The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts will host the premiere of the student-run musical production Next to Normal, on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Additional performances will take place Friday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m.
Next to Normal tells the powerful, emotional story of a suburban family traversing the challenges of mental illness and its impact on the entire family system. The dramatic story prompts the audience to immerse themselves in the family’s complex realities, exploring the uniqueness of each character’s perspective and how they collectively experience love, loss, and light.
This independent project is entirely produced and directed by Fairfield University students as part of their internship experience with Theatre Fairfield. Students have led all aspects of the production, including professional proposal writing, budgeting, technology, costumes, and casting, consulting with faculty as needed. Through this experiential learning, students have gained hands-on experience that extends their classroom instruction.
Working on the production of Next to Normal has allowed 16 students with different majors and class years to engage in peer mentorship, share insights, navigate uncertainty, and build their skill sets together. This experience is an opportunity for students to gain a deeper understanding of the intricacies of these professional roles and the various aspects that go into such a production, helping them prepare for future careers.
“What is really great about Theatre Fairfield is that since we're so tight-knit, it's really easy to learn how to do multiple things,” said technical intern Kylee Faulkner '26. “And so, I think this is a pretty accurate portrayal of what it would be like if I were to go on to work at a small theatre company.”
The students involved were drawn to this particular production because of its impactful underlying message. They appreciate how the play unpacks complex issues that are often stigmatized, such as grief, family relationships, mental health, and ethics in psychiatry. “I think theater makes difficult stories easier to tell and easier to take in,” said marketing intern Nora Jacobi '25.
