Cast & Crew

Cast

Diana - Nicole Galyean
Gabe - Kameron Bustetter
Dan - Rich Garrett
Natalie - Amanda Copeland
Henry - Austin Bennett
Dr. Fine/Madden - Bruce Haasl

Crew

Director: Matthew Michael
Music Director: Brynn Walker
Stage Manager: Kris Garrett
Properties/Scenic Dressing: Matthew Michael, Kris Garrett
Set Designer: Bruce Haasl
Light Designer: Danielle Kays
Set Construction: Rich Garrett, Mark Pendleton, Candi Faupell
Set Painting: Kris Garrett
Sound Mixer: Brenda Crummett
Light Board Operator: Nathan Crummett

Musical Numbers

ACT ONE

Prelude.................................................................................................................................................Orchestra

Just Another Day..........................................................……..................................Diana, Natalie, Gabe, Dan

Everything Else.........................................................................…............................................................Natalie

Who’s Crazy / My Psychopharmacologist and I...............……….......................Dan, Doctor Fine, Diana

Perfect for You..........................................................................…...............................................Henry, Natalie

I Miss the Mountains............................................................…..................................................................Diana

It’s Gonna Be Good.....................................................……..................................Dan, Natalie, Henry, Diana

He’s Not Here............................................................…....…..........................................................................Dan

You Don’t Know................................................................….......................................................................Diana

I Am the One...................................................................…….................................................Dan, Gabe, Diana

Superboy and the Invisible Girl......................................……......................................Natalie, Diana, Gabe

I’m Alive........................................................................................................................................................Gabe

Make Up Your Mind / Catch Me I’m Falling....……….…....Madden, Diana, Dan, Natalie, Gabe, Henry

Dreamed a Dance........................................................…..............................................................Diana, Gabe

There’s a World..........................................................................................................................................Gabe

I’ve Been........................................................................................................................................................Dan

Didn’t I See This Movie?...............................................…........................................................................Diana

A Light in the Dark...........................................................….............................................................Dan, Diana

ACT TWO

Wish I Were Here.......................................................................................……...........................Diana, Natalie

Song of Forgetting...............................................................…….......................................Dan, Diana, Natalie

Hey #1........................................................................................…................................................Henry, Natalie

Seconds and Years.........................................……...........................................Doctor Madden, Dan, Diana

Better Than Before....................................…….................................Doctor Madden, Dan, Natalie, Diana

Aftershocks.....................................................….........................................................................................Gabe

Hey #2.........................................................................................................................................Henry, Natalie

You Don’t Know (Reprise).........................…….........................................................Diana, Doctor Madden

How Could I Ever Forget?.........................…................................................................................Diana, Dan

It’s Gonna Be Good (Reprise)....................…...............................................................................Dan, Diana

Why Stay? / A Promise..............................……..................................................Diana, Natalie, Dan, Henry

I’m Alive (Reprise).....................................................................................................................................Gabe

The Break....................................................................................................................................................Diana

Make Up Your Mind / Catch Me I’m Falling (Reprise).…………….............Doctor Madden, Diana, Gabe

Maybe (Next to Normal).................................................…….....................................................Diana, Natalie

Hey #3 / Perfect for You (Reprise).............................……......................................................Henry, Natalie

So Anyway..................................................................................................................................................Diana

I Am the One (Reprise).............................................…….................................................................Dan, Gabe

Light..........................................................……….........Diana, Dan, Natalie, Gabe, Henry, Doctor Madden

Meet the Director

Matthew Michael, Director 

Matthew is excited to be back directing at the EP! Having had the opportunity to direct Steel Magnolias, this marks his second time having the privilege to direct here. EP audiences may remember him from his time spent on stage in Don’t Dress for Dinner, Scrooge, the Musical, The Secret Garden, The Importance of Being Earnest, Rebel Without a Cause, Children of Eden, and And Then There Were None. Some of his favorite roles have been Cogsworth in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Wolf/Rapunzel’s Prince in Into the Woods, Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest, and Jacob Marley in Scrooge, The Musical. Some of his favorite shows he has been in are A Chorus Line, Threepenny Opera, Sweeney Todd, Les Miserables, and RENT! He looks forward to more opportunities, in the future, to direct! “It’s during our darkest hours that we must focus to see the light.” Enjoy the show! 

A Note From the Director:

Nominated for 11 Tony’s and winning for Best Original Score, Best Orchestration, Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, Next to Normal is a masterpiece of Musical Theatre. Not only did it receive many more nominations and wins, but it is the 8th musical in history to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. This show expanded the scope of subject matters in musicals. Next to Normal began its journey here, at the Village Theatre in Issaquah, where they workshopped the musical on numerous occasions. After many previews it eventually made its way to Broadway and was the highest grossing show the Booth Theatre ever had. 

Two years ago I was asked to direct Next to Normal at the Evergreen Playhouse. I was ecstatic and knew exactly what I wanted to do with the show, however, I didn’t know what was coming next. Two years ago we opened the show and immediately had to close, after one weekend, due to the pandemic. Two years later, with the same cast and crew in tow, we finally have an opportunity to produce the show in its entirety for you!

Next to Normal is a show that deals with many issues but the main issue is one we often feel uncomfortable having a conversation about, mental health. This show opens that door and gives us a look inside the lives of a “typical” suburban family that is learning how to navigate life with a mother who is struggling with mental illness. It’s about learning how to cope with grief, learning how to love, learning how to find one’s self, learning how to let go, and learning how to move on and just be okay. 

With this being a contemporary piece I decided to go as minimal as possible with the set to create an almost sterile, static environment. I wanted it simple with pops of color and stationary units. Props to be stored on stage to serve as almost a set dressing and to add that element of life to the house. Lighting to help differentiate between locations and moods. Costumes to give individuality to each character and a color story. A strong cast to bring each character, relationship, struggle, and emotion to life. All of this is essential to the show, while preserving the message and meaning, and I am beyond grateful for my Cast and Team who helped bring my vision to life, for a second time. I couldn’t have done this without all of them. 

Thank you for coming out to see this beautiful piece of musical theatre. You won't be disappointed. Please enjoy Next to Normal!

Special Thanks

Michelle Koenen

Cast Biographies

Austin Bennett, Henry

Austin is an Olympia-based actor, originally from Las Vegas. His recent work includes Go Dog, Go! at Olympia Family Theatre, The Winter's Tale with Animal Fire Theatre, The Art of Racing in the Rain at Harlequin Productions, and Seven Cars at Boston Harbor Marina by Bryan Willis. Some of his favorite roles include Tommy/Zacharia in The Kentucky Cycle and Walter in Hair at Bainbridge Performing Arts. This is his first production with the Evergreen Playhouse. Next to Normal has been one of Austin's favorite shows since it was on Broadway, and he has been dying to do it for years.

Kameron Bustetter, Gabe

Kameron has been involved in theatre productions since the age of 7. This is his first production with the Evergreen Playhouse. Some of his favorite past roles include Bert in Mary Poppins, Danny Zuko in Grease, Lucas Beinike in The Addams Family, the Lion in the Wizard of Oz, Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie, and Jack in Into the Woods. Outside of Performing, Kameron makes coffee and sorts mail. He would like to thank his family and his girlfriend for always supporting him and lifting him up! 

Amanda Copeland, Natalie

Amanda is ecstatic to be playing her dream role in Next to Normal, her first show at EP! Some favorite roles include Liesl in The Sound of Music, Penny in Hairspray, and Minnie Fay in Hello, Dolly!. She is a special education teacher in Olympia and hopes to one day teach at a children's hospital. Look for her later this season in Mamma Mia!

Nicole Galyean, Diana

Nicole is beyond thrilled to welcome audiences back to the Evergreen Playhouse for their second chance to experience this amazing show. You might recognize her over the seasons when she brought the following iconic roles to life; Miss Adelaide in Guys & Dolls, Truvy in Steel Magnolias, Ruth Condomine in Blithe Spirit, Charlotte Hays in Moon over Buffalo, and Doris in Same Time, Next Year.  Nicole sends special thanks to the individuals over the years who have served as mentors, saw her potential, pushed her to new limits and simply gave her a chance/space to become the actress you see today. She can't wait to see what the future holds. 

Rich Garrett, Dan

Rich is thrilled to be reprising the role of Dan in Next to Normal. This has been a long term goal for Rich ever since the original production was closed in 2020 due to the pandemic. He counts this show as probably the hardest music he’s ever had to learn aside from Sweeny Todd. That being said, he is ecstatic to have taken on the challenge along with his unbelievably talented cast mates and is truly proud of the show that you are seeing tonight. No stranger to the EP stage, Rich most recently played Dirk Devious in Shootout at Sadie’s Saloon on the outdoor stage at the EP. Patrons have seen Rich in past EP seasons as Scrooge in Scrooge, the Musical, Archibald in The Secret Garden, as well as Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire.  Rich has been seen in other regional productions as Father in Children of Eden, Che in Evita, Edward Rochester in Jane Eyre, The Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors, and George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. Rich will be directing the next show in the EP’s season, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. When not on stage, Rich is a US History and Yearbook teacher at Chinook Middle School and helps to run TOAD along with his best friend and wife, Kris. While gardening and cooking are both passions for Rich, he is most happy when spending time with Kris and his family, most notably his three grandchildren: McKayla, Otto and Logan.

Bruce Haasl, Dr. Fine/Madden

Bruce is thrilled to be returning for round two of this phenomenal show. He has performed with Harlequin Productions, Capital Playhouse Tacoma Musical Playhouse and the Black Hills Playhouse of South Dakota among many others. Favorite roles include Roger in RENT!, Claude in Hair, Jaime in The Last Five Years and both Jesus and Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar. Bruce also works behind the curtain. He has designed and built sets for more than 300 productions.

Crew Biographies

Brynn Walker, Music Director

Brynn is excited to be returning as a Music Director for the Evergreen Playhouse. She discovered her love for the arts at an early age from performing to directing where she found a home in the Pacific Northwest theater community. Since moving here she has directed and musically directed with nine different companies, public schools and home schooled children. Alongside her passion of working with youth, she also has studied jazz, musical theatre, and opera over the past 17 years. Brynn has been a private voice teacher since 2009 and is continuing to grow her private studio. She is currently accepting new students! Brynn is fortunate to have the support of her family and is thankful to live in a community that strives to keep the arts alive. A huge thank you to our director Matthew, stage manager Kris, and the entire cast for putting together this beautiful piece to share with our town.

Kris Garrett, Stage Manager

Kris is happy to be back to work backstage at the Evergreen Playhouse. While her work with TOAD has kept her busy in a variety of unique theatrical ways, being back on headset to call a show at the EP is one of her favorite things to do and she feels very lucky to bring this show back to life. She recently directed Usher: a totally teen comedy at Centralia High School as part of TOAD’s After School Theatre Outreach Program. Currently she has brought back to life a glee club directed by TOAD’s music director and daughter, Brynn Walker. Kris is thrilled to have the opportunity to create more programs for teens in the community. Up next she will be stage managing One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.  

Bruce Haasl, Set Designer

Bruce is happy to be a part of his second production at The Evergreen Playhouse (the first being Steel Magnolias in 2019). He has designed, built and painted sets for more than 300 productions, locally and around the country. His work has been seen at Harlequin Productions, Capital Playhouse, Tacoma Musical Playhouse, Broadway Center (Tacoma), Centerstage (Federal Way), Virginia Stage Company (Norfolk, VA) and The Black Hills Playhouse (South Dakota) among others. He also spends some time in front of the curtain as well, and has performed in a number of shows in local theaters. “A good theater set is literally and figuratively a playground.”

Danielle Kays, Light Designer

Danielle has designed lights since 2015 (over 30 productions). Her design work has also been seen in other local productions at Centralia College (1984, Antigone, You Can’t Take it With You, Fun Home), TOAD (Mulan, Jr., Once Upon A Mattress, Same Time Next Year) and with Tenino Young-at-Heart (Just So). Some favorites include The Secret Garden, Godspell, Children of Eden, The Diary of Anne Frank, A Christmas Carol, A Few Good Men, and Grease. 

Nathan Crummett, Light Board Operator

Nathan attends Adna High School and Centralia College. He enjoys spending time with friends, acting, singing, working out, and playing video games. Favorite roles include The Beast/Prince in Beauty and the Beast Jr. (TOAD), Scar in The Lion King Jr. (TOAD), and Dr. Watson in The Hound of the Baskervilles (Evergreen Playhouse), and he also enjoyed playing a variety of roles in Scrooge the Musical (Evergreen Playhouse). Nathan enjoys learning all aspects of theatre whether onstage or behind the scenes and is pleased to be a part of the tech crew for this production.

Brenda Crummett, Sound Mixer

Brenda enjoys all things pertaining to theater.  Brenda was last seen on the Evergreen Playhouse stage as M’Lynn Eatenton in Steel Magnolias.  She has run the light and sound board for several productions and is the current Vice President of The Evergreen Playhouse.

Sponsors for Our 2021-2022 Season

Note From the Board

Welcome back to the Evergreen Playhouse. My goodness, how we’ve missed you. It has been over a year and half since we have been together and we are so grateful to bring theatre back to the Evergreen Playhouse stage.

We took this gift of time to renovate and rejuvenate our beautiful theatre and we took time to raise money to help offset the loss of income during those difficult 20 months. As you sit here in the theatre, you will notice the new paint, the new carpet, the new seats but most of all you will notice how good it feels to be here celebrating the stories of our 62nd season.

Live theatre is important, it is immediate, and it is necessary. Our stories this year will feature actors putting themselves out there for you to love or hate, they will bare their souls to you, share the vulnerability of these characters, and they will bring laughter, joy and a little bit of intrigue to you as well.

When you, the audience, reacts, applauds, gasps, or is held in silence, that is what live theatre is - that moment where the people onstage connect with the people in the seats and there is no better feeling when that connection is made. Thank you all for joining us in person again - it is so good to be back.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the show -

Kris Garrett, Board President

To contact the board, please email us. Board meetings are open to the public and are every second Sunday of the month at 6:30pm.

Next to Normal Show Sponsor

Our other Show Sponsors for Season 62:

 
 

Cast Photos (in alphabetical order)

Crew Photos (in alphabetical order)