Two Planks Theater Company of Monroe will be presenting the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, Next to Normal, at the United Methodist Church, 515 Cutlers Farm Road in Monroe on Friday, May 22 to Sunday, May 31, Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 and Sundays at 5:00 p.m. General admission is $20.
Next to Normal is a musical that focuses upon a mother with bipolar disorder and the effects of her disease on her family. A Community Conversation featuring representatives from several leading mental health non-profit organizations will take place on Sunday, May 24 after the 5 pm performance, approximately 7:30 pm. The public is invited to hear from from Connecticut’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Southwest Regional Mental Health Board, ADAM, RYASAP, The Avielle Foundation, Connecticut Music Therapy Services (CTMTS), and The Resiliency Center of Newtown.
Jeremy Richman, founder of The Avielle Foundation, said programs like this help bring awareness of the effect of brain diseases on both the individual and the community around him or here.
“[We are] proud to help Two Planks Theater bring the musical Next to Normal to our community,” said Richman. “By openly calling out the elephants in the room—bipolar disorder, suicide, depression, and other brain illnesses—we can begin to feel comfortable talking about brain illnesses, how to build brain health, and to understand our community responsibilities advocating for our own brain health and for the health of our loved ones.”
Sally Lundy, a member of ADAM, said Next to Normal addresses several mental health issues that are often difficult to talk about openly.
“Unfortunately, there is a stigma attached to many of the topics addressed in the play,” Lundy explained. “As a result, those who suffer from mental illness and addiction are left to feel only they are suffering. Hopefully Next to Normal can [help] encourage our community to have an open discussion about mental illness and drug abuse.”
Brooke Burling, producer of Next to Normal, said Two Planks specifically chose to perform this show during the month of May, which is National Mental Health Awareness Month. The organization’s hope is for the production to foster continued community awareness of the importance of mental health issues across the state.
“Our hope is that the production initiates a conversation about mental illness that continues long after the curtain goes down,” Burling said.
Directed by Susan Halliwell, Next to Normal will be performed runs Friday, May 22 to Sunday, May 31, Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 and Sundays at 5:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, 515 Cutler Farm Road, Monroe. Tickets are $20, general admission. For more information, go to www.twoplankstheater.org. The Community Conversation is free and open to the public; you do not have to have a ticket to attend.