Saying Goodbye to N2N: Your Favorite Memories

[HummingAlong]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 12:18am

Next to Normal has mere weeks left on Broadway. Let's remember the good times...post your favorite N2N memories here:

I'll start.

During AR/BDJ/JD's last performance, Adam got all choked up singing Hey #3. It took about a minute for the song to go on at one point, and it was one of the most beautiful onstage moments I've witnessed. So touching...

What about you?

[steven22]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 12:26am

I cannot believe it is really ending. I've seen the show 8 times (the final performance will be my 9th). This show has made the biggest impact on my out of the dozens of broadway shows that I have seen.
My favorite memory is from the 2nd time that I saw the show. My best friend and I woke up at 5 45 to be in front of the theater by 7 (this was in June 2009 when they still had student rush). We got front row dead center orchestra tickets for that night's performance. During "Better Than Before" (I think?), Alice dropped the "wedding rings." At the stagedoor after the performance, she told me and my friend how she saw our faces when they fell in front of us and that we should have kept them. Very nice actress, and so so so appeciative of her fans.
I've had many other great times at n2n and will miss it a lot.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 12:30am

I'll never forget when Alice Ripley called me a fag and everyone supported her in that because she's eccentric.

Good times.

[HummingAlong]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 12:31am

Haha the only thing I ever get to keep from the show is the Playbill (that, and some music box shrapnel that was sold this year for BC/EFA!) If only you would have known that grabbing those rings would be Alice-Ripley-endorsed!

[dragonlp86]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 12:32am

I've seen the show four times, and will be seeing it on closing night as well. I think my all-time favourite memory would be the time I got to see it when Brian d'Arcy James took the role of Dan. Brian's performance as Dan at Second Stage is really part of what made me fall in love with the show. So being able to see him the way I did (I decided that I was just going to go, so I did. To this day, I'm still surprised that I pulled things together as quickly as I did and actually made it happy; I'm notorious for backing out of things because I'm 'scared' or whatever) really brought the show full circle for me.

Of course, the first time seeing the show is always special. I got Jessica Phillips and Michael Berry both on for the leads my first time. And really, I wouldn't have traded that night for a full OBC. They were phenomenal and really brought the intensity.

[steven22]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 12:34am

Although I love Alice and Marin as Diana, I'm still upset that I never got the chance to see Jessica Phillips as Diana.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 12:34am

A few favorite performances, in no particular order...

The first Broadway preview. I never saw the show in DC, so prior to Broadway, the last time I'd seen the show was the last performance at 2nd Stage. Seeing it again, with its potential finally fully realized was incredible. As enjoyable as the show was at 2nd Stage, it was clearly a work in progress with stuff that needed fixing. It was great to see it finally come together.

Opening night on Broadway. The energy in the theater was electric.

Seeing "standby power". This was some time in the winter of 2010, when I got to see Jessica and Michael perform together. I only saw them together once, but it was fabulous.

Brian D'Arcy James' first performance. The ultimate Dan, and that night he was paired with Jessica Phillips. They were a great time.

Alice/Brian/Jen's final performances. What a night. So much energy.

[HummingAlong]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 12:35am

Steven - Jessica was SO good. I, too, wish you could have seen her!
Updated On: 12/24/10 at 12:35 AM

[dragonlp86]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 12:36am

steven22 - We lucked out with that. The friends I went with were hoping to get her (since they had both seen Alice already), and we did. She was absolutely phenomenal. And for me, instead of comparing Jessica to Alice, I was comparing Alice to Jessica, if that makes sense!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 12:42am

I'll always prefer Alice, but in many ways, Jessica was the perfect Diana.

(and remember how I felt about her after her less than stellar "debut")

[dragonlp86]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 12:44am

"I'll always prefer Alice, but in many ways, Jessica was the perfect Diana."

This.

Though, honestly, replace Alice with Marin and you've got my feelings. LOL

[steven22]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 12:44am

Last spring (maybe?) there was a long weekend where Alice was having vocal issues, and I had tickets for Sunday night and Jessica WAS scheduled to go on. I get to the theater and see no u/s name on the board. Later after the show, I heard that Alice is off vocal rest. Alice sounded great, but after seeing her 4 times, I was dying to see a different interpretation of Diana, especially Jessica Phillips, since everybody raved about her (minus her post tony performance).

[dragonlp86]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 12:47am

Oh, bummer! See, now I'm kind of sad you never got to see her. I do know she got flack for her first performance after the Tony's, but she was absolutely perfect when I saw her. She has such a beautiful voice that just works so well for the score.

[ILuv2shop531]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 2:12am

I've seen the4 show 4 times and I'm so glad to have done so. I'll always remmeber Aaron's final. As soon as the prelude started the energy was crazy. Aaron's harmonies in light were beautiful as was his and bobby's I am the one (reprise). Last OBC perf and everyone was at their best.

[singtopher]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 3:48am

For me, it was the first time I saw it. I had comps through my work for the second or third preview. I took my friend and both of us knew nothing about the show besides a dysfunctional family. Both of us were completely breathless by the end of the show and spent the subway ride home reeling that a show like this was on Broadway. I've since seen it three more times, once with the OBC again, once with Jessica, and once with the new cast. Every performance brought out nuances of the story that are new to me.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 5:25am

4/4/09. My first time seeing it. I had no idea it would change my life.

9/11/10. My first time seeing the full current cast. I was finally able to fully appreciate the show.

11/13/10. I saw both shows that day and it was the culmination of my N2N experiences. I finally got it. Everything fell into place. I can't put it into words except to say that it was perfect.

Updated On: 12/24/10 at 05:25 AM

[wishiwerehere2]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 5:48am

Having the best understudy luck imaginable. Seen the show 4 times.

September 14th 2009 - Jessica as Diana
February 1st 2010 - Tim as Henry
October 16th 2010 - Adam Kantor as Henry and Brian as Gabe
October 17th 2010 - Brian as Henry and Mackenzie as Natalie

Couldn't ask for more.

[wickedfan11]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 6:51am

Alice filming everyone chanting her name at the stage door the night before her last show

[nexttotheheights]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 7:39am

I've seen the show 4 times, twice with the OBC and twice with the current cast.

I think my favorite moment was the third time I saw it and Kyle sang the new last note of I'm Alive. I was so surprised, but pleasantly surprised.

Also, when they won the Pulitzer because they weren't nominated and I was always thinking that it was the perfect show to win it. Then, when they did I literally screamed, I couldn't stop smiling.

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 9:12am

I think my favorite moment was when Alice stepped onstage with her suitcase the first time I saw the show. I began to sob and heard others around me doing the same and I felt like a part of something so much bigger than myself.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 9:30am

Being reduced to a sobbing wreck at the very end during Light.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 9:57am

I only got a chance to see it once during the run so far (the Saturday after the Tonys, OBC minus Aaron) and I was completely blown away. I had finally found the best original musical I had seen on Broadway, the show I would rave to everyone about, to talk about the amazing work I'd seen, and to always have wonderful memories about. Few shows I'd seen before in my entire life and certainly none since have had such an impact emotionally on my life. It's truly such a beautiful show. I cannot wait to be in the audience for what I'm sure will be an intense and incredible final performance.

Updated On: 12/24/10 at 09:57 AM

[dragonlp86]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 10:05am

"Few shows I'd seen before in my entire life and certainly none since have had such an impact emotionally on my life."

Same here. I couldn't explain to anyone who hasn't seen it or isn't familiar with it, but the show just touches a chord with me. I get made fun of at work for it (from non-theatre people, mind you) but the show really does mean so much to me. It's the first show that, upon the first viewing, just clicked and became 'my' show.

[wendilin622]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 11:18am

Having little-no idea of the story the first time that I saw it and going in and being so completely taken in by the story. It was one of the most amazing theatre experiences I've ever had. I'm not a crier.... and I was a blubbering mess throughout the entire show. It was just amazing being so taken in by the story.

I'm sad its closing and I won't be able to bring others to experience the show.

[purtynpynk]

Posted: 12/24/10 at 11:49am

because i've only been to New York once, i've only seen N2N once. Basically, we woke up in our hostel that morning and one of my friends said he had had a dream that night that two of the four of us had our names called at the lottery, but Alice was going to be out of the show. That was exactly what happened that night. I sat in the front row, first two seats, and I was just mesmerized by the show. I do remember crying a little bit during the extremely emotional part of the show, which was weird since i'd never cried during live theater before.

We were so glad we got to see Jessica Phillips though. All four of us though she was amazing and swore that we were a bit happier that we saw her over Alice. Luckily for us Alice is on the tour so we'll all get our chance to see her then! I was just amazed with the show and it instantly because my new favorite musical after seeing it.