The cast of “Next To Normal,” from left: Shane Vincent, Eliisa Gladwell, Jeff Jennings, Monica Nordeen, Alex Herman and Jeff Spencer. (Photo by ESJ Photography)

By BOBBY GLENN BROWN

Special to Journal

NEGAUNEE — A powerful message, powerful music and powerful performances are ready for local patrons this weekend in Negaunee.

Director Leslie Parkkonen has assembled an incredible cast of local performers to tackle “Next to Normal,” the three-time Tony award winning and Pulitzer Prize winning musical at the Vista Theater.

The “musical tragedy” involves suburban mother Diana Goodman played masterfully by Monica Nordeen. No stranger to the stage, most people would think of Nordeen as an actress but she holds her own in a difficult role, in which her character has been struggling with depression for 18 years following a traumatic event in her life. As time passes, she falls mentally deeper into a place nobody can reach — not her husband, veteran singer, Jeff Jennings, or her high-school daughter played by the talented Eliisa Gladwell, with a commanding stage presence and voice.

Her doctors, both portrayed by local favorite Jeff Spencer, are effective but only to a degree. Drugs and therapy work and then they don’t. “I don’t feel like myself” the Diana tells her doctor at one point. “I mean I don’t feel anything.” His take on that? “Patient Stable.” Spencer is, just what the doctor ordered in a show that deals with a heavy subject.

Diana’s son Gabe is played with brio by Alex Herman. Herman sings the role (about 90 percent of the show is sung), sometimes defiantly “I’m Alive! I’m Alive!” he insists. It’s one of “Next to Normal’s” best-known songs. Herman’s crystal clear performance is heartfelt, full of energy and memorable.

The shows music is a bold declaration of the way mental illness can shred the lives in a family. Even a love song between the Diana’s daughter Natalie and her boyfriend Henry, played by Shane Vincent, dwells on planetary destruction. Vincent plays his role gently, and it works in every way.

Jennings and Nordeen are paired perfectly and are spot-on as husband and wife. She sings with a mixture of tears and sweetness in her voice; he with frustration and almost always, with a nod of hope. It’s not an easy show to sing — the music ranges all over the place — sometimes in a matter of seconds but Jennings is a vocal professional and you can hear it.

Kudos to musical director Marcia Nora Hicks on ensuring that every singer sounded their best. Whether performing solos, duets, trios, quartets or entire cast pieces, the lyrics were clear and notes in pitch-perfect harmony.

It’s hard to believe that decades have past since I saw the original cast on Broadway. And some may say I’m “crazy” that I saw it twice. It’s not an easy musical to admit you like. Of course it will mean something different to everyone but my gist is, I admire it. It is hard to enjoy a musical that that keenly interprets the effects of mental illness — but the main reason we want to enjoy any musical is we are conditioned to be entertained by them. “Next to Normal” is even more influential because it breaks the feel-good mold of a musical while keepings its framework. Bravo to the Vista for producing it.

The show runs at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or at vistatheater.org.

Bobby Glenn Brown is known throughout the region as an actor and director. He holds an MFA in musical theatre performance from the University of Nevada Las Vegas.