Auditions for:

Next to Normal

Music by Tom Kitt | book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey

Dad’s an architect; Mom rushes to pack lunches and pour cereal; their daughter and son are bright, wise-cracking teens, appearing to be a typical American family. And yet their lives are anything but normal because they are coping with crisis and the unpredictability of a mother’s worsening bipolar disorder. In this 2010 Pulitzer Prize-winner, Next to Normal takes audiences into the minds and hearts of each character, presenting their family’s story with love, sympathy and heart.

This deeply moving piece of theatre provides a wonderful opportunity for performers to explore dramatic material and showcase vocal talents with a Tony Award-winning energetic pop/rock score. Next to Normal is an emotional powerhouse that addresses important issues such as mental health, grief and loss, ethics in modern psychiatry, and suburban family life.

AUDITIONS:
Tuesday, June 17: 6:30-9:00pm
Wednesday, June 18: 6:30-9:00pm
Invited Callbacks: Monday, June 23: 6:30-9:30pm

*We strongly encourage prior registration. Please use THIS LINK to select a 30-minute slot. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to complete the full audition form.

**If you are unavailable on either audition date, or have any other questions regarding auditions, please email director Whitney Brown at whitstheatre@gmail.com to inquire about other arrangements. If you are involved in another production which conflicts with any of the above dates, please reach out. We would like everyone to audition who wants to.

***Everyone who auditions at Lyric Music Theater will be contacted with the result of their audition after callbacks are completed. Those asked to return for callbacks will be contacted by the Director or Producer and provided with additional details.

LOCATION: Lyric Music Theater, 176 Sawyer St., South Portland, ME 04106

CASTING:
*We are seeking strong singers/actors who are collaborative and passionate about telling this story. All actors age 16 and up are welcome and encouraged to audition. Gabe, Natalie, and Henry may be played by teens 16+ or young adults. Roles are open to non-traditional casting. Please review the music and the breakdown of roles and prepare to audition for the one that speaks to you the most.

*Please note that Next to Normal includes depictions of various mental health conditions and difficult topics including bipolar disorder, anxiety, and grief. The production also includes depictions and discussion of drug use, self-harm, death, and medical trauma. There are also some moments of scripted intimacy. There will be choreographed intimacy between the characters of Natalie and Henry. Staged touch will also be choreographed and present between most characters. Intimacy Coordinator Hollie Pryor will be on the team for this production. If you would like more detailed information, or have any additional questions, please contact director Whitney Brown at whitstheatre@gmail.com

*There will be a two-story set, so please be advised if you have height sensitivities.

PERFORMANCE DATES:
September 5-21, 2025
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sundays at 2:00pm

AUDITION TEAM:
Director: Whitney Brown
Music Director: Evan Cuddy
Choreographer: Emma Tompkins
Producer: Nancy Lupien
Stage Manager: Paul Menezes

REHEARSALS:
Beginning June 30th, rehearsals will be held Sunday afternoons 2-6pm and 3 weeknights (M-F) from 6:30-9:30pm. Days will be determined based on actors’ schedules and availability. We ask that ALL conflicts are listed ahead of time. You must be available for all tech rehearsals (beginning August 31st) and performances to be cast. Please note tech weekend is on Labor Day weekend.

WHAT YOU NEED FOR THE AUDITION:
● Initial auditions will consist of singing. All auditioners will need to prepare one to two audition cuts (depending on character(s) auditioning for) from NEXT TO NORMAL found HERE.
Acapella singing or recorded music will not be allowed. Sheet music from Next to Normal will be available at the audition. You can hear the soundtrack HERE and many songs have accompaniment or karaoke tracks by searching YouTube. www.pianotrax.com is another good
resource.
● Please be familiar with the story and content of this show before auditioning.
● You may bring a current resume and headshot if available. (not required)
● Be prepared to list all of your conflicts between June 30th and September 21, 2025. Added conflicts that are non-emergencies may not be honored.
● Please arrive approximately 15-minutes prior to your scheduled audition time. Remember to complete the audition form that will be emailed to you after you sign-up.
● Callback communications will come from the Director via email. Callbacks may consist of a short dance combination, so please wear or bring comfortable clothing that you can move in and any water/snacks you might require. Dancing in the show is minimal, but there will be some movement/choreography for all characters which can be modified as needed for any actor. If you are invited to callbacks you will hear by June 19. Music cuts and sides from the show will be provided ahead of callbacks.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
DIANA GOODMAN (30s-40s) is a housewife who, from the outside, seems like she ‘has it all,’ but Diana suffers from mental illness, which keeps her from living her life fully. A complex and multifaceted character, Diana is strong and resilient, vulnerable and fragile, controlling and manipulative and fiercely protective of her family. Depressed and delusional, she is struggling to come to terms with events from her past. She is a deeply human character who is trying to find her way in the world. Mezzo-Soprano with contemporary/rock musical theatre sound. Prepare YOU DON’T KNOW & I MISS THE MOUNTAINS

DAN GOODMAN (30s-40s) is the husband of Diana and the father of Natalie and Gabe. He is a man that wants nothing more than for his family to be normal. As a husband, he is protective, worried, and stressed; as a result, he can be selfish and even passive-aggressive. Dan tries to keep his household together the best he can, but in reality it doesn’t turn out the way he wants, and he realizes that he has little control over his destiny. He is exhausted and frustrated, and he sometimes feels like he is losing control of his life while trying to find a way to help Diana. A “good man” who is just trying to do what he thinks is best. Tenor with contemporary/rock musical theatre sound. Prepare I AM THE ONE

NATALIE GOODMAN (To play 16) is Diana and Dan’s troubled daughter, and Gabe’s sister. An accomplished pianist and hardworking student, her struggles are exacerbated by her mother’s behavior. She is a bright, and sometimes angry teenage girl basically just trying to find herself. Dealing with her mother’s mental illness, she is on an emotional roller coaster which she doesn’t know how to get off. She is eager to leave and start her life and to stop feeling like a shadow in her own house. She greatly admires and begins a special relationship with Henry. Mezzo-Soprano with high belt and contemporary musical theatre sound. Prepare SUPERBOY AND THE INVISIBLE GIRL

GABE GOODMAN (To play 18) is the son of Diana and Dan, and brother of Natalie. Toward the beginning of the play, Gabe comes on as daring and rebellious. He is charismatic, athletic, sometimes sinister and energetic. He is a playful man and everything a mother could imagine. Gabe is in some ways on the periphery of the action of the play, and also central to the dramatic conflict and resolution. He knows that he is his mother’s favorite child and will go to any lengths to ensure that security. Tenor comfortable with both falsetto and rock sound. Prepare I’M ALIVE

HENRY (To play 17) is an all-around musician, philosopher, and slacker. He has an intoxicating capacity for sympathy and romance. A classmate who is clearly interested in, and perhaps in love with, Natalie. He is an important confidant for her feelings about her family and her mother’s illness. He’s goofy, and a self-proclaimed “loner and a bit of a stoner.” High Baritone/Tenor with contemporary musical theatre sound. Prepare PERFECT FOR YOU

DR. MADDEN/DR. FINE (30s-60s) are two of Diana’s doctors (played by the same actor). They attempt to reach her through a variety of treatment methods, and in the course of their relationship, they unearth crucial family secrets. Dr. Madden is fairly easy-going and ‘hip,’ and in Diana’s mind, assumes the role of a rock star, providing excitement and fulfilling fantasies. In reality, they are a proficient doctor, clearly concerned for the welfare of their patient and her family. Dr. Fine, a psychopharmacologist, is more traditional when it comes to treatment and is less inclined to take patients’ suggestions into consideration. Tenor/High Baritone with contemporary musical theatre/rock sound. Prepare DR. ROCK & MAKE UP YOUR MIND

*SPECIAL NOTE FOR MINOR ACTORS:
Anyone under the age of 18 auditioning will need parent/guardian consent/signature in person at auditions. We encourage you to read the script or become familiar with its content prior to auditions. Next to Normal is a funny, moving, and intense musical. It includes complicated relationships between family members dealing with mental illness and grief. The play deals with themes of mental illness, death, family dysfunction, drug abuse, and contains adult language and intense emotions. Please contact the director to discuss any questions or concerns prior to auditions. This show’s content will be addressed and handled with as much care as possible.

**If you have questions, have trouble signing up or accessing materials, need any accommodations, or have access needs (e.g. Large print or audio/visual materials, physical accommodations, adapted space or sensory needs) don’t hesitate to contact director Whitney Brown at whitstheatre@gmail.com. If you would like a tour or video of the audition spaces ahead of time to determine your needs, please reach out as well.