You Don't Know, I Am The One ("Next to Normal" Off-Broadway)

No copyright infringement intended. For entertainment purposes only.
Dan: Brian d'Arcy James
Diana: Alice Riplley
Gabe: Aaron Tveit
March 3rd, 2008. Second Stage Theatre production

[@thoseuveknown]

you just can't help feeling bad for Dan. He's an amazing husband who refuses to give up on his wife who is basically pushing him away

[@QuikVidGuy]

at the same time I can't help but feel hurt by him,because his own grief makes him constantly FEEL like he's given up especially that scene in the attic. I understand why he does everything he does but I'm stuck knowing how it's not helping

[@fish3977]

@@QuikVidGuy which I think make the ending so beautifu. they're all broken only able to aim for something ***next to*** normal and breaking up being the healthy option for all. it's a mess and there's no magical fix even if you're standing by each other you might be hurting everyone.

[@QuikVidGuy]

@@fish3977 YES They all have needs, and they're all so desperate that sometimes they act cruel to each other without even knowing it At the end of the show, we're basically seeing the beginning of their full journeys, when they finally start to accept what's real and how they're hurting each other and how all along they've desperately wanted to fix their own flaws But health isn't a linear trip, it's a series of mistakes and backslides, but as long as they're TRYING to open up, accept everything they've done, and work to fix it, they just might be okay

[@CharlieGreenwald]

Brian D'Arcy James, for anybody who was wondering, is not only talented, but also the kindest celebrity that I've ever met. I haven't met a ton, but he was the nicest person ever. Just so everybody else can like him more.

[@hrking95]

I love when Aaron Tveit just lets out a huge grin of perfectness.

[@ZestyItalian2]

Brian D'Arcy James performance is so much more filled-in and intentional than J. Robert Spencer (who was also excellent.) BDJ really pulls a lot of weight in this performance.

[@QuikVidGuy]

the way I've experienced it is that J put the melody first and filled in the emotion around it, while Brian acted the melodies around the character. The only other thing I know Brian from is King George III and Shrek, so maybe that's his gig; fleshing out a character and letting someone else take it into the spotlight on his shoulders because he's just so good at making sure people feel what a character is supposed to be, even if his delivery isn't what cast recordings are looking for

[@emalaw1329]

To me, Brian's performance as Dan in the song also seems to be more informed by compassion than Spencer's. I stumbled upon a clip of their Tonys performance recently, and the closeups on Spencer's face betrayed a mix of frustration and resentment, rather than frustration and love. That's a perfectly believable version of Dan, but I just can't help sympathizing more with Brian's version, who doesn't seem to want to burden his already suffering wife with his own feelings of frustration even at what seems to be, at this point of the show, his breaking point.

[@kl-1447]

The smile at 4:31. Absolutely brilliant and chilling every time

[@debraheckmann893]

The way the son runs his hand down her arm and holds her hand gives me chills! Such a small but Powerful movement!

[@JBenjamin92]

Brian d'Arcy James. Aaron Tveit. Great combo.

[@carriewhite410]

I saw this for the first time with the Tony performance, and I was instantly interested. I just never got a chance to really look it up till now. It's an absolutely amazing and powerful show.

[@BroadwayJonathan]

I saw Brian d'Arcy James opposite Alice Ripley twice (in the same day actually) and they worked really well as husband and wife. So much love for this show. It's a 6-person cast, but I have actually seen 17 different people in the roles.

[@annaelizabzth]

I hope one day you’ll see me as Natalie!! It’s my dream-role 🥰🥰

[@CloudcoleVII]

Brian D'Arcy James is mind blowing.

[@dudeman22598]

Brian sucks at blowing out candles

[@CCMRulzThsWrld]

He was already my favorite Dan, now I like him even more :)

[@musicalmimigirl]

Oh my Lanta. That smirk that turns into the beautifully big smile of Aaron Tviet gets my heart every time!!!!

[@alyr228]

I gotta say I'm glad they slowed it down a tiny bit - the intro was so abrupt

[@RoseInMisery7]

i love when she bangs down the chair.. epic. this song is so emotional, and i can really relate to it. One of the best songs ever. i'd kill to see this live.

[@LaurieAnnish]

The desperation in their voices just breaks my heart. This is incredible!

[@quankevin]

I notice this is a slight difference on the lyrics in the off-broadway vs broadway. In this vid, Alice sing "You don't know, you tell me let go/ and you may say so but I say, you don't know..." In the broadway version and OST it's "you don't know, it lays me so low/ when you say let go and I say, you don't know..."

[@PianoDisneygal10]

That tends to happen from pre-Broadway to Broadway. The pre-Broadway run is usually to sus out the stuff that won’t work in the long run, or don’t work in the show at all. Lyric changes are common.

[@logansanders9307]

I originally thought it was a slip up and Alice sang the line before she was supposed to, and improvised, but it may have been an intentional change from Off-Broadway to Broadway, but to be honest I've never heard those lyrics anywhere else

[@sierrashaw8695]

I personally prefer Brain d'Arcy James to J.Robert Spencer.

[@sifuvr2390]

They're both good, but I always get a really huge country vibe from J. Robert Spencer which makes it harder for me to get as emotionally invested?

[@chroniclesofalivingdeadgirl]

They're both great. J. Robert Spencer is more like a combination of a stoic and frustrated suburban dad. Brian D'Arcy has more softness and vulnerability. Both qualities are applicable in this situation.

[@QuikVidGuy]

@@sifuvr2390 I honestly don't know what that means but I love learning

[@PianoDisneygal10]

My school performed this show a few months ago. I was going to audition but I injured my knee and couldn't do the audition. I'm kind of upset that happened, because N2N is now one of my favorite musicals! Maybe it's a good thing I didn't audition, though, since I knew next to nothing (no pun intended) about the show, except that the mom had manic depression. Anyways, I saw my school's show and it was awesome! The guy who played Dan kind of looks like Dan Goodman in this version (younger, though)

[@Clarelisa4]

aaron's voice=eargasm

[@MichaelKrasMagic]

Man, the end of You Don't Know with the tossing of the cutlery had so much less impact here... at the Tony's it gave he goosebumps. I love Alice Ripley!

[@Holokat]

All the characters are so good that it would be amazing to be part of the story as any of them. and I get it, at first, Gabe was my dream role, 'cause he's such a deep and haunting character and he would be so interesting to portray. I now feel a strong connection to Diana and I just feel the need to play her, and I'm 19 but who cares? make up can do it's thing haha.

[@gavman8]

Aaron gets those high notes off SO easily!!! GAH!

[@JessesAngel]

I love this show! I can't wait to see Brian D'arcy James back in Next To Normal! May 17th can't come soon enough! LOL :)

[@aiewyn]

I just really love Aaron Tveit.

[@ChelexBebop]

I need to see this with Alice Ripley. NEED.

[@broadwaygirl94]

I saw this yesterday and Alice was obviously sick... she sounded terrible and I was kinda upset that I didn't get to see her at her best. But I gotta admit I admire her for still going up there and giving it her all even when she's not feeling well....

[@eew12]

Thanks so much for putting this up! Been waiting for this for a while!

[@TheaterBound31]

I think Alice should also do the tour! Sooo many people want to see her but not a lot of people can afford to go back to NYC to see her.

[@bgsuchic2013]

omg totally i need this on tour and yeah shrek an billy elliot that would like make my year lol

[@xiaoqingdu]

Brian D'Arcy James is awesome.

[@alexs.3383]

The few lines at the end of the video... Lol

[@theemaestro576]

This is the Alice I love. Ever since the later Broadway run, she just want over the top with it and her voice was put to shreds, and she was so flat and raspy. It's even worse on tour now. I seriously hope she takes a good amount of time off, she needs it. I love this video, though.

[@wickedinUS]

i saw n2n in chicago for student rush tickets and alice standby named pearl sun went on and she was great and then the second time alice went on and her singing wasnt my favorite but her acting was great

[@toughcookie5454]

@foreveramarchclover got to see him!!! SWEETEST GUY!!!

[@kylezo]

@ritsfata you are absolutely right. in her lower register, she sounded absolutely fabulous. pure and powerful. higher up, she jsut started to sound...well just powerful without so much pure, lol. really warped vowels. something in there that reminds me of bernadette peters though, too, they both have a very unique sound. its just the 'you dont knughh, you dont knugghhe' that was kind of rubbing me the wrong way. in any case...i don't care because it was a divine performance.

[@ashleighelizabethmurray3893]

When I ever see Brian sing is just shrek to me

[@warrenmoore4743]

really? He's one of the most amazing and talented men I have ever seen and SO HUMAN!

[@ethannavarro943]

Warren Moore she didn’t say it was a bad thing. And I agree with her. I know how amazing he is. He always sounds like his Shrek performance though. It was tony nominated, so that’s a good thing

[@gcgtheatricals8655]

It’s always Burrs or Barrett from Wild Party or Titanic for me, but I was there in the third row for the first week of performances for Shrek and loved him in that too

[@jOrdinary93]

As a matter of fact this guy's name is not J. Robert Spencer. It is Brian D'Arcy James. Brian left the show to assume the role of Shrek and was REPLACED by J. Robert Spencer. (:

[@jayden.dayyan]

Wait rly?!

[@TheTerminator2400]

@sweet16jcm What's funny is, this IS the original cast. This was the prelude to Broadway. Alice Ripley carried over to the Broadway cast, but this is quite good still, sorry to contradict you. (I do agree with you that the cast they had for the original Broadway run was phenomenal however)

[@DragonPrincessAoife]

@kylezo The role itself is in her higher register. If you take a listen to her solo music and with her band (Ripley) you'll notice that she is a lot more powerful when she's singing songs in a lower key. She's mainly an actress who has a great voice, like Idina Menzel is a singer who has great acting skills. I'm just saying...

[@bwaygirl86]

I LOVE BDJ!

[@3mmdk]

Maybe I'm comparing two different shows altogether, but Brian in You Don't Know appears to be more aggressive and fed up while later in I Am the One reprise he's much more passive to Aaron, so it's kinda weird.

[@mitsofu]

he's doing that because in "I am the one" Dan wants to forget and ignore Gabe because he doesn't want to face reality and push the family into a normal life which leads to forgetting & ignoring Gabe exists, but in "I am the one (reprise)" he's more passionate because after Diana leaves he finally begins to face Gabe and cope with his death to help himself & Natalie

[@warrenmoore4743]

I see a man in frustration and in pain because he seems he's in a "no win" situation despite all his passion and love.

[@entertainer1987]

@BlueJeanBaby012 It's official! Brian is reprising the role beginning May 17! The news is on Playbill and every major thatre website!

[@TinselFairy]

i hope it comes to england

[@BradChristianTV]

Great clip... very interesting to hear Brain singing it... I keep thinking of Shrek during it. Brother can sing! The broadway edition has a little more passion behind it... this feels more conversational.

[@Holokat]

I'm dying to have the oportunity to audition for this show!! I won't die in peace until I play Diana Goodman!!, who were you gonna auditioni for??? I hope you get a new chance like that! :)

[@jazmynbloomfield-nishimura7640]

I want to play Natalie so badly! Maybe we'll be in the same revival cast together!

[@quankevin]

@MatthewThomasDix I just saw the show in Toronto, it was spectacular! Asa Somers and Kurt Hansen was not quite up to par comparing to J. Robert Spencer/Brian James D'Arcy and Aaron Tveit. There did change some of the script and lyrics. In [He's Not Here] they changed from "He's been gone, sixteen years" to "He's been gone, several years". They also changed the part were Gabe dies from 18 months to 8 months.

[@RedGemReacts]

Aaron's grin at 4:31 = >:-)

[@PianoDisneygal10]

I didn't know anything about the show then, so I wasn't going to audition for anyone in particular. I was kind of just going to go in there, audition, and then see what happens. I only became a fan of the show once I saw the production that I was going to audition for. Now, if I ever got the chance again, I would love to be Natalie, or Diana (depending on how old I am). But, I'd love to be Gabe or Dan, even though I am a girl.

[@bluebirde67]

Whoever disliked this video you don't know, I know you don't know :)

[@meluvspringawakening]

there is something so oedipal about Gabriel and the mom.... kinda creepy when you think about it.. O.o amazing musical tho..

[@chroniclesofalivingdeadgirl]

yes, I think it was intentional

[@ksim43]

@theatergeek36 Saw it this past Saturday. Marin Mazzie took over and is amazing in her own right.

[@stormcloudsabound]

can you upload the "im alive (reprise)" and "the break"? :) i'd appreaciate it and fave it and tell all my friends :)

[@agracefulson]

Whaaaat is going on with that harmony at 3:39?

[@jessicamabb3038]

was it me but did someone see Aaron start laughing a bit?

[@alessiaevans584]

Jessica Mabb it's not aaron laughing.. it's gabe. It's part of the character, he is happy because he's getting what he wants: diana... in the tony awards performance you can clearly ear him laugh but you can't see him because alice is in front of him xD

[@chief.kennedy2064]

3:39

[@olivianicolexo]

Alice Ripley = head bitch in charge. Love her.

[@bwayandpop]

Yeah that's because it's off broadway But either way it's amazing

[@toughcookie5454]

@theatergeek36 ahahahaaa shrek and next to normal are coming!!

[@quankevin]

@thisyearsrent2011 I watched it on Saturday 7:30pm. There are are certain parts they have to modify to the puzzle up the pieces otherwise the frickin pieces wouldn't fit to go. ;) I extremely wish they have a Toronto production, but at $40... the seats I sat were great, if I paid an extra $65 I'd be closer, but where I seat was on floor far far back row CC. :D Curt Hansen, but not bad, but he strides WAY TOO MUCH, too much exagerrating the move comparing to Aaron Tveit & Kyle Dean Massey.

[@sari1574]

please can you post mroe videos pleaseee

[@entertainer1987]

@INTERPOLFAN17 Spencer leaves May 16.

[@OperaLover84]

@jezzebelle2000 What is this guy's full name? Bobby what?

[@dkgilmorejunkie]

@foreveramarchclover did great in Titanic the musical also...but in N2N i prefer J. Robert Spencer , not saying Brians not great...

[@CPJBRUNTON]

ummm... is she singing to a 'sick track'? Its either a sick track or her fold back is massive from 4:20 onwards

[@INTERPOLFAN17]

SPENCER LEFT?

[@kylezo]

@yobsterrish maybe that explains why she kinda sounded like crap today when i saw it...like she never opens her mouth... interesting sound but unintelligible sometimes...and always doing that wierd riff at the end of her lines flatting her notes...she did it in this vid at like 1:30..like her vibrato takes over her singing

[@CandiiBabii54]

@theatergeek36 you got your wish haha

[@sondheimfan1]

JRS is soooo much better but Brian is pretty good... I got to see Bobby twice and hopefully I'll get to see Brian this go around

[@SchleppyLundo]

Since he's both the product of and a representation of mental illness, that's certainly intentional.