see Perry again (after a year of trying to find him on campus- he went to CMU for drama). They are all super talented, but for sure the real stand out was Emma Hunton. She was the reason I went 4 times during the 8 shows it was here.
Oh, and that .5 of seeing the show?
I decided if I heard that Perry Sherman (I got to see him go on for Melchior twice while it was in Pittsburgh) was going on, I'd do everything possible to make it happen. It did.... I found out on Saturday evening for sure by Perry himself--he was going on Sunday night. I worked until close and didn't know what time we were closing--anywhere from 7 pm to 9 pm. The show was at 6:30. Lucky for me, we were slow and I was out at my car and changing in the parking lot of the mall and then downtown in the parking garage. I ran to the box office and asked to buy a ticket- anywhere. They GAVE me a ticket and get this- it was in the pit. Row CC. So, I got to see Perry go on for Henry (act 2) for free in the third row of the theater. (Pearl was also on again- so I saw Pearl 2.5 times and Alice twice... Poor thing needs to take a good year off to rest her voice). I couldn't have been happier- Birthday magic had worked out for me again (My birthday was the following Tuesday--last year it was that I could go up to Detroit for the day to see the Spring Awakening tour one last time before the end). I had gotten into the theater just as "A Light In The Dark" was finishing up. Showed them my (FREE) ticket and went to the restroom before the mad dash of women. I got to my seat and couldn't stop grinning as Perry was dragged onto the stage by Emma at the beginning of Act 2 to start "Wish I Were Here".
By the time when the screens went up in "Light" to reveal the purple lighting, I was bawling my eyes out as if it was the last performance (not like I didn't cry every other time I saw the show... I have every single time. Even when I saw it twice in 1 day--which is totally not recommended. I was emotionally drained after that and the whole week of seeing it so much). The second act of the show had been perfect. I couldn't have asked for better timing or anything (well, besides to have been there for the whole performance ;) ).
Next to Normal is continuing its tour around the country and I'm sure I'll see it again this summer (potential for Cleveland, Philly, and DC--- all of which happen in a row... :) ). To see where they're going this summer and more info- visit nexttonormal.com
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