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I've been aware of Next to Normal for several years now and have listened to the cast recording end-to-end several times. Needless to say that when a filmed version was available, I was very excited. Glad to say it did not disappoint.

If I had to describe the show in three words, it would be gripping, human, and evocative. The cast is small (no extras) and the set is confined to the living room, so it's a very intimate show. You feel every bit of emotion. The cast is wonderful top to bottom. Huge props to Caissie Levy, what a sympathetic but suffering Diana. Jamie Parker was so good as Dan, could've easily been whiny but walks the fine line to be so gut wrenching. Eleanor Worthington-Cox really exceeded my expectations. My first impressions of Natalie was flat, but she really gave the character so much texture. Jack Wolfe, wow! Angelic yet so haunting, you feel his presence is so menacing yet so beautiful. Really draws you in to Gabe the idea and the character. Direction too was extremely clever. So many parallels drawn that I didn't realize were there, really put Matthew Longhurst on my radar.

Come prepared because you will be shattered.

Into the Woods is a really smart twist of traditional fairy tales like Cinderella and Jack the Giant Killer. It retells several fairy tales in a single cohesive narrative - the quest of the Baker and his Wife to lift a curse on their family. Meanwhile, Cinderella, Jack, and a cadre of other classic fairy tale characters pursue their own aspirations in the manner traditionally depicted. Everyone has their wishes granted, but unintended consequences ensue.

Truth be told, this is my second experience with Stephen Sondheim: the first being the 2011 production of Company, which was a very pleasant surprise. Just like Company, the orchestration of Into the Woods is excellent. The play has a unique sound with a whimsical/fantastical quality befitting a musical about fairy tales. The lyrics are also impeccable - equal parts witty and catchy.

The book is also very clever. It touches on themes of consequences and parenthood that hit deep. Parallels are also drawn between characters that service the themes well. I feel that I should also emphasize that the play is very funny - mostly from banter between characters and several one-liners. Comedy pervades the dialogue and even the musical numbers. The writing of several characters is also worth noting. The Witch, especially, is not an archetypical villain. She is more here for her own good rather than a force committing evil for evil's sake. Her relationship with Rapunzel makes that especially clear.

Finally, the cast really sells the musical but Joanna Gleason and Bernadette Peters were the most memorable to me. Gleason (the Baker's Wife) and Peters (the Witch) both have great comedic sensibilities and then some that make their characters come alive. Gleason's Wife has a certain snark and street smarts to her that contrasts well with the Baker and others. Gleason meshes especially well with the Baker, being his North Star, lover, and co-conspirator. Peters, on the other hand, brings a jaded quality to the Witch that accentuates her character's morally ambiguous nature. She also adds a lot of whimsy to the character, in keeping with the atmosphere of the play.

Please, do yourself a favor and watch Into the Woods at least once. I would definitely rewatch this in the future because I am certain there is a lot more details that I missed!

When I first heard the soundtrack to Spring Awakening, I was blown away (even more so when I finally found a decent video of the play). I really connected with the themes and the characters of the show so when I heard that a documentary about the show was coming out, I had to watch it. It did not disappoint.

This documentary is very heartwarming. It feels like you're seeing old friends reuniting after years apart. You get insight into what the show meant to the cast and the minds behind the musical and how it personally impacted them. The documentary also has some "making of" elements regarding the grind that the cast and production team had to go through to make Spring Awakening possible. It comes through the documentary that the cast and crew cared about the musical and each other.

I do have to note, though, that this documentary is best appreciated by those who love Spring Awakening. It's more of a companion piece to the show than a stand-alone work, but it adds so much context to the show that makes me love Spring Awakening even more. If you have the time, I urge you to find a recording of Spring Awakening (there are some on Youtube) and then watch this documentary.