Youth theater program embraces challenges of ‘Next to Normal’
Published 1:30 am Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Vashon Repertory Theatre’s new youth theater program will soon bow with its debut production, the award-winning but sometimes searing musical “Next to Normal,” in eight performances running Aug. 7-10 and Aug. 14-17 at Vashon-Maury Grange Hall, at 10365 SW Cowan Rd.
The show, helmed by Vashon Rep’s education director, Meg Thompson, has been in the works for months, and its selection was overseen by Vashon Teen Visionary Ensemble, a youth-led group that came under the umbrella of Vashon Rep earlier this year.
“A key part of this vision is local youth having a voice,” said Thompson, who helped form the ensemble after she worked as a mentor for the vocal ensemble of the musical “Ride The Cyclone,” presented last spring at Vashon High School.
The program prioritizes youth development over the often stressful environment of high-pressure theater productions, with all actors who audition being cast in shows and paying no program fees.
Current members of the Teen Visionary Ensemble are Cal Brown, Moss D’Artell, Ruby Johnson, Lidia Bojko, Maarten Ribalet-Coesel and Janus Corriston.
For their initial summer outing, these teens and their peers at McMurray Middle School and VHS chose “Next to Normal,” which explores how one suburban household copes with crisis and mental illness.
With book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt, the show won three Tony awards in 2009, a 2010 Pulitzer for Best Musical Score, and received critical acclaim from the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, New York Times and Rolling Stone magazine.
Auditions for the Vashon production were held in June — and enough talented young theater-makers showed up to justify double-casting some key roles.
The show, said Thompson, was specifically chosen for its themes of mental health disorders, generational trauma, and the impacts of unresolved grief. Because of these complex themes, the show is not recommended for audiences under the age of 13.
Thompson believes audience members will find the show as timely, deep and powerful as the teens who selected it.
“Despite tiptoeing into fantasy within the delusions playing out, the show is grounded in reality and ultimately focused on a suburban Pacific Northwest family facing issues that audience members might find relatable,” she said. “Our cast is bringing the show to life with staging that will be an immersive experience for our audience.”
In addition to Vashon Rep, the production is being supported by ORBIT, a youth program at Open Space for Arts & Community, and Vashon Youth & Family Services, which is providing free mental health counseling to the teen actors during the rehearsal and performance period.
A total of eight performances of the show will be offered, with opening receptions for the two separate casts at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 7 and 8. The receptions will include desserts, nonalcoholic beverages and a silent auction, with all proceeds going to the next Vashon Rep teen production.
Cast members for “Next to Normal” include Lidea Bojko, Cal Brown, Ari Anderson, Ruby Johnson, Moss Star D’Artell, Aaron Hansen, Amelia Stone, Jerry Wang and Janus Corriston. The show is choreographed by D’Artell and Corriston, and stage managed by Mira Stone and Maarten Ribalet-Coesel. Mateo Grey is the show’s technical director.
Performances are scheduled Thursday-Sunday, Aug. 7-10 and Aug. 14-17. All performances, excluding 2 p.m. Sunday matinees held on Aug. 10 and Aug. 17, will begin at 7 p.m.
Get tickets and find out more at tinyurl.com/34djjmn6, which includes detailed content advisories for “Next to the Normal.”
