MVT's 'normal' is powerful, rewarding

By John Berger

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 13, 2013

~~<p>The idea of a Broadway musical about modern-day mental illness may sound improbable, but that's exactly what Manoa Valley Theatre's "next to normal" is all about. What's more, the show, with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt, is not only a Tony Award winner, it captured the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for drama as well.</p>
<p>Alison Aldcroft (Diana) stars as a married woman who has been struggling with crippling mental illness for 16 years. Is a lifetime on "meds" the solution to her problems? What happens when the "meds" cause unpleasant side effects? Is hypnosis the answer?</p>
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<td><strong>‘NEXT TO NORMAL’</strong>
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The idea of a Broadway musical about modern-day mental illness may sound improbable, but that's exactly what Manoa Valley Theatre's "next to normal" is all about. What's more, the show, with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt, is not only a Tony Award winner, it captured the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for drama as well.

Alison Aldcroft (Diana) stars as a married woman who has been struggling with crippling mental illness for 16 years. Is a lifetime on "meds" the solution to her problems? What happens when the "meds" cause unpleasant side effects? Is hypnosis the answer? ‘NEXT TO NORMAL’ Login for more...