Kerns: Award-winning rock musical explores pain, drama within bipolar disorder

By William Kerns

A-J ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Actress and acting teacher Paula Chanda recalled her husband, director and actor Bob Chanda, once told her, “Some stories can be told, but some stories should be told.

“‘Next to Normal’ is such an incredibly moving piece,” she said, “as well as musically brilliant. It is not your typical musical and definitely not your typical Lubbock musical. We felt like the impact it made on us personally required us to perform it, even if it was only in our living room.”...go to link for rest of story

Outstanding musical 'Next to Normal' explores mental illness

Never would I have suspected that a stage musical with real voices and recorded tracks could wind up as intensely and continually involving as “Next to Normal” at LHUCA’s Firehouse Theatre.

Bob Chanda’s direction and his gifted cast give birth to an outstanding drama communicated in song, one guaranteed to make audiences care.

This definitely is not lightweight material. But it deserves to be seen and will be remembered.

The story is introduced via the song “Just Another Day,” which gradually finds Diana fixing sandwiches for her children. But her preparation does not stop even after she runs out of counter space and tosses bread slices on the floor.

It is a clue. Something is not right — not with the family, and definitely not with Diana...go to link for rest of this wonderful review