#i mean she obviously has incredible vocal ability ! but not the Range in all cases

[conman167936]

Fan-Casting A Hypothetical “Next To Normal” Movie

As some of you may know, both “In The Heights” and “Dear Evan Hansen” are getting film adaptations this year. Assuming that those are successful, we could be getting more musical adaptations on the horizon. And “Next To Normal” is one of my favorite musicals, and I think it could translate to the silver screen incredibly well. If done well, it could be the one of the greatest movie musicals we’ve had in a long time.

Now, I don’t know who they would get to direct the film, but they say that 90% of directing is casting, so I thought I could help out with that part. These are some ideas I have for casting the Goodman family in a hypothetical “Next To Normal” movie

Let’s start with the ‘simple spirit’ at the heart of the story - Gabriel. I see so many productions depict him as a villainous character who acts increasingly sexual around his mother. I would like to tone these aspects down a bit - I personally see him as a teenager lashing out because he’s being ignored. 

Now this choice might surprise you a bit, but I want to see Andrew Barth Feldman take on this role. He has an unbelievable singing voice and I think he could stretch his acting muscles to portray Gabe’s angrier moments, but still be sympathetic enough for “I Am The One (Reprise)” to hit home hard.

Then we have Natalie. Like with Gabe, I would rather cast an actual teenager with limited film experience than cast someone in their mid 20′s who’s more well-known. Don’t get me wrong, I understand why directors do that. I mean, it’s not like you’re likely to find someone under eighteen years of age with pitch-perfect vocal control and acting chops to match...

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTZQeWx_xy0)

Meet Kendall Nicole-Yakshe. Starkid fans know her for her role as Hannah Foster in Black Friday. She is currently fifteen years old. Her vocal abilities are far beyond her years, and she is a remarkably good actress, too. This is someone who needs a big break. And the role of Natalie Goodman fits her like a glove.

Next up, Dan Goodman. And I didn’t have to think long at all to cast this role - it should be Jeremy Jordan. Jordan is 36, he has the voice of an angel, but has also shown his dramatic capabilities in roles like The Last Five Years. I think he has both the acting range and the vocal range to portray this complicated character. I don’t even know what else to say - we all know how good Jeremy Jordan is.

And now, the big one. Diana Goodman.

I could list off a dozen actresses from stage and screen alike that would kill for this role. You probably have a few in your head right now. But I want to be bold with this pick, and find someone who maybe isn’t the obvious pick, but has the ability to blow everyone away.

We know that Diana is in her late thirties or early forties. We know that she was young when she married Dan. We know that he describes her as being a wild burst of light and energy before Gabe’s death. On stage, Diana can occasionally come across as being bubbly and childlike, before switching on a dime to show us the deep pain that she’s feeling.

I propose casting an actress who is known for more lighter material, that people will know as the ‘wild young girl’ Dan fell for but can surprise the audience with her ability to reach down deep and bring out the emotion. 

And in case you haven’t guessed it by now, I believe that the perfect person to play Diana Goodman is Kristen Bell.

Kristen Bell is currently 40 years old, is mostly known for comedies and for being the voice of a Disney Princess. She obviously has an amazing singing voice. But she’s also a capable dramatic actress, which many people often forget.  Of all things, it was her performance of the song “The Next Right Thing” in Frozen 2 that first made me realize how good Kristen could be in this role. Listen to her performance of that song and then imagine her singing So Anyway.

But what really sold it for me is this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYUQ_nlZgWE), in which she describes her own struggles with mental health. This is someone who can truly relate to Diana Goodman more than most actresses could. For an actress who is well-liked but mainly known as a comedienne, this role could be an Oscar-worthy vehicle for her.

So there you have it. Kristen Bell, Jeremy Jordan, Kendall Nicole-Yakshe and Andrew Barth Feldman as the Goodman family. And for those wondering, I don’t have a Henry in mind, although I would prefer to cast an actor of color in that role. And the two doctors should probably be played by different actors in the film to avoid confusion.

Well, that’s basically it. If you liked or disliked my casting ideas or you have some ideas of your own, let me know in the comments!