So yesterday me and my friend went to see this new pop-rock musical called Next to Normal. And stating that it was truly marvelous would be an understatement. The play circled around a "fucked up" family containing a mother, father, sister, and brother. Other minor roles included a boyfriend and a physician. The mother is a sex-starved hallucinating wrist cutting soccer mom who pops pills like candy, the father is a premature ejaculator overly hopeful optimistic want-things-to-go-back-to-normal businessman in denial, the daughter is an attention starved overachiever pessimistic cynical pot-head musician, oh yea and the brother is a menacing ghost who refuses to be forgotten. The story is nothing less than realistic (and a little abstract in a sense) and demands the sympathy of the audience. The conflict tormenting this family leaves the younger,non married, audience wondering "what if that were to happen to me" and the older audience in a complete state of appreciation for the family they currently have ( That is if their family is not as fucked up as that one). The music is the power house of this piece with Jennifer Damiano (playing as the daughter Natalie) dominating the stage with her pessimistic musical numbers and Aaron Tveit (playing the dead son Gabe) haunting the stage with his tormenting forget-me-not solos. The orchestra was none less than professional and well rehearsed with their flawless playing and the lighting effects were (unjustifiable)awe-inspiring. Overall, seeing the musical Next to normal was exhilarating experience that left me wanting more. I strongly recommend this play to any and everyone. ( especially those who like rock and pop)