Hi everyone. I'm Luke, director & editor of this piece. I feel a little sheepish coming on here, since I know the 1st rule of the internet is "don't read the comments." But the truth is, we're all pretty proud of what we accomplished with this piece, especially given the time & budget restraints. It's a show we'd always wanted to do live, but weren't able to at the time due to COVID. The idea Betsi had was to complete the project in the same timeframe as if we had done it live. So we had 2 weeks to rehearse, 2 weeks to shoot, and 4 weeks to edit. Thanks to everyone for their compliments. Please let others know about it!
"Please let others know about it!" Heck yeah. Absolutely sharing it. I was lucky to direct a production of NTN back in 2019--and on a tear of looking up more recent productions via YT, I found this. It was ABSOLUTELY amazing and brilliantly executed! I'm a fan!
As a theater actor I have never seen a better cinematic presentation of a musical. If you were to follow this pattern with other musicals, I could see a lot of money in your future! Kudos!
I am playing Dan in May and this has helped me to learn my part and the music. So well done. Congrats. Can't believe it doesn't have millions of views. It should.
It seriously looks like you all had months to rehearse this on location. I love the editing that shifted this from being a filmed stage show into an actual film; such as Gabe being able to appear all over the house at once and both suddenly and smoothly appearing in other scenes. You all put a great amount of care into making this and I'm happy to have the chance to tell you. Also, when I watched it for the second time with my grandmother were crying non-stop for the last half hour of the show. I would love to give you a 5 paragraph review, but this is RU-vid comments so I'll keep it short.
This is a perfect example of how to convert a stage play to a filmed version. Pay attention to the first 5 minutes. It is one continuous shot moving from room to room, upstairs and down again with the camera staying out of sight in mirror shots. This is grade A cinematography.
This is the best way to do musicals on film. Instead of a big Hollywood version that cuts the material to be more commercial, just do it on video like this and really capture what the work is about. Another thing I love: all the actors here are normal looking, not California pretty. When they sing the raw lyrics it just REALLY hits. I am probably going to watch this too many times.
I really love how this feels like if the musical was made into a movie, and the part of the opening song with Gabe being the only one in focus despite Natalie also singing is genius from a storytelling perspective.
I just fast forwarded to my favorite parts and was a blubbering mess when Light started! Saw it live last month and didn't cry like that and my dad had just passed away two days before seeing it.
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The "I'm alive" sequence was truly like being trapped in a nightmare.. amazing cinematography 😊
Yeah but I don't think it really defines how Diana feels about Gabe. She loves him and cares about and in this scene it seems she is terrified of him, which she is not.
As someone who has played Diana, directed N2N and saw Alice Ripley in the role, i can not imagine how you executed this, but it's incredible...well done! The direction and filmography choices are amazing. I'm seeing a different angle and side of this show. Thank you for all the work that went into this... everyone involved should be very proud. ❤️
This is such a beautiful and important musical and this is such a beautiful and important version of it. Your lovely work has made a real difference in my life.
This is a fantastic production with great performances all around. I saw the original broadway cast a million years ago and this gives them a run for their money. It’s really interesting to see it staged in a completely toned down realistic suburb setting compared to the innovative but heavily stylized stage set in the original production. Looks like Betsi Morrison and Luke Walrath put in a ton of work behind the scenes and help to run the theater company in addition to starring in this which makes it even more impressive. Really great cinematography and editing.
This is a brilliant production of this musical! A complete fluke that I happened to see it while scrolling through my RU-vid feed. THANK YOU for making this. Betsi and Luke brought so much depth to the characters of Diana and Dan. The way the story was told in this was next level. I was head electrician on a professional production of this musical about 12 years ago and it always made me cry. So congrats...you did it again.
Echoing another comment, why doesn't this have more views? I loved the part where Diana puts a photo of baby Gabe in the family portrait during "Light". That was a nice touch.
I have never seen such an incredible film in my entire life. How you could possibly take the musical and do such an incredibly professional film???? It actually enhanced my understanding of the original production, which I have seen multiple times in the past. This is something that will be a blessing for people for years to come, and you have truly given of your hearts and souls to put it out on RU-vid for free. You are unbelievable!!!!!❤
I can't say how much I appreciate this performance, and I can't thank you all enough for the time and energy that went into this project. Betsi Morrison was a powerhouse. "You Don't Know" wrecks me no matter who sings it, but you have a lifelong ticket in my brain for ruining me. You are the best. Luke Walrath, you are so damn good in this. Your voice and timing are amazing, but it was the dialogue between songs that really stunned me. Annie Jones, your performance in "Make Up Your Mind" / "Catch Me I'm Falling" was the most connected I've felt to Natalie in any rendition I've seen. I can't say how much it affected me. Sam Benkelman, your Gabe was crushing. Most of the time I don't see the undercurrent of malice in Gabe's role, but the joy of manipulation you put across in addition to the role of loving son was so damn good and made the character click for me. Nick Brester, I really enjoyed the physical language you added to this role. There is a tenderness to your voice and body language that rocked me. I want to applaud you all. This musical is so important to me, and when I saw your rendition pop up on my feed, I had no idea how important IT would become to me. You've truly added to my experience... something I thought would be impossible when I pressed play on this video.
Sean, thank you so much for these compliments. The show hits home for so many people, including us, and we are happy you thought we did it justice. Annie, Nick, & Sam are all former ATP students, and we’re so proud of the work they did here. Thank you again!
This. Is. Phenomenal. I feel like everything I have to say about this can be summed up with this version of I’m Alive. The cinematography is sublime, the singing is amazing, the acting is wonderful, and whatever was going on with Gabe’s voice was truly the icing on the cake! The whole thing is wonderful, and that scene is the epitome of it.
OH MY GOSH! THE FACT THAT HER SON IS BLURRED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS FORESHADOWING THE THING THAT IM NOT GONNA SAY IF SOMEONE WHO HASNT FINISHED THIS IS READING , this is AMAZING AND SOO SMART
I often wonder how many actually feel the impact of this play so deeply because of the message on mental health. The first time I ever saw it I was left stunned, with more emotions than I could comprehend at the time. This adaptation is so phenomenal, will be sharing with everyone I know. The acting is amazing but the message is needed especially these days.
Don't usually comment but just stumbled across this and had to comment as this is so good. I saw the London production a few weeks ago which was brilliant and can't believe how well put together this video production is, it really captures the story so well and all the performances are amazing. Six weeks and a shoestring budget, WOW! It deserves a much wider audience and will definitely be spreading the word. Look forward to checking out some of your other work. Thanks to everyone involved in putting this together.
Fantastic hybrid of the stage version and a low budget indie movie version--but it’s really more theater in the real world but super smartly directed to include the definitely needed creative camera work to keep it from stagnating. Which is extra nice because the blocking on the multi-level Broadway stage is non-stop action and flow. The heart of the show is absolutely alive and beating powerfully throughout this entire production. The acting is exactly what you want in that they’re clearly all stage-actors. It may not be Alice Ripley and the most electric and recognizable Bway cast get immediately under your skin and grip your soul, but the singing is still technically top notch. And the cast totally grew on me quickly. In terms of sharing this, I would much sooner recommend it WAY before watching filmed versions of regional productions, for those who missed it on Bway and struggle with the Bootlegs…..or even for those who aren’t true theater nerds to where they would even put up with bootlegs, but who still DO want to see it (or SHOULD)🤌🏼✨❤️🔥✨
I saw Next to Normal for the first time about 3 weeks ago in London. It's truly amazing, and i cannot believe what a powerful screenplay you have created. I read the directors note. The timeframe in which is accomplished this is astounding. Well done. You have created an epic !
Wow. Like others here I stumbled on this production of N2N. This is a fantastic version of this dark musical. Well sung, well acted and so clever in the cinematic choices. Congratulations to all involved in this shoot
I’m only on “Perfect for you” and I have to go ahead and comment how absolutely amazing this is. The stylistic choices are great (loved how you incorporated the background vocals in “My psychopharmacologist and I” it was so clever!) and it’s a perfect film adaptation of the musical. It enhances it perfectly without taking anything away. Also the cast acted the characters perfectly. Anytime I want to introduce someone to Next to Normal this is what I’m showing them!
Can you guys please make more things like this... You all are amazing! and the way you filmed this! SO incredible and creative! I love this play and you certainly transformed it for film perfectly, and I would love to see what else you guys do... THANK YOU FOR THIS. I posted this in the broadway group, and sent it to a bunch of my friends...
I hope this gets more acknowledgement and views. Each character nailed the emotions thru acting and singing. More power to this channel and more musical production in the future.
Love!!! That opening sequence-- one continuous shot-- Brilliant! This is my favorite modern musical and now I love it even more. Cast and production crew were phenomenal. 👏👏👏
This was so well done. I just stumbled across it. I saw it quite a few years back but I don't hear well - so I basically knew the story and liked it for what I can get out of it. I'm going to be seeing it in Sept. again so I'm glad to have this chance to see it clearly and captioned.
Brilliant! Everyone involved is amazing. The videography, set design and special effects give this version an extra dimension that completely transcends the original production.
Act 1 0:00 Prelude 1:57 Just Another Day 7:50 Everything Else 10:19 Who's Crazy/My Psychopharmacologist and I 17:23 Perfect for You 20:30 I Miss the Mountains 24:32 It's Gonna Be Good 27:08 He's Not Here 29:00 You don't know/I am the One 34:34 Superboy and the invisible Girl 39:25 I'm Alive 43:38 Make Up Your Mind/Catch Me I'm Falling 49:14 I Dreamed a Dance 52:21 There's a World 55:16 I've Been 58:46 Didn't I See This Movie? 1:00:16 A Light in the Dark Act 2 1:04:21 Wish I were Here 1:09:14 Song of Forgetting 1:12:45 Hey #1 1:14:36 Seconds and Years 1:15:44 Better than Before 1:19:51 Aftershocks 1:22:41 Hey #2 1:24:01 You Don't Know (Reprise) 1:27:31 How could I ever Forget? 1:31:44 It's Gonna Be Good (Reprise) 1:32:17 Why Stay/ The Promise 1:34:56 I'm Alive (Reprise)/The Break 1:37:46 Make Up Your Mind/Catch Me I'm Falling (Reprise) 1:41:02 Maybe (Next To Normal) 1:47:26 So Anyway 1:50:32 I am the One (Reprise) 1:53:30 Light 1:58:56 End credits
Such a great Experience. But, the book is too phenomenal not to make a great experience. I've seen the stage show pricisely 12 years ago this month. this got me back in the auditorium seat of that time. well done ATP.
This is really good. And this is the first version of this that made me feel for Dan and Natalie, the two characters I disliked the most. Natalie came off as whiny in the OBC cast. Dan came off as stoic, like he threw his wife under the bus. Particularly if you believe a certain theory about Gabe. In your version, Natalie’s more real. And poor Dan-what got me was his having to clean that tub after… Your version of N2N made it clear that he loves his wife, and he’s holding on for dear life, having to accompany her on these highs and lows. Also: Is anyone in the production a “Doctor Who” fan? Because the part with the ECT reminds me of when The Master turned everyone into The Master and created a “race” of Masters.
@@cassidymills2599 don’t know if this is the exact theory the original commenter meant, but there’s a theory that Gabe is an actual ghost haunting the house, and that Dan could also see him the whole time. I prefer a mix of the illness personification theory and the ghost theory, myself.
I can definitely appreciate the effort put into it, but everything just feels just that little bit of off vs a regular live production. I truly think this may have benefited from the "Live Recording" like they did with the Les Mis movie. Also the actors/ Dianna just seem to lack emotion.. Dan has glorious breath throughs of anger/ rage/ fear/ etc, but really only Natalie shows emotion that points to "she's *LIVED* this feeling" I love this for what was put into it, I just wish there was more time put into it.
This is cool in concept… the vocals are def the strongest part of this. I get the impression these actors aren’t used to camera acting since some of the choices read as a little cringe on camera but feel as though they would fit well on stage. I found a lot of the blocking uninspired and dull, especially where the text is more concept than concrete. From a technical standpoint much of the cinematography felt chaotic, but not always intentionally so. Some scenes have a lot of quick cuts that were kind of dizzying where they didn’t need to be. The sound levels were sometimes pretty inconsistent between scenes. But these are picky critiques, these absolutely seem like competent performers and I feel as tho better artistic direction would have done them a lot of good.
Is this the broadway recording on top of the acting, or are these actors singing? Not a judgment, it’s phenomenal either way! Just curious because it’s so tight
It’s the actors singing. Singing vocals were recorded and mixed by Eric Krop in his home studio the week before we began filming. Playback was run off a Bluetooth speaker (which you can unfortunately see in a few shots), except during the long tracking shot in “Just Another Day.” During that we experimented strapping a smaller speaker to Kier Atherton’s back as he was moving throughout the house.
