Secrets of a Super Fan - Nicole Wright (Next To Normal)

The “rentheads”, “the guilty ones”….we all know that Broadway has some crazy-passionate fans for its most golden shows. Broadway fans are some of the most faithful, loyal, and creative fans out there. Call them “fangirls” or “obsessive” but they still love their show! I'm hoping to get some interviews done with some of these "super fans" with different shows.This is my interview with “Next To Normal” fan, Nicole M. Wright. (twitter.com/Nicole_m_wright). She admires this show so much, and is one of the shows most devoted fans and I was very happy to see “Next To Normal” from another point of view. I hope you enjoy! Thanks so much Nicole!


1. What first drew you into the show? A friend, specific actor etc...

I was a fan of Spring Awakening, and had met Jennifer Damiano when the cast performed at Broadway in Bryant Park. I saw her as Anna later that year. After a while, I kept on seeing her name pop up on news stories, I believe when the show was going to Arena Stage, and I clicked on the links and heard of the show. As I heard more and more buzz surrounding the show, I became more interesting in seeing what it was about. Then I started hearing some of the songs and fell in love with Superboy and the Invisible Girl, and kept on watching promotional videos and stuff. I rooted for them in the Tonys and by the time June 20th came around, my grandma and I both wanted to see it and got to via the TKTS booth and absolutely loved it.

2. What did you know about the show prior to seeing it?

I knew that it was about a bi-polar mom, and I knew a few songs - Superboy and the Invisible Girl, I'm Alive, You Don't Know, and I Am The One. Sometimes it's the music that makes me want to see a show, and I became obsessed with Superboy so that song was my life.

3. At intermission of your first show what was your impression so far?

I was so amazed at it, but I felt very heavy in a sense. I was shaking a little because I realized how much I connected with it, but I was so amazed with the music. The story definitely kept me on the edge of my seat, having me excited was the second act and what was to come. But it was sort of unreal in a sense, in a state of shock in a way.

4. How many times have you seen it?

Eleven, twelve on July 18th

5. So far, (including understudies) who is your favorite actor that's been in the show?I love all of them in their own way definitely, but I must say, I absolutely love Alice as a person. First of all, she won the Tony, which is phenomenal in my book and I was so drawn to her the first time I saw the show. When I finally met her after my second time, I was so overwhelmed and couldn't speak. I think now because I've been at the show a lot, it's been easier for me to talk, but I still get that stupid smile on my face whenever I see her. She is such a genuinely nice person and inspires me as a person everyday, not only through her work, but through her personality.

6. What's your favorite song?

To listen to, either I'm Alive or Superboy and the Invisible Girl because they are the songs that got me into the show to begin with. One is all empowering and the other one really connects to a part of me, and puts feelings into words. Watching the show, my favorite song is Light because the vocals are amazing, each character gets a chance to shine, and the way it looks visually (costumes in that similar color, the lights in the background, and the location of everyone), and it just brings a message of hope. Every time I see it, I try to take it all in, because it really is such a beautiful part of the show.

7. Overall what do you like best about N2N?

Everything. The story is something I can relate to on many different levels, the performers are so brilliant at what they do and are constantly changing up their performance, the music is not only great for expressing the story and feelings of life, but they are so much fun to just belt out, and I feel like I'm one with the show in a sense. I feel like I belong there. I tried explaining my "attachment" to the show to Alice once and she said "it's a cathartic thing" which it really is.

8. Do you stage door? What's your favorite memory from the Booth stage door?

Yes I stage door. I have so many great memories -- I love getting to know the actors outside of what you see on stage. I truly treasure every time I go there and see the look of recognition on the actor's face, because I know that them and the show have impacted me and I guess by them remembering me, I've impacted them in a way, which is such a great feeling. Also, having them sometimes say my name, knowing that much, I am on cloud nine. Some highlights are definitely my birthday, when I had everyone sign a custom made, corny t-shirt, and the only time I met all six OBC members.

9. Give us a quick summary of N2N in your own words.

N2N is about a mother / wife with bi-polar disorder and the impact it has on her family. The show is full of love, loss, and emotions. Short enough?

10. What message do you feel the show puts out there?

For me, it gave me a message of hope: "there will be light." It also taught me that I'm not alone, and there's a back story to everything.

11. Overall what's been your favorite experience with the show? (Anything - specific performance, watching it on the Tonys..anything!)

There's so many things. I've been to so many of N2N related events outside of the show as well. I probably have to say event-wise, the panel at the 92Y Tribeca where they premiered the twitter song because I learned so much about the show and felt so exclusive being there, and then, most recently, Good Morning America. I was so honored to have been chosen to win that contest, and it was such an experience of a lifetime: being on national television, and helping and cheering on N2N as they did the same thing. Plus, it was my mom's first real exposure to the show, and I've been wanting her to get into it for a while. I absolutely loved going on my birthday, because I brought four friends who hadn't known anything about the show and seeing their reactions was priceless. And, of course, one of my favorites was Oscar night, when I met up with seven friends that I met because of the show and we all saw it together. It was such an amazing night and it was like the sisters connected.

12. What makes you keep returning to the show? Do you bring friends to the show and turn them into fans?

I don't think I will ever get tired of the show itself, because it's live theater, it's always changing. Sometimes I use the show as my personal therapy, because it really connects with different emotions that you can just let it all out. Nowadays, I try to go to see new interpretations on the roles, so I love going when an understudy is on. Also, I love to go to an actor's last, because it leaves such a great memory in your mind of the last impressions of the actor as that character. The energy that is in the crowd that night is so loving as well, it's really beautiful. And yes, I bring friends to the show and get them addicted. One of my friends recently thanked me for doing so.

13. Have you met any people on your "journey" with the show that you've befriended or that have had an impact on you?

Most definitely. Like I mentioned before, the seven friends I saw the show with in March I truly call my sisters. We all have difference experiences in life and all live in different locations, but it's absolutely amazing when any of us can get together. In my personal life, I've had a hard time finding friends and keeping them, but I feel like I can really be open with these people and I'm so thankful that they are in my life. We all had a big love fest last night on FaceBook. ♥ And other individual people I think now know me better than I know myself, and I feel like I can call them my "secret other half" in a way. But it's amazing that I've found these people all because of this show.

14. Was this the first show you really fell in love with?

I think I can truly say that this is my favorite show of all time. I fell in love with it for a different reason than my other favorites (Hairspray, Wicked, Rent, and Spring Awakening) because it's a real story. It's a story of so many that can be represented by a cast of six, it's rather remarkable. I don't think I've ever emotionally connected with a show as much as I have with this, which is the reason for so much love.

15. How many other B'way shows have you seen and what do you think makes N2N stand out?

I have absolutely no idea, I should probably figure that out, maybe 30-50 (such a big range). Out of the shows currently on Broadway, I've seen fifteen of them. N2N stands out because it is real -- it doesn't hide behind fluff or sparkle or make-believe, it's very real. It's an emotional rollercoaster, but that's the way life is in itself. It's such an intense show, probably the most intense I've seen emotion-wise.

16. If N2N fans were given a nickname such as "rentheads" or 'the guilty ones' what do you think they should be called?

I have absolutely no idea. I don't call myself or other fans of the show any fan name or anything. I don't know if there's many that can fit as a general term (yeah, you can have Superboys and Invisible Girls, but that's too corny for my liking). Not every show has fan names, I mean, look at Wicked, probably has the biggest fan-base ever and they don't have name. Right now, i think we're all fine being called our normal names.


Thanks so much again Nicole! I'll be posting more interviews with fans (hopefully some actors too) up on the blog soon. Follow Nicole at twitter.com/nicole_m_wright and follow me at twitter.com/gr8whitewaygirl! Have an awesome night!