Interview: Devri Chism & Tiffany Michelle Thompson of NEXT TO NORMAL at Hilberry Theatre Talk Mental Illness and Sharing the Role of Diana

Theatre and Dance at Wayne is presenting the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal from January 27th through February 12th at the Hilberry Theatre. The raw, rock-infused show has music by Tom Kitt with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and it follows Diana Goodman, a suburban mother grappling with worsening bipolar disorder. The show features two separate casts for this vocally challenging production, in which Diana will be played on alternative performance dates by both Devri Chism and Tiffany Michelle Thompson.

"Next to Normal is a contemporary drama about a woman's struggle with mental illness and the effects that it has on her family," said Tiffany Michelle Thompson. "Ultimately, I think it is a story about grief and loss." Devri Chism adds, "it is also a story about the functions and dysfunctions of family, and this family has some pretty substantial dysfunctions. What's remarkable about this show is the universality of it, despite the specific subject matter. While the family struggles for normalcy, you realize just how impossible of a standard that is for any family, even your own. Still we try."

The 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama winner also won three of its eleven Tony Award nominations in 2009, Next to Normal is also considered an important piece of theatre because of the subject matter. Kitt and Yorkey were willing to write about mental illness and everything that comes along with it. "There is a shocking lack of understanding of mental illness in our society and I'm proud to be part of bringing it to the forefront of people's minds. Bipolar and many similar disorders are often seen as character flaws or personality traits that define a person rather than treatable illnesses," said Chism. "We need to be able to see mental illness for what is because too many lives are lost due to our lack of understanding and our overall attitude towards mental illness as a society."

Chism and Thompson are both in their third year of study for Master of Fine Arts at Wayne State University, but sharing the role of Diana has been a rare experience for them. "It is very interesting because you have two different perspectives on one role, which means there no 'right' way to play this role. I think that we both bring unique colors to the character and I'm excited to see the growth for both us throughout the run," said Thompson.

Thompson, a Detroit native, originally wanted to pursue medicine, but thanks to Marilyn McCormick, she is a performer. "She was my 11th grade debate and performing arts teacher and she saw something in me at the time that I couldn't see," she said. "She encouraged me to pursue a career in performing arts. The rest is history." Her past Hilberry Theatre credits have included The Great Gatsby, Romeo & Juliet, A Flea in Her Ear, and All in the Timing. Now she is on stage as a character that she describes as a "very complicated and beautiful soul that happens to have a mental illness. The illness doesn't define her, but rather shows her inner strength. Diana fights to work through intense emotions throughout the play." Thompson finds Diana intriguing because she does not have all the answers, but she is willing to fight to figure them out. "This show, it is like a breath of fresh air," she said. "Finally, here is a piece of work that tackles a very difficult subject matter in such a creative way."

"What you won't read in my bio is that I'm pretty much a serial student," said Chism, who is from Southwest Missouri. "An actor is never fully cooked, if you will." Her past Hilberry Theatre credits have included Romeo & Juliet, The Great Gatsby, and Love's Labour's Lost. She prepared many ways for the role, but one of the interesting ways was to dive into mental illness into her own family, which she really did not know existed until this show. "I have some very eccentric and artistic family members as well as a few that live with mental illness, but I had no idea how close I am to this show. I have a feeling that most people would find the same if they looked closely enough," said Chism. Like Thompson, she loves the character of Diana and finds her fascinating because she is mother and wife that wants to be good at both those things, but has struggles. "She is incredibly strong and honest. She loves with her whole self despite the loss she has suffered and illness she battles, she is a woman who finds that there is hope in simply living. Though we each battle with our own ghosts, just to be wildly and passionately alive, just to feel (even when the feeling hurts) can be enough to keep you going. I love her outlook," she said. The role is a challenge for Chism, but she feels lucky to be given the chance to perform a role with such an important subject matter. "If I can, even once, get through this show without crying through the majority of it, I'm going to be a lucky lady. The challenge is not being able to connect with the emotional moments, but being able to hold that connection and sing at the same time without choking on my own tears," she said. "The subject matter of this show is no joke, but it's perfectly beautiful."

"Next to Normal is not your run of the mill musical and there really isn't anything out there like it. We have to learn how to live with the realities of mental illness and loss, and to navigate our way through the everyday struggles of family life. This show does that without scrimping on the love and humor that we all want to see on stage and at home," said Chism. "Next to Normal sheds light on a topic that many people avoid discussing and reminds them that there is reason to hope even during the darkest moments - there is always a reason to hope," said Thompson. "And that is worth coming to see."

Next to Normal runs from January 27th to February 12th at the Hilberry Theatre in Detroit. For more information and tickets, visit www.wsushows.com.