Join us for an engaging panel discussion delving into the themes of mental health and family dynamics presented in Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt’s musical Next to Normal. This event features Barrington Stage Artistic Director Alan Paul and Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, best-selling author of The Body Keeps the Score, along with mental health professionals from the Brien Center, Austen Riggs, and Canyon Ranch.

We’ll explore the question: How well do we know the people in our own family? The characters in this Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical grapple with their relationships, their pasts, and their futures, providing a powerful lens through which we can examine the complexities of mental wellness. The panel will discuss the impact of mental health on families, the importance of open communication, and how art can foster acceptance and emotional well-being.

Come and join us as we engage in a meaningful conversation on how theater can change the dialogue around mental wellness.

Sponsored by Canyon Ranch
Keynote by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk
Sunday, August 25, 11am Boyd-Quinson Stage (30 Union Street, Pittsfield)
FREE EVENT!
A light breakfast of bagels and coffee will be served before the event at 10am.