Added performance of Normal, the Musical

We’re pleased to announce that we’ve added an extra performance of Normal, the Musical this Friday, June 29 at 4 p.m.

Watching rehearsals this week, it’s hard to believe that this whole show came together in under three weeks!

From the choreography to the live accompaniment, this fun, exciting rock musical will not only have you moving to the music, it will also touch your heart.

The show tells the story of one family’s journey as they deal with the daughter’s eating disorder, but more than that, it’s the story of today’s family. It’s hard not to be moved because the characters are just so relatable to parents and teens of today’s society.

Take advantage of this opportunity to sit back and see life from an outside perspective. It’ll grab you, make you dance, sing and think of all that there is to be grateful for... like having just a normal day.

Accompanied by our music students in the summer Pit Orchestra camp, the show features Maggie Mularz as Kayla, Jamie Jones as Robert, Hannah Rashbaum as Polly and Lucy Gutierrez as Rebecca.

Normal, the Musical will be in the Shimberg Theater at the Straz Center this weekend. Show times are Fri., June 29 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sat., June 30 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets are $8 through June 28, and $12 on June 29 and 30. Click here for more info.

Thoughts from the cast of Normal: the Musical!

Hello Tampa Bay! The first week of rehearsal for Normal: the Musical has almost come to an end and the company wanted to share their initial thoughts on the show with you. We hope to see you in the audience on July 29 and 30.

“This musical breaks down the walls of taboo and inspires everyone who has the privilege to see it.” - Orlagh O. 

“It’s very relatable. The musical is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before." - Hannah

“This musical inspires me to explore myself and contemplate what really is “NORMAL.”  Skylar B.

“NORMAL the musical is a realistic and dramatic production about a dysfunctional family.” - Anonymous Cast Member

“The show is a seemingly great representation of the intensity of a day in the life.” - Lucy G. 

“You can expect tears, but also expect some comedy. This musical will definitely bring you into the world of one dysfunctional family, who learn many things on their journey.” -Jessica 

“The show is really insightful. Not just a show about an eating disorder.” - Jamie J. 

“Not a show about disorders, it’s NORMAL.” - Ryan S. 

“I want to tell the world to make mistakes big and loud so they can be corrected and not go unnoticed.” - Anonymous Cast Member

“This show is about a family that pays no attention to one another, but gets pulled down by Polly when her family discovers she has an eating disorder. - Allegra B.

Here’s what the cast thought of the first rehearsal of Normal: the Musical.

“Today I thought we learned and accomplished a lot. We were able to learn background info, read through the play, and learn a song in the 1^st rehearsal.
                                                                                                -Victoria S.
        
“The first day was so informative. We were able to have an open forum discussion, learning about the subject matter of the show. This enabled us to feel comfortable as a cast.
                                                                                                - Anonymous Cast Member
        
“Today at rehearsal, I learned more about eating disorders and we leaned about family relationships. We also read through the script from NORMAL.
                                                                                                -Rosina S.
“Today at rehearsal, we not only learned about musical theater, but we also learned about anorexia awareness. I am so excited to improve my singing and acting also learn new things.”
                                                                                                -Shelby P.

Normal welcomes panelists for post-show discussions

 Cast of Normal: the Musical at the Patel Conservatory, from left to right:
Hannah Rashbaum, Jamie Jones, Maggie Mularz and Lucy Gutierrez

Parents and teenagers, mark your calendars for our PCYT production of Normal: the Musical on June 29 and 30, 2012.

The rock musical is about how a family deals with their teenager’s eating disorder. While it tackles some tough topics in a fun and entertaining way, it also serves as a platform to help teens address stress. The show was adapted specifically for educational school productions.

To that end, following each performance, there will be a talkback discussion with medical professionals and members of the Conservatory creative team.

“The post-show discussions will be geared towards discussing larger issues in the musical’s content, such as stress-management, and what has become ‘normalized’ in today's culture in terms of self-care, or lack thereof,” said assistant director Matthew Belopavlovich.

Joining us for the talkbacks will be local medical professionals Elisha Contner, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist; Kourtney Gordon, from Fairwinds Treatment Center; and Johanna Kandel, founder and CEO of the Alliance for Eating Disorders.


In addition to the post-show talkbalks, Kandel will speak prior to Saturday night’s performance.

Kandel is the author of Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder. She will speak about her personal struggle with an eating disorder and road to recovery at 6 p.m. on Sat., June 30, 2012.


The educational panels are provided by the Normal non-profit organization which strives to educate families and teens about eating disorders, self-esteem and body image through arts and mindfulness programs.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect and share in an open dialogue about universal issues that affect today’s teens.

The show runs Fri., June 29 at 4 and 7 p.m., and Sat., June 30 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Shimberg Playhouse at the Straz Center in downtown Tampa. Regularly priced tickets start at $8.

For more about the show, click here.

For tickets, click here, or call 813.229.STAR (7827).

Summer production tackles teen angst

This summer, the Patel Conservatory Youth Theater takes on teen angst and some tough topics with its production of NOR·MAL, the Musical.

NOR·MAL: the Musical is about a teenage girl struggling with an eating disorder and her family’s initial crumble and eventual quest to discover what it is to be “normal.”

“Everyone who has grown up in America will connect with the members of this family and their plight to attain the elusive ranks of normal,” said Ami Sallee, Patel Conservatory theater department chair and director of the show.

NOR·MAL, the Musical is based on the experiences of Yvonne Adrian, who wrote the book. The rock musical premiered in New York City in 2005 and is now performed in high schools throughout the country.

The Patel Conservatory will be the first to produce the show in Florida.

“The characters in this play are three-dimensional feeling human beings who are vulnerable and who make mistakes,” said Sallee.

The play touches on issues that everyone faces, she says. “Everyone goes a little crazy, everyone loses it a bit in this fantastically real family. And this script keeps enough humor and rock and roll to keep it moving and keep the audience invested.”

Each performance will be followed by an audience discussion with a panel of medical professionals.

NOR·MAL, the Musical will premier at the Shimberg Playhouse at the Straz Center on June 29 and 30, 2012. 

The show is a production of the Patel Conservatory’s summer musical theater intensive for high school and college students. The intensive theater training program will be June 11 - 30, 2012.

Our Summer Pit Orchestra will provide live accompaniment for the show.

Matthew Belopavlovich will be the assistant director, Deborah Lynch, music director, and choreographer is Shana Perkins.

Auditions for the show will be Saturday, June 2 starting at 12 p.m. To schedule an audition, please call the theater department at 813-222-6413 or email pateltheater@strazcenter.org.

For information on auditions for the Summer Pit Orchestra, click here.