(photos by Jason Jones)
Written by Alina Mae WilsonÂ
Considering how common mental illness is and how many problems are attributed to it, I find it interesting how rarely this subject is dealt with in theater, interesting but not wholly surprising.  You see while mental illnesses, symptoms, and treatments are documented (in varying degrees of  accuracy and rationality) throughout the world’s history, it is neither beautiful nor glamorous.  And since I would imagine a great many individuals would rather watch things that are a bit more enjoyable, musical theater has not really presented mental illness as something to partake in on  a Friday night –until now.  Next to Normal is a Tony award winning rock musical that deals with all aspects of mental illness, and it does it while having actors belt out some fantastic tunes.  Next to Normal is currently being performed at Ovations Performing Arts Center by DCMS Productions, and the stirring plot combined with the gorgeous voices makes this show worth every cent of the admission fee. Continue Reading
