It’s gonna be good...it’s gonna be great

Some stories are difficult to tell, but through them we learn about life and love, joy, grief, hope and faith.

"Next to Normal" is one of those stories and I can think of no other theatre company to share this narrative than Small Town Theatrics.

For 14 seasons, Small Town—as we call it—has been telling stories that make us laugh, cry, expand our minds and most importantly, open our eyes.

This year’s production does all of that in the course of about two hours and 30 minutes.

In 2010, the year Small Town was established, Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey received the Pulitzer Prize in Drama for their musical that addressed mental illness.

The musical has been on the list of titles the theatre company’s founder has wanted to produce and this year seemed to be the right time to bring it to life on the local stage.

It wasn’t the first title presented for the season, but it has turned out to be just what was needed.

"Next to Normal" is a contemporary family drama that tells the story of the Goodman family who from the outside appear to be your normal suburban family. But when you step inside their lives you discover it’s anything but normal.

The show focuses on one woman’s struggle with mental illness and the impact it has on her husband and daughter.

Just six actors take the stage and they are led by Shannon Baer in the role of Diana Goodman, a wife and mother who struggles with bipolar disorder and visions of her late son, Gabe, a role played by Alec Ludacka.

The musical not only addresses mental illness, but the topics of grief, suicide, drug use, modern psychology and medical intervention.

These deep topics are presented in a way that will give, in the words of Baer, “all the feels.”

The dialog told through word and song brings to light what so many people experience in life.

It is a story that is relevant, a story that needs to be told, and this cast shows that while life can be hard, there is always hope.

Along with Baer and Ludacka, the story is told by Hannah Babyak, as Natalie; Derek Carlson, in the role of Henry; Wyatt Onsen, in the dual roles of Dr. Madden and Dr. Fine, and for this production the company’s founder Jack Micetich is taking the stage as Dan Goodman, the husband who remains devoted to the woman he met and married in college.

Micetich and Baer have been talking about "Next to Normal" since its debut, and it’s a show that got Babyak back to the stage.

This, in the words of the cast and creative team, is a show that talks about things that need to be said.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health Disorders, a part of the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 26% of Americans—18 and older—suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year and 8.5% of adults will suffer from a depressive illness in a given year. And, bi-polar disorder affects 2.6% of Americans.

Mental health awareness and treatment is a topic that is often kept quite, but is one that needs to be brought into the light and that is what "Next to Normal" does.

It’s a topic that everyone can relate to in one way or another.

And, as pointed out in the show, mental illness is chronic and ”like diabetes or hypertension, if you leave it untreated, it could become catastrophic.”

While the context of this summer’s show is what some might call a bit more edgy, this production is one certainly to be seen for its message, outstanding performances and the professionalism for which it is presented.

This production is directed by Nicki Blustein with vocal direction by Shanan D’Agostino. The creative team includes myself, Ann Gill, as producer, choreographer Kim Scerine and scenic design by Stephen Menard.

Next to Normal opens at 7 p.m., Friday, July 21 in the Coal City Performing Arts Center with additional shows on Saturday, July 22 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, July 23 at 2 p.m.

Reserved seat tickets can be purchased in advance at www.smalltowntheatrics.org. Same day [cash only] sales will begin one hour prior to each scheduled performance. Tickets are $15 per person. "Next to Normal" contains adult themes and is not recommended for young children.

See you in the theatre this weekend and as the song goes, “It’s gonna be good...It’s gonna be great!”