Next to Normal [Paperback]

Brian Yorkey (Author), Tom Kitt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 20, 2010

"A brave and breathtaking musical."--The New York Times

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Brian Yorkey received the 2009 Tony Award for Best Original Score for his work on Next to Normal and was also nominated for Best Book of a Musical. His other credits include Making Tracks and Time After Time.

Tom Kitt received two 2009 Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations for Next to Normal. He also composed the music for High Fidelity and From Up Here. His string arrangements appear on the new Green Day album 21st Century Breakdown, and he is the leader of the Tom Kitt Band.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Theatre Communications Group (July 20, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559363703
• ISBN-13: 978-1559363709
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,099 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #68 in Books > Arts & Photography > Performing Arts > Theater

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Too close to the bone, July 30, 2011

By 

moviemaven "laurie" (indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Next to Normal (Paperback)

When I started seeing a new PCP, she told me that her sister saw the play Next to Normal and that she loved it. She said she found the line "Oh thank you, valium is my favorite color" especially funny. This piqued my interest.

As one who battles bipolar depression and mania, I had to buy the disc. I was blown away. Wow! I don't think that I have heard or am aware of anything that gets it SO right.

I live this life, so it made me laugh at many of the songs on the 1st disc. Disc 2 scared my like the Ghost of Christmas to come scared Scrooge.

Anyway, I had originally written about all the things that go on with this illness, but thought, why bore people with the life of a bipolar wife/mother. It bores even me. After reading, I thought, these are the things that I should be telling MY psychopharmacologest!

Honestly, I think everyone shoulld listen to this almost, like a public service announcement. There a lot of people who have NO idea what it's like to ride this ride. Although there is no longer a stigma attached to mental illness, there are a LOT of people who see it as a sign of weakness and scoff at us. Quite the contrary. I believe that those of us who battle this illness are the strongest people I know. I loved the song that talks about being jealous for the dead. Living is hard, because it means taking a cocktail of one or more of the long list of meds in the song, but we do it each day. Dying is easier. You only have to do this once.

So hats off to the creator of this wonderful play/musical! It's comic relief for those who live with it whether they be the one affected or those who live with the person who rides the ride at least for as long as they can no longer for their own sanity. Many of them are life-long friends, parents, spouses and children and they should know that they are not alone with all the things that are written about it in this musical. Private group therapy if you will.

I wish peace and comfort to those who live this life and pray for those who don't because their lives could be shattered should they experience the condition themselves or someone that they love.Next to Normal (Original Broadway Cast)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read for anyone who plans to see this play, March 24, 2011

By 

Karen J. Olinger "lovewell" (Oah Harbor WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Next to Normal (Paperback)

We wanted to read Next to Normal before we saw the play as we have had difficulty in the past hearing all the words, songs and actions of a musical when they happen together. The play book, "Next to Normal" is an excellent choice for this and the words are quite poetic. We saw the play the next week and enjoyed every minute for having read the play. Our daughter, who had seen the play before we did, had not read the book, and she missed a lot of the story. I would recommend this book to those who don't see the play as the story is quite powerful and timely.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect, November 25, 2011

By 

Matiso - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Next to Normal (Paperback)

This item is grat! This book is the manuscript for the whole musical. With this item, you can go deeper into the story of "Next to normal"