08 Broadcaster Press September 23, 2014 www.broadcasteronline.com Too good to be ‘Next to Normal’ By Alan Dale alan.dale@plaintalk.net Art imitates life, so it is said. Yet art also takes on some of life’s tougher challenges even if life itself may want nothing to do with them. Take for instance the AIDS epidemic. It was the film “And the Band Played On” that tackled the taboo subject when it first aired on Sept. 11, 1993. It featured a then all-star cast. Today, society faces another relatively taboo subject – mental illness – and with the recent death of Robin Williams and news of crimes committed by people said to be suffering from various ailments of the mind it is now becoming a topic worth talking about if unpleasant. But it wasn’t five years ago for Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey. The two combined to create Next to Normal an original rock musical with music from Kitt and lyrics penned by Yorkey which ultimately became a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning tale. Willing to attack mental illness head on, the two created a play concerning a mother who struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effect that her illness and the attempts to alleviate it have on her family. The musical also addresses such issues as grieving a loss, suicide, drug abuse, ethics in modern psychiatry, and the underbelly of suburban life. Now it is the University of South Dakota’s Theatre Department that hopes to tackle on a new classic and present this theme of struggle to the Vermillion Community. The first show is set for Friday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. and will be performed by split casts of six that will alternate show dates that run through Oct. 5 (see below for full schedule). “I think it’s going to be great,” Callie Hisek, a department instructor and box office manager, said. “It’s going to be something a lot of people can relate to and think about and hopefully start to help get rid of the stigma that having mental illness is bad or that we need to hide it. There’s nothing wrong with it.” The cast has been able to do some outreach programs and get to know people who struggle with mental illness. This has aided the process of gaining a better understanding of the day-to-day battle in order to prepare for two weeks of interpretation. The story is about Diana Goodman, a mother and wife who deals with bipolar disease. The two ladies who play daughter Natalie, Brianna Bernard and Christa Gesicki, admitted they have prepared to for their role with different backgrounds to call upon. “It’s interesting putting myself in those shoes and as any actor I want to take it on and be 1101 Announcements - 1101 Events BERGEN LUTHERAN CHURCH “The little white church on Timber Road”. Worship 10:30 am, Sunday School 9:15 am. BLESSED TERESA OF CALCUTTA CATHOLIC CHURCH 995 N. Sioux Point Road, Dakota Dunes, SD. Weekend Masses: Saturday, 4:30 p.m.; Sunday, 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. BRULE CREEK LUTHERAN CHURCH, Elk Point, SD: Worship Service 11:00am, Sunday School 9:45am to 10:45am. CHRIST OUR SAVIOR Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod: Worship Sunday 6:00 p.m., Bible Study Tuesday, 9:00 p.m., Neuharth Center, 624-5398 or 1-800-998-1234 CHURCH OF CHRIST 102 Prosp: Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m.; Bible Study 9:00 a.m.; Bible Study 12:00 noon; Wednesday Night Classes, 7:00 p.m. "Next to Normal" digs deep into the issue of mental illness. CONCORDIA (Courtesy of USD Theatre Department) CHURCH as honest and realistic as I can,” Bernard, a senior musical theatre major, said. “This process has helped so much to learn their real world stories. This is a story that progresses for change in how we address mental illness in society.” Bernard says she draws from her own personal memories to conjure up the proper emotional response in Next to Normal. She also said empathizing with Natalie can do the trick as well. “My mother lost a child when I was young and in the show Natalie is the replacement for a lost child, but I got to see my mom go through the depression,” Gesicki, a sophomore musical theatre major, said. “So I understand what Diane is going through. Granted that doesn’t help with Natalie as a character because she hates her mother. But it does fuel the sadness my character finds. “I didn’t have much prior knowledge of mental illness because it didn’t directly affect me. It puts my life in perspective because I don’t say some of the things I would say to people, because I wonder ‘what it would be like to be in their shoes.’ (The play) made me a better person.” Diana’s son Gabe is played by Nick Akins and Kristian Asfeldt. Akins, a freshman from South Sioux City, said that when people back home heard he was performing in Next to Normal he learned many gave them their support for the role. Why? Because some of them suffer from the affliction. n NORMAL, Page 14 LUTHERAN (LC-MS) 7 South University Street, Vermillion. Divine Service – Sunday, 10:30 a.m.; Sunday School – Sunday, 9:00 a.m. Pastor Samuel Needham. Contact us at (605) 624-3459 or at lcmsvermillion.org CORNERSTONE CHURCH A Place To Grow: Located at the corner of Crawford & Cherry St. Celebration Service: Sunday during the School year 9:00am and 10:30am (subject to change during holidays) in the summer Sunday 10 AM. Check us out at cornerstonesd.org or call (624-8809) for further information. DALESBURG BAPTIST CHURCH 30503 466th Ave., Beresford, Pastor Darren Regehr. 9:45am, Sunday School; 11:00am, Morning Worship; Mid-week Services Wednesdays, 7:00pm. (605)253-2622. www.dalesburgbaptist.org DALESBURG LUTHERAN CHURCH 12 miles North of Vermillion on University Road. Worship Services 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:45 a.m. Website: www.dalesburglutheran.org FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Elmer “Sandy” Aakre, Pastor 624-6391 home, 624-4658 church. Time: 9:15 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship. Sunday Choir Practice, 11:50 a.m. Announcements Events ELK POINT BAPTISIT CHURCH Sunday worship at 11:00am, Wednesday evening Bible study at 7:00pm. 101 North Green St., Elk Point, SD 57069. (605)222-1981. ELK POINT UNITED PARISH, 603 S Pearl Street, Elk Point, Pastor David Bambas, EPUP seeks to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ who are fully devoted to loving God and others. Sunday worship at 9:30 AM (nursery available); Adventuezone at 10:30 AM for preschool (3 as of Sept.) thru 5th grade. For more information call 605-356-2008 , epups@iw.net or epunitedparish.org FAITH FELLOWSHIP of the Open Bible on Bypass 50 and Highway 19: Sunday Celebration 10:30 a.m. Pastor Tony Armbrust, 624-2921. Faith lutheran church 401 Main Street, Makell, NE. Sunday School: 9:00; Worship: 10:00 Communion: 1st and 3rd Sundays (605)658-0240 (home) (402)-692-3323 (church). FAITH UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH ELCA, 44874 303rd St/Po Box 168, Volin, SD 57072, (605)267-2277. Sunday Worship: 9:30am with Holy Communion the 1st & 4th Sundays. WOW Wednesday program beginning at 6:30pm for all children 3 yrs old - 7th grade, and confirmation classes for those in grades 8th & 9th. FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Vermillion, is a welcome place reaching out to all God's people. Located at 16 N. Dakota St. Adult Sunday School 9am; Sunday Worship 10:25am; Children?s Church after Children?s Sermon (PreK-5). Welcome Table-serving free meal Mondays 5:30-7pm. Youth Group with Meal (Gr. 6-8) Wednesdays 5:30-7pm. High School Youth Group 7pm. Adult Choir Rehearsal 7pm. Praise Band rehearsal 8pm. Friday Morning Book Study and Breakfast 6:45am. Call (605)624-2179 for more info. Pastor Rick Pittenger. GAYVILLE LUTHERAN CHURCH 9:00 am Worship, Sunday School 10:15 am. Have a Great Day TURNER COUNTY LAND FOR SALE ON SEALED BIDS The following land in Turner Township, Turner County, is offered for sale on sealed bids: NE1/4 of Sec 30, Township 97 North, Range 52 West of the 5th P.M., Turner County, South Dakota Location: 164 acres located 3 miles east and 1.5 miles north of Viborg, SD, consisting of 118.1 cropland acres per FSA and 40 acres enrolled in CRP. Written bids must be submitted to Ward Law Of?ce, 109 N Main St, PO Box 497, Viborg SD 57070, no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 14, 2014. The highest bidders, in a number to be determined by sellers, will be allowed an opportunity to raise their bids at a private auction to be held on October 24, 2014, at Ward Law Of?ce in Viborg, or at such other place as designated in the invitation. Sellers reserve the right to reject any and all bids. Terms: Buyer shall pay 10% of the purchase price upon sellers’ acceptance of the bid, and the balance on closing on or before December 1, 2014. Buyer will receive a Warranty Deed. Buyer shall pay 50% of the cost of owner’s title insurance. Sellers will pay the 2014 taxes payable in 2015. Buyer receives possession at closing subject to the existing lease for 2014 ending on March 1, 2015. Bid packages with additional information may be obtained from Ward Law Of?ce, Viborg, SD, attorney for sellers, Phone 605-326-5282 Heirs of Floyd Gors, Owners Gaylan Gors, Agent 605-366-3839