J. Robert Spencer: “NEXT TO NORMAL is a perfect piece”

NEXT TO NORMAL opened on Broadway on April 15th. This new musical that features music by Tom Kitt with a book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey. The show made its premiere last season at Off-Broadway´s Second Stage, and now has arrived at the Booth Theatre directly from the Arena Stage in Washington D.C., where it was staged last fall achieving a huge success.

With direction by Michael Grief (RENT), and with a cast of only six actors, NEXT TO NORMAL has earned 11 Tony nominations, being the second show with the highest number of nominations, only surpassed by BILLY ELLIOT.

J. Robert Spencer is one of the nominees for his performance of Dan in this musical that explores how a suburban family copes with the crisis. Spencer has also been  in Broadway in SIDE SHOW and JERSEY BOYS. He leads the cast of NEXT TO NORMAL along with Alice Ripley and Aaron Tveit. Jennifer Damiano, Adam Chanler-Berat and Louis Hobson are also on the cast.

J. Robert Spencer shows us his passion for his work in NEXT TO NORMAL, and tells us about the creation of this musical from its beginning to its current success on Broadway.


NEXT TO NORMAL´ HAS ACHIEVED 11 TONY AWARDS NOMINATIONS. YOU ARE NOMINATED FOR YOUR ROLE OF DAN IN THE MUSICAL. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU THESE 11 NOMINATIONS, AND BEING NOMINATED FOR THE BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL?
It means everything to me. I have worked non stop in professional theatre for over 30 years, so, this is a moment of true testament for me and my hard work. I´m a true believer on having complete faith in
what you do and never giving up. The harder you work, the greater your reward!

`NEXT TO NORMAL´ WAS FIRST STAGED AT THE SECOND STAGE THEATRE IN 2008. PRIOR TO ITS OPENING ON BROADWAY, THE SHOW PREMIERED AT THE ARENA STAGE IN WASHINGTON D.C. HOW HAS EVOLVED THE PRODUCTION THROUGH ALL THIS TIME? WHAT ARE THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE MUSICAL BEFORE IT OPENED AT THE BOOTH THEATRE?
The show went through a great transition from Second Stage. Our director, Michael Grief, and our producer, David Stone, knew that we needed one more final "tweek". Although I was not involved with the Second Stage production, I was part of the Workshop. I also knew that the piece was special and had a good shot at stardom, so, when I heard they were going to The Arena Stage in D.C., instinctually I knew it would work and it would come to broadway. The show has remained the way it was on stage at The Arena, only minor dialogue changes, but, lyrically and musically, the same. It´s a perfect piece.

`NEXT TO NORMAL´ EXPLORES HOW ONE SUBURBAN HOUSEHOLD COPES WITH THE CRISIS. IN THE CURRENT ECONOMICAL CLIMATE, DO YOU THINK THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH THE STORY?
Every night at the Stage Door, there is always several people who have something or someone or some moment in N2N that they can identify with. But I think that the thing that people relate to with the most
is the Family element. Everyone has a family, whether it´s good, bad, or ugly, and everyone can relate to either my character, or Alice´s, or Adam´s, or Jennifer´s. It´s pretty amazing how similar human emotions are regardless of our upbringing. Family is Family.

WHEN YOU HAD THE CHANCE OF BEING INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT, WHAT ATTRACTED YOU MOST OF THE STORY THAT TELLS NEXT TO NORMAL?
As far as the attraction of the story, it was the music. I´m a musician at heart, so, the moment I heard those melodies, I was crying. I knew this was unlike anything I had ever heard, and I knew it would be unlike anything anyone had ever seen.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE SCORE WRITTEN BY TOM KITT AND BRIAN YORKEY?
Tom and Brian are the Sondheim/Stephen Schwartz of our generation. It´s heartbreakingly beautiful and original. More importantly it´s Honest!!
They work so well together and they have no ego, so, nothing gets in the way of their creative work. They have accomplished the show of the century. nothing like this has happened to bway in decades.

COULD YOU COMMENT US ABOUT YOUR ROLE OF DAN IN `NEXT TO NORMAL´? WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST INTERESTING ABOUT THIS CHARACTER?
Dan is an amazingly complex character. So challenging to play 8 times a week. I love his inner strength and his hidden demons. He, like most men, think that they are gonna solve problems with the touch of a button. In keeping certain truths hidden from his wife, he has created a huge gap between that has grown through the years. This is the huge reason of his and his families downfall. Yet, it accepts
this by the end, and in opening up this truth, it shows him the first true glimmer of hope. I love it. 

J. Robert Spencer and Alice Ripley in NEXT TO NORMAL

IT’S UNUSUAL IN A BROADWAY MUSICAL FINDING A CAST WITH ONLY SIX PERFORMERS. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST OF WORKING IN A SMALL PRODUCTION? IS IT VERY DIFFERENT FROM WORKING IN THE BIG ONES?
I love that we have a small cast. I´ve worked on a lot of shows. A cast of over 30 people, to a cast of 20, to N2N. When you have too big a cast, there´s more ego´s to deal with, more of a hassle.
It´s a more intimate creation working with 5 other actors, and luckily, everyone is a wonderful friend. We click like no other company I´ve every worked with before. It´s a blessing, nothing left to say. I wish every show could work the way this one does.

HOW HAS IT BEEN WORKING WITH MICHAEL GREIF?
MICHAEL GRIEF IS THE MAN! I´ve become a stronger artist because of  Michael. He has no ego, and is all about the art. He´s a wonderful collaborator and friend. The thing about Michael is he LOVES ACTOR´S. He respects what we do, and he knows how to give us space to pursue our character, and he knows how and when to interject his philosophy and craft. He´s brilliant!

`NEXT TO NORMAL´ IS A VERY TOUCHING SHOW. DO YOU THINK THAT BROADWAY IS READY FOR A ROCK MUSICAL ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS?
Of course they´re ready for a rock musical about mental illness! They are flocking by the droves because of the story, the performances, the music, the ART!!! THIS IS ART! and audiences are soooo thirsty for this type of ART!!

WHAT DO PEOPLE THAT HAVE SEEN `NEX TO TO NORMAL´ TELL YOU AT THE END OF THE SHOW? HOW DO THEY USE TO FEEL AFTER WATCHING IT?
When we meet with members of the audience after the show, it´s always inspiring.  Most of them are still in tears from the experience the show has delivered to their soul.  Most comments are, "I´ve never seen  
anything like this.", "This is the most amazing thing I´ve ever seen.", "You were unbelievable!!!"  It´s a treasure to hear this and experience these words, and it´s a gift to give this to audiences 8 times a week.

YOUR FIRST BROADWAY SHOW WAS `SIDE SHOW´. WHAT DID IT MEANT TO YOU TO MAKE YOUR BROADWAY DEBUT WITH THIS MUSICAL?
Side Show changed me spiritually, artistically, mentally, personally. It was such an amazing moment in time to learn and watch from some of the greats!!! And I met my wife of 8 years, jenny lynn suckling in
this show....so....it was pretty important to me.

YOU ORIGINATED THE ROLE OF NICK MASSI IN `JERSEY BOYS´. DID THE SUCCESS OF THIS MUSICAL HELPED IN YOUR CAREER IN ANY WAY? IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE REASON OF THE HUGE SUCCESS OF JERSEY BOYS, FIRST IN NEW YORK AND NOW ALSO IN LONDON?
jersey boys helped introduce me to ny audiences and critics. It put the key in the door that´s for sure. But now N2N has kicked opened the door. What´s so great is that people that know me from my role in
jersey boys are so blown away by my singing voice in N2N. That´s wonderful to hear because I knew all I needed was the right role to showcase my voice, and now I do. What a thrill.
I think the success of jersey boys is that the show is perfect, and it never stops moving. It is very fluid, honest, and powerful!

YOU WRITE AND PLAY YOUR OWN SONGS. WHAT MUSIC STYLES DO YOU LIKE THE MOST? WILL YOU RELEASE A SOLO ALBUM IN THE FUTURE? WHAT AUTHORS INFLUENCE YOUR WORK OR YOUR STYLE AS A COMPOSER?
Well, my music is on the back burner.  I love playing guitar and  singing, but, so much is going on that there´s no time.  I grew up listening and loving the rock group RUSH!  They were a huge influence  on me.  I´m the artist I am today because of that group.  I´m very certain about that.  But I listen to everything.  From country, to jazz, to grunge, to classic, to rock...I think as an artist you have to, otherwise your heart and head won´t grow.  It´ll stay put...and who wants to stay put.  We need to continue to experience all types of art and music to keep our everything alive.
Maybe later on down the line I´ll get back in a recording studio, but right now it´s important to keep the focus in one place and on one thing!  That being said, I still love a cold Guinness and strumming my guitar late at night.

Louis Hobson, Alice Ripley and J. Robert Spencer in NEXT TO NORMAL