[Cedwards38]

I wholeheartedly agree! This is an extraordinary addition to the arts for our community. If you enjoy live performance, musical theater, drama, and superb acting then you can't miss this show. "Next to Normal" is a bumpy ride. I laughed, cried, and felt the pain of these characters, and I admit relating some of it to episodes in my own life. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's gut wrenching and real. It does not sugar coat the pain of mental illness, depression, and the incredible pressures that occur within families as we struggle to just be human.

Whitney Morse is the real deal. Her singing and acting are as good as I've seen anywhere. I've watched performances on the stages of New York City as well as some of the best regional theaters in the country, and what I saw last night gives up nothing to those others. The entire cast enthralled me with the way they became those troubled characters, and with the musical and theatrical talent they displayed. I would also be remiss if I did not also congratulate Brian Zealand, Tyler Beauregard, Emily Chelsea, Brett Ricci, and Josh Kimball for their spot on and moving performances. Their voices and emotions were certainly on display. And, by the way, I'm just a Villages resident with a passion for great performance. I don't know any of these people, and this morning I still don't, but I feel like I have a deep knowledge of the characters they played last night.

Next is a "shout out" to the band, orchestra, ensemble, group or whatever I should call them. They were five musicians including a piano, drums, guitar, bass guitar, and violin, strategically placed right in the action, that produced an incredible accompaniment to the singers and actors. There were in the middle of it all, but in such a way that you really didn't notice them, but couldn't help but here them. Well done!

The Studio Theater at Tierra Del Sol is a small, dare I say intimate, venue that really places the theater goer in the center of the action. You feel like you are sitting in the room with the characters, because you are.

If musical theater and drama are your cup of tea, or if you just enjoy performing arts, or if you just want to be entertained by a performance that is different from anything else in our community then you should grab a ticket for this, and subsequent performances of this fine Company. I already have my ticket for each performance for the remainder of the season, and with only 99 seats per performance, they will become a hot commodity!