Next to Normal - Donmar / Wyndham’s

[curiouskc]

Wonder if Carolyn is going to have any pre-arranged dates as Diana? I'd quite like to see her in the role.

[capybara]

Lizzy Parker was wonderful in Songs for a New World. Can’t wait to see her in this role.

[mmmbop]

When I saw this at the Donmar, Carolyn was sitting next to me taking notes! Glad to see her get another shot to hopefully play the role.

Also think Lizzy Parker is a great addition!

[corblimey]

Previews-Front Row Stalls Tickets now available for £35

[dancingthroughlife]

A huge thank you for mentioning it, managed to book for next week

[bobbievanhusen]

I would think They'll be lots of deals to be had for this during its run. Lots of rush/lottery/today tix. It's doesn't seem to have sold well with good availability for 95% of its performances.

[dan]

I spent SO MUCH on tickets for the first preview 🤦‍♂️
Oh well, I am so excited to see this show again.

[blamerobots]

Booked, very excited.

[ncbears]

Jun 15, 2024 18:12:00 GMT dan said:

I spent SO MUCH on tickets for the first preview 🤦‍♂️
Oh well, I am so excited to see this show again.

We booked early and our seats are now less expensive but I was able to trade to a closer stalls seat for same price.

[anywherespace]

Still slightly baffled by what the marketing strategy has been for this. From some behind the scenes clips posted ages ago they appear to have recordings of ‘I’m Alive’ and ‘I’ve Been’ that they haven’t released yet. I would’ve assumed that the plan would’ve been for them to be consistently posted up until previews to build hype? The social media presence in general has also been a bit spotty. But oh well. I’m hoping once it starts it builds a bit more word of mouth publicity and starts selling better. The earliest I can go is September so I really don’t want it closing early

[Dave B]

Jun 17, 2024 7:12:56 GMT anywherespace said:

The earliest I can go is September so I really don’t want it closing early

In the Benjamin Button thread, a poster suggested that one of the reasons Jamie Parker was not returning to that was because he is doing the Broadway transfer of this in January. Assuming that is true surely they'll ensure this makes the full run in London even if they need to discount tickets a lot? Perhaps more of a question for the business thread but from an optics point of view, I have to assume they would not want an early London closure to be a talking point before it hits Broadway?

[craigbowker]

Whoever producers hired to do marketing probably should have been replaced after the response to the artwork. The social media for this show really is really really not great. Especially considering how much momentum they had from Donmar, they should have really been pushing this. Feels like it's an afterthought at the agency handling it.

[vickyg]

I have been convinced since the beginning that the Next to Normal instagram account is being run by a superfan and not a professional team. I can't put my finger on the difference but something seems a bit off from the usual marketing.

[MoreLife]

Jun 17, 2024 8:28:31 GMT vickyg said:

I have been convinced since the beginning that the Next to Normal instagram account is being run by a superfan and not a professional team. I can't put my finger on the difference but something seems a bit off from the usual marketing.

In all fairness, even as a "superfan" they're not doing a great job.  There are posters who have commented on this thread expressing genuine enthusiasm for the show in its Donmar incarnation who I'm quite confident would have created more interesting and engaging content than some of the Instagram posts we have seen in recent months from the production account.    

They're not even particularly responsive to what cast members do on their own social media, such as for example sharing links to interviews in which they have spoken at length about becoming involved with the production and how the rehearsal process has worked, etc.  This means they miss out on opportunities to promote the show and getting visibility potentially across slightly different sectors of the audience... 

[Being Alive]

To my knowledge it's being run by someone who didn't see it at the Donmar which...tracks.

[anywherespace]

Jun 17, 2024 7:34:36 GMT Dave B said:

Jun 17, 2024 7:12:56 GMT anywherespace said:

The earliest I can go is September so I really don’t want it closing early

In the Benjamin Button thread, a poster suggested that one of the reasons Jamie Parker was not returning to that was because he is doing the Broadway transfer of this in January.

I’m happy to hear there are rumours about Jamie Parker going to Broadway, his acting is incredible. Caissie Levy is obviously a guarantee if it goes there and I’ve heard rumours since the start of the show about Jack Wolfe going as well. I hope that might mean they’d be looking to take Eleanor Worthington-Cox across too because her mother/daughter chemistry with Caissie Levy is so impactful. However, I imagine it would be a struggle to bring three British actors across to Broadway because of certain rules regarding international actors, no? I’m not expert on these things but I vaguely remember reading in the past about the extra hoops West End actors have to jump through to go to Broadway or vice versa.

As for that meaning it won’t close, once again I don’t know much about the behind the scenes of these types of things so I’ll take your word for it. I’m just more aware of closures due to poor sales recently with the likes of Bonnie & Clyde and Opening Night (although I’ll grant you there were several other factors that went into both of those shows closing.)

[Dave B]

Jun 17, 2024 9:27:41 GMT anywherespace said:

As for that meaning it won’t close, once again I don’t know much about the behind the scenes of these types of things so I’ll take your word for it

Just pure speculation on my part!

[dancingthroughlife]

Rush just showed up on TodayTix for £25

[craigbowker]

Just checked their YouTube. Total of three videos uploaded. Three. Total.

Truly don't see how producers see ticket sales and immediately get a new agency. Honestly really surprised by this.

[doornumberthree]

A super fan of the show could have done better artwork and much more impactful posts on socials. It’s appalling they’ve stuck with this art and that it’s on the front of the theatre, an absolute travesty. The person running the socials is doing a terrible job.

[thedrowsychaperone]

Is anyone going tonight?

[midge]

Would be intrigued to know if any changes, and if the Wyndhams restricts the immediacy and intimacy the Donmar always has

[craigbowker]

I'm going tonight, will report back!

[craigbowker]

Interval report: Amazing. It’s the same show with only very slight staging changes. Natalie stays on for a bit of the beginning of I miss the mountains. Caissie’s Diana seems slightly more unstable but is mostly the same. If Donmar was 5.0 this is 4.98 only because the intimacy isn’t quite the same but they are doing the best possible version they can on a standard stage. The crowd is loving it. Steven Sater, who wrote Spring Awakening is here in the crowd!

[theatre2023]

The Donmar version was a once in a lifetime theatrical event. The Wyndham version is still electrifying and just as breathtaking.

Tears from the cast at the curtain call and an audience that didn’t want them to leave. The energy in the room was phenomenal.

Do not miss this show. Nothing else comes close in London.

Curtain call here: