'Next to Normal'

Some musicals dominate the big stage. They make a lot of noise, they bring a ton of fanfare. It’s a grand spectacle with showstopping numbers, over-the-top costumes, makeup, wigs, towering set — and that’s all great. They certainly have their place.

But some musicals are meant for a more intimate setting, where the audience can fully experience every note in a song, every nuance in dialogue, and every expression upon a character’s face.

“Next to Normal,” Broadway musical by Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt, fits this second bill perfectly as it allows the audience to witness firsthand the plight of the Goodman family as they cope with the effects of mental illness.