Original Broadway Cast of Next To Normal
Alice Ripley & Aaron Tveit & J. Robert Spencer & Jennifer Damiano & Louis Hobson & Adam Chanler-Berat
Jennifer Damiano
J. Robert Spencer & Louis Hobson & Alice Ripley & Jennifer Damiano & Aaron Tveit & Adam Chanler-Berat
Jennifer Damiano & Adam Chanler-Berat
Alice Ripley
Alice Ripley & Aaron Tveit & Adam Chanler-Berat & Jennifer Damiano & J. Robert Spencer
J. Robert Spencer
Alice Ripley
J. Robert Spencer & Alice Ripley & Aaron Tveit
Jennifer Damiano & Alice Ripley & Aaron Tveit
Aaron Tveit
Alice Ripley & Jennifer Damiano & J. Robert Spencer & Aaron Tveit & Louis Hobson
Alice Ripley & Aaron Tveit
Aaron Tveit
J. Robert Spencer & Aaron Tveit
Alice Ripley & Louis Hobson
J. Robert Spencer & Alice Ripley
Alice Ripley & Jennifer Damiano
Jennifer Damiano & J. Robert Spencer & Alice Ripley
Adam Chanler-Berat & Jennifer Damiano
Alice Ripley & J. Robert Spencer & Louis Hobson
Louis Hobson & J. Robert Spencer & Jennifer Damiano & Alice Ripley
Aaron Tveit & Alice Ripley
Original Broadway Cast of Next To Normal & Adam Chanler-Berat & Jennifer Damiano
Louis Hobson & Alice Ripley
J. Robert Spencer & Alice Ripley
J. Robert Spencer & Jennifer Damiano & Alice Ripley
J. Robert Spencer & Adam Chanler-Berat & Jennifer Damiano & Alice Ripley
Aaron Tveit
Alice Ripley
Louis Hobson & Aaron Tveit & Alice Ripley
Alice Ripley & Jennifer Damiano
Jennifer Damiano & Adam Chanler-Berat
Original Broadway Cast of Next To Normal & Alice Ripley
J. Robert Spencer & Aaron Tveit
Aaron Tveit & Jennifer Damiano & J. Robert Spencer & Alice Ripley
The opening number of the second act, “Wish I Were Here” finds Diana and Natalie hallucinating in two very different settings – as Diana receives electoconvulsive therapy, Natalie experiences similar highs when experimenting with her mother’s drug collection.
In the Broadway production, it follows...
[DIANA]
In an instant lightning flashes
And the burst might leave me blind
When the bolt of lightning crashes
And it burns right through my mind
It's like someone drained my brain out
Set my frozen mind to thaw
Let the lethargy and pain out
While I stood and watched in awe
I am riding on the brightest buzz
I am worlds away from who I was
And they told me it would change me
Though they don't know how it does
[ENSEMBLE]
No they don't know how it does
[DIANA]
I have lived a life of clouds and gray
But this is crystal clear
Wish I were here
[GABE]
Wish I were here
[DIANA]
I imagine it's remarkable
Exuberant, austere
Wish I were here
[ENSEMBLE]
Wish I were here
[DIANA]
Wish I were here
[ENSEMBLE]
Wish I were here
[NATALIE]
It's euphoria, it's anger
It's the winter wind, it's fire
[ENSEMBLE]
It's the winter wind, it's fire
[NATALIE]
And it kills my deepest hunger
As it fills me with desire
[NATALIE & DIANA]
I'm the light and heat of every sun
I'm a bullet from a magic gun
And I'm trying to enjoy it
But I'm missing all the fun
[ENSEMBLE]
I am missing all the fun
[NATALIE & DIANA]
Am I feeling what I think I'm feeling
The hope, the heat, the fear?
Wish I were here
[ENSEMBLE]
Wish I were here
[NATALIE & DIANA]
Is this someone else's head trick?
Do I just disappear?
Wish I were here
[ENSEMBLE]
Wish I were here
[NATALIE & DIANA]
Wish I were here
[ENSEMBLE]
Wish I were
Here
[NATALIE & DIANA]
Plug me in and turn me on
And flip the switch, I'm good as gone
It slits my skin, and trips my brain
I feel the burn, but I don't feel the pain
Is my brain reborn or is it wrecked
In freedom or in fear?
Wish I were here
[ENSEMBLE]
Wish I were...
[NATALIE & DIANA]
Have I blown my mind forever?
Is cloudy my new clear?
Wish I were here
Wish I were here
Wish I were...
[NATALIE]
Can I hide my stupid hunger
Fake some confidence and cheer
Wish I were here
Wish I were here...
Wish I Were Here was written by Tom Kitt & Brian Yorkey.
Wish I Were Here was produced by Joel Moss & Tom Kitt & David Stone & Kurt Deutsch.
Alice Ripley released Wish I Were Here on Tue May 12 2009.