"Next To Normal" Spotlights Impact of Mental Illness on Family

Sign up for the Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch newsletter!

---

Woodstock, GA -- Elm Street Art’s production of the award winning rock musical, “Next to Normal,” is set to open next week for performances.

The production follows the Goodman family as they deal with the impact of the matriarch’s bipolar disorder has on their daily lives.

In addition to exploring the practical difficulties, “[the show] assesses the losses that occur when wounded people are anesthetized — and not just by the battery of pharmaceutical and medical treatments to which Diana is subjected, but by recreational drugs, alcohol and that good old American virtue, denial with a smile,” according to a review published April 15, 2009, by The New York Times.

Though not your typical feel-good musical, “Next to Normal” is not morose; it is tender, touching, funny and full of pathos.

“I was inspired [to consider working on this project] by the bravery of this theatre organization in taking on such a challenging project,” said Shelly McCook, the show’s director. “One of the greatest challenges, as a director, is keeping the audience hopeful, while informing them about the intense challenges faced by families dealing with mental health issues. There is a great deal of heavy material but finding the humor and commonalities in family life and struggles is key to keeping the audience engaged.”

McCook is an acclaimed director from the Atlanta area who has worked with many professional theater companies to bring about some amazing work.

Recently, she worked with Elm Street last year on ”The Wedding Singer,” and said she is looking forward to this project at Elm Street.

“We can all identify with loss, trauma and dysfunction, and we likely all know someone who has been impacted by mental illness,” said Elm Street Operations Director Christopher Brazelton. ”So we believe that this show will resonate with everyone, and can begin an important conversation in our community.”

To that end, Elm Street found a community partner National Alliance For Mental Illness, which will host optional discussions surrounding the topic after shows that follow opening night.

When asked what excites her about this production, McCook stated “the music and subject matter are really an incredible feast, artistically.”

“I am very excited by the cast and crew and what they are able to create in performance,” she added. “The fact that we have engaged sponsors like Northside Hospital and NAMI to sponsor the show and help us conduct talkbacks after performances, really speaks to me as a theatre educator.”

Performances for the show, which is considered PG-13, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 19-20, Feb. 26-27 and March 4-5 and 2 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 21, Feb. 28 and March 6 at the Chambers at City Center.

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door for adults. The Chambers are located at 8534 Main Street.

For additional information, call 678-494-4251 or visit www.elmstreet.org.

---

Image via JAM Session Photography