playbill vip

  DIRECTOR'S NOTES:

Lisa Murphy Collins

I am so excited to be a part of the team that is bringing this musical to the North State.  I have truly never experienced a play/musical like this.  It is a brilliantly crafted drama that could stand on its own without the music, yet the lyrics and music elevate it to another level of live theatre that is breathtaking.  In a good musical, the songs should add to the story, rather than feel like a break in the action because “it’s time for a song”, and Next to Normal accomplishes this brilliantly.  Every lyric, every note, every chord, take the scene and the moment to an even deeper and more meaningful place that words alone can rarely achieve.  I love the intimate setting that Old City Hall provides for this story, and am so glad that we get to present it here rather than on a larger stage.  As for the cast: this rock-opera demands superb skills in acting and singing.  As vocal director Nancy Dutton has reminded us many times during rehearsal: “This is a marathon, not a sprint!”  Our cast has trained very hard for this marathon physically, mentally and emotionally.   Each member is uncannily perfect for the role they play.  They have put in the time to deeply develop their characters, to perfect the vocals in every measure, and to be open to the subtleties of letting the characters live through them and come to life naturally.  I could not be more pleased with the result and am absolutely humbled by the fierce commitment of everyone on the team.  

Sincerely,

Lisa Murphy Collins

  DIRECTOR'S NOTES:

Ken Hill

I'd like to thank all the wonderful people who have contributed to A.R.T. and to Next to Normal.  Thank you for your gracious love and belief in Theatre in general, and in the belief that what we do changes the world one show at a time. 

And thank you for taking the time to be a part of today's production as our audience.  We believe that every night is opening night, and value your presence.  Creating theatre is not an easy task-we deeply appreciate your support.

On behalf of the cast, crew, board and staff of Axiom Repertory Theatre, I thank you from the bottome of my heart, and hope that this performance reaches you in a very special way as it has done for all of us.

Sincerely,

Ken Hill

Artistic Director-2018