Rebecca’s Dream Recommends ‘Next to Normal’ at Theater Wit
BoHo Theatre presents one of Broadway’s biggest and most compelling hits in recent years, Next to Normal, which nabbed three Tonys and a Pulitzer for its heartbreaking, humorous and unflinchingly authentic look at a seemingly normal modern family struggling with the effects of bipolar disorder. Featuring original songs by Tom Kitt (American Idiot), including “Just Another Day,” “You Don’t Know” and “Superboy and the Invisible Girl,” this emotional powerhouse of a musical addresses grief, suburban life and even ethics in modern psychiatry. The New York Times called it “much more than a feel-good musical; it is a feel-everything musical.” Now, this arresting new production of Next to Normal comes to Theater Wit in Chicago.
From the outside, The Goodmans seem to be a normal, average American family. But for the past 16 years, perfect suburban mom Diana Goodman has been struggling with family trauma, bipolar disorder, and hallucinations. The strain of keeping this locked up tight within the family now threatens to tear them apart. Because the harder the family tries to be “normal”, the farther they move from being true to themselves.
Each month Rebecca’s Dream will recommend activities or tools to help you on your wellness journey. Have a tip? Let us know!
Health Tip of the Month
Carb Smart: The connection between carbohydrates and mood is linked to the mood-boosting brain chemical, serotonin. Carbohydrate craving may be related to decreased serotonin activity, although experts are not sure if there is a link. Read more.
Book of the Month
Read: Voices of Hope for Mental Illness: Not Against, With by author Jackie Goldstein. Too often community members only “experience” mental illness through dramatic or dire media stories that fail to inform us about the real world of mental illness. Read more.
Daily Strength
“Everyday begins with an act of courage and hope: getting out of bed” — Mason Cooley
