Auditions

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Auditions!! Wed Sept 30 and Fri Oct 2 from 7-9pm with callbacks on Sat Oct 3 at 1pm.

Next to Normal, with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt, explores how one suburban household copes with crisis and mental illness.

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 the mother has been battling bipolar disorder for 16 years. 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 an energetic pop/rock score. Next to Normal is an emotional powerhouse that addresses such issues as grieving a loss, ethics in modern psychiatry, and suburban life.  

Content warnings:  themes regarding mental health, including bipolar disorder, delusions, grief, child death, trauma, and suicide, depictions of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), drug abuse, strong language, and brief medical scenes.

Character Breakdown

Diana

Diana is a sharp, intelligent woman battling Bipolar disorder and unresolved grief following the loss of her infant son. Diana struggles to balance reality with the emotional pull of the past, often feeling trapped between medication, memory and identity. Fiercely loving yet emotionally fractured, she longs to reclaim agency over her life and define what “normal” truly means.

Gender: female

Age: 38 - 42

Vocal range: G3 - F#5

Gabe

Gabe is the perfect son – handsome, intelligent, athletic, charismatic – and not real. He is the embodiment of Diana’s grief – the son she lost – who is still always with her. His presence is both comforting and disturbing.

Gender: male

Age: 18 

Vocal range: B2 - C5

Dan

Dan is steady, practical, and exhausted by years of trying to hold his family together. His way of coping with his fear and grief is to try to “fix” everything, though he can’t see that some things cannot be “fixed.” He is ultimately driven by love for his family.

Gender: male

Age: 40 - 45

Vocal range: Ab2 - B4

Natalie

Natalie is talented, intelligent, driven, and puts immense pressure on herself to be successful. She often feels invisible within her family and copes by striving for perfection and control, though beneath this is anger, sadness, and a longing to be seen and understood.

Gender: female

Age: 16 

Vocal range: G3 - G5

Henry

Henry is Natalie’s classmate and love interest. He describes himself as “lazy, a loner, a bit of a stoner,” though he is also warm, patient, and quietly persistent. He offers Natalie a sense of stability and acceptance outside her family life.

Gender: male

Age: 17

Vocal range: G#2 - B4

Dr. Fine/Dr. Madden

Dual roles of Diana's psychopharmacologist and her psychiatrist. Dr. Fine is focused on the use of medication to combat Diana’s mental health issues, whereas Dr. Madden utilizes a wider approach. Dr. Madden is considered somewhat of a rock star. One actor plays both roles.

Gender: male (possibly female)

Age: 30’s to 50’s (flexible)

Vocal range: A2 - A4

Firehall Theatre is committed to diverse, inclusive casting. For all roles, we actively seek submissions from actors of all races and ethnicities, gender identities and expressions, and physical or neurodivergent abilities, unless otherwise specified.