By Liz Eichler, ATCA
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s 2025 production of Next to Normal packs an emotional wallop few shows ever achieve. By the end of Act One, the audience sat stunned, collectively asking: What just happened? It’s rare for theatre to cut this deeply—and that’s exactly what makes this Pulitzer Prize-winning musical unforgettable. Don’t let that scare you off–-by the end of the show there is hope, and light.
Written by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, Next to Normal remains one of the few musicals to win the Pulitzer (2010), and with good reason. It’s an unflinching exploration of grief, mental health, and the fragile threads that bind families together. With ETC’s striking set, a fiercely talented cast, and music that pulses like a heartbeat, this revival feels immediate and raw. Drop the phone, allow yourself to connect with humanity. You will be moved.
The story centers on a family fractured by grief. Diana, the mother, navigates good days and bad, nurturing her grief as she would a child. Her husband, Dan, struggles to keep the family afloat while suppressing his own pain. Their daughter, Natalie, feels invisible, desperate to be seen, until she finds connection with Henry, a sweet, steady boyfriend. Diana turns to psychiatrists, pills, and therapies in search of relief, but healing proves complicated, layered, and at times devastating.
Stellar and Moving Performances
Every actor onstage is magnetic. Jessica Hendy (Diana) is raw, vulnerable, and utterly commanding—her voice pulling us into Diana’s fractured world with both tenderness and ferocity. Charlie Clark (Dan) grounds the story with quiet strength, his transition from anguished shouting to whispers of hope heartbreakingly real.
Julianne Ferguson (Natalie) gives a powerhouse performance, her voice cutting through like steel, while Jameson Zoller (Gabe) embodies the haunting perfection of the son who isn’t truly there. Carter Minor (Henry) brings a solid voice, warmth and charm–the “perfect” companion that should make any parent happy. (The highly talented Ferguson, Zoller, and Minor are still students at University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music.) Rounding out the cast, Rory Sheridan brings both authority and sly charisma–and rock star moves–as Diana’s doctors.
The Production Team
Steven Goers masterfully leads the band through the demanding, rock-infused score, navigating tricky rhythms and soaring harmonies with precision. Director D. Lynn Meyers mines new depths of emotion in this staging, guiding the cast to performances that draw you in and keep you rapt, even while your heart sinks.
Visually, Brian C. Mehring’s set and lighting design create a charged atmosphere: metallic structures, forced perspectives, and a central red door pulsing like the heart of the home. The multi-level set brings the actors eye level even to the last row of the raked theatre. The highly polished floor reflects and distorts the action and lights–emphasizing the themes. I love this set, and could have drawn it from memory, from the 2011 production, as it remains one of my favorite designs, ever. Hannah Dringenburg’s modern clothing subtly track the characters’ emotional journeys, even mirroring Dan and Henry’s caring presence through shared colors in Act Two.
Patti James’ choreography ranges from sweet dancing to aggression. The sound (Jake Tillman) was perfectly balanced, surprisingly so for a stark, reflective set. Shannon Rae Lutz is devoted to detail as Ensemble’s Properties Curator and Design Assistant.
Why This is a Must See Show
What begins as a seemingly ordinary morning with a suburban family quickly unravels—birthday cakes and family dinners peeling back layers of illusion. Next to Normal magnifies the struggles of living with mental illness, the inadequacies of the healthcare system, the pressures of growing up, and the endurance of love in the face of loss.
ETC’s production makes us feel every note, every silence, every heartbeat. This is theatre at its most powerful: unsettling, cathartic, and deeply human.
Tickets to Next to Normal
Next to Normal has been extended through October 11 at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. Tickets available at the online box office.
