After more than 4,000 performances in Broadway’s “Mamma Mia,” Judy McLane is taking on what she calls “one of the most exciting roles for a woman in musical theater” as Diana in “Next to Normal” at Syracuse Stage.

The show’s creative team held auditions in New York City several months ago. Robert Hupp, artistic director at the Stage, said McLane’s audition displayed the seriousness needed for the leading role.

“This is an incredibly technically difficult role, and Judy has not just the technique to execute this role night after night, but also the humanity to bring a multidimensional character like Diana to life,” said Hupp.

“Next to Normal” is a Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning musical drama about a mother’s struggle with bipolar disorder and the effect that the illness has on her family.

To Hupp, the show is not a “typical musical” because of the serious subject matter it discusses. The script tackles issues like mental illness, electroconvulsive therapy, suicide and modern psychiatry.

In preparation for the show, Hupp began researching bipolar disorder by reading “An Unquiet Mind” by Kay Redfield Jamison. The actors learned about the complexities of bipolar disorder in the rehearsal room, where they spoke with a woman who has experienced electroconvulsive therapy.

“Through her generosity and openness, we were able to learn firsthand what those kind of treatments were like and what the patient experiences,” Hupp said. “(The discussion) was really beneficial to our actors who are called upon to live that experience on stage.”

Glenn Seven Allen, who plays Diana’s husband Dan, found the opportunity to speak with an electroconvulsive therapy patient particularly helpful for his role as a caretaker in the play.

“I found (the discussion) very useful because there are many times in the play where Diana is actually communicating in reality, and my character just can’t hear it,” Allen said.

The issues discussed in “Next to Normal” resonate with Allen, who has had personal experience with depression. He draws from his past to portray Dan.

To prepare for the role of Diana, McLane thoroughly researched bipolar disorder. She said this role is challenging because the illness “manifests in different ways for everyone.”

McLane and Allen aim to discover “key moments” between their characters to show the love and tenderness of Diana and Dan’s relationship, which is not easily seen throughout the story, McLane said.

“She’s not always present for him, she’s often in her own world experiencing what she’s experiencing,” McLane said. “So we have to find those moments we can connect to make the audience root for us.”

With music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, the songs in the show embody the intense emotion of the story through rock stylings.

“I Miss the Mountains,” performed by McLane, captures the effect of medication on Diana’s life.

“Diana is a dynamic person, and she’s a feeling person,” McLane said. “So for her to be put on medications is not the answer, and at that moment she discovers that.”

Syracuse Stage is hosting supplementary events related to the musical’s theme, including a discussion panel with community professionals on Jan. 28 and a discussion with a Le Moyne College professor on Jan. 31. These events aim to help audience members further understand the issues portrayed in “Next to Normal.”

“We are really shedding a light on something that probably most families suffer from at some level,” said Allen. “It feels important, and I’m proud to be part of it.”

The show runs from Jan. 24 through Feb. 11. Tickets can be purchased online or at the Syracuse Stage box office at 820 E Genesee St.

Published on January 23, 2018 at 12:05 am

Contact Haley: hrober03@syr.edu