Director’s Note
Hello! Thank you so much for joining us this weekend!
I’m writing this note on the morning of our opening performance, and I can’t believe that we’re here. Next to Normal has been on my wishlist to direct for over two years now. It is a harrowing piece of theater—-one that remains evergreen as our collective society learns more and more about mental health, as we learn to navigate our own, and to be in relationship with others with their own highs and lows. It is a mammoth, ambitious musical with a score that will grab and stretch your heart in a multitude of directions. Then, when you refract the story through the experiences of people of the global majority, the themes of grief, generational trauma, and the varied expressions of family take on a whole ‘nother dimension. At that is exactly the sort of work I love to do here at Okaeri Productions…
As the director and producer, I know that, no matter how good the vision is, a show is only as good as the people who choose to collaborate with you. I am so grateful for the team of actors, designers, musicians, and helpers who joined me on this 2.5 month journey, many of whom are Okaeri veterans and others who are new. They have put their heart and soul into this production and elevated it to a place that I couldn’t have imagined at the onset. I hope you can feel the love that infuses every aspect of this show.
Thank you for joining us tonight! This one is for you!
Aya
Land Acknowledgement
This performance takes place on the unceded land of the Canarsie and Munsee Lenape people.
LEARN
Whose land do you occupy? Visit native-land.ca to find out.
Read An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz.
SUPPORT
Company
Amanda Chin, she/her, (Diana) is thrilled to be joining the Okaeri family in this incredibly meaningful production. She usually spends her time in a more administrative theatre role, as the Executive Director of AfterWork Theater and sharing Okaeri’s commitment to more diverse and inclusive storytelling. Favorite past roles include: DeeDee in The Prom, Fastrada in Pippin, and Vi in Footloose. Amanda is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania and has an MBA from Columbia University. Love to her family, GG, LARM, BDH and Lucy. Here’s to those who wish us well, and those who don’t can go to hell!
IG: @amandabethchin, @lucyvanpup, @afterworktheater
David Teano, he/him, (Dan) is a native of Jersey City, NJ and is excited to return to the Okaeri stage. Favorite past credits include Jack (Newsies), Terk (Disney's Tarzan), and Bard Boy/Ensemble (Something Rotten). He's thrilled to be able to continue to share his infectious energy and passion for theater with the Okaeri community. A BSN graduate of Ramapo College, he is also a real Filipino nurse. David is grateful to God, his wife Jemimah, and his family for their unwavering love and support throughout his life and career.
IG: @liumaoshing
MJ Abdul, she/he/they, (Gabe) is a graduate of Wheaton College (Majors: Anthropology and Theatre, Minors: Studio Art and Ethnomusicology). MJ grew up at the Main Street Theatre, and is thrilled to return to their home stage with Okaeri after a two year hiatus. Year round, you can find them fronting the [insert hard rock subgenre] band Panic Order (@panicorderband). Favorite past roles include Lead Player in Pippin, Natalie in All Shook Up and Melpomene in Xanadu. Much love to Kati, Zeke, Mom, Dad, June, Artie, Merry, Pippin and The Slups. Dedicating every performance to Lauren, whose obsession with this show was their first exposure to it, and Mita, who sits with an audience of angels.
IG: @queerandunusualarts
Olivia Lincoln, she/her, (Natalie) is ecstatic to be making her Okaeri debut and joining this family in such a beautifully complex production. By day, she is a Clinical Dietitian at NewYork-Presbyterian and by night, a performer/stage manager with AfterWork Theater. Favorite past roles include: Mimi in RENT, Wendy Jo in Footloose, Ensemble/Carla u/s in In the Heights. Olivia would like to thank her friends & family—especially her aunt Nancy and cousin Charlotte for the many sing-a-longs around the piano and barreling down the road in the minivan; Aidan & Leon for their friendship, vocal/acting coaching, and their beautiful words of encouragement that are now etched into her heart; and Joji for the endless love, support, and belief in me in all things on and offstage!
IG: @olivia_lincoln
Chris Villanueva, he/him, (Dr. Fine, Dr. Madden) is a creative copywriter, strategist, and digital producer who moonlights as an actor and movement artist. His Filipino mother still wishes he was a nurse. As a pole dancer, Chris has performed at the International Pole Convention, The Drom, The Red Pavillion, House of Elevasiya, and Whorechatta. He teaches pole classes at Pole Position in Westchester, NY. Theater credits: Jim/Jianguo in Generation (Laz)Y (The Tank), Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (AfterWork Theater), Reggie in First Date (Okaeri), Company (singing “Light of the World”) in Godspell (Okaeri), Spike in Once More with Feeling (Okaeri/AWT). MPS in Branding & Integrated Comms; BA in Advertising/PR; Certificate in UX Design; an unfinished minor in theater.
IG: @chris_is_chris / Website: chrisvillan.com
Jason Schulof, he/him, (Henry) is a native of Brooklyn, NY. He is a graduate from SUNY Cortland with a B.A. in Musical Theatre. He is currently a personal trainer and teacher at Focus Personal Training Institute. Previous credits include Judas in Godspell (Okaeri Productions), Cliff in Cabaret, Woof in Hair, Bill in Kiss Me Kate, Avigdor inYentl, Mike Costa in A Chorus Line, Og in Finian's Rainbow, at The Heights Players. Joe/Steam Heat Dancer (The Pajama Game) at The Gallery Players. Jason would like to thank his parents and Liann for always supporting him by helping him make his dreams possible.
IG: @joker.shoes4
Creative Team
Aya Esther Hayashi, she/her, (Director, Choreographer, Producer) does too much, but the alternative is boredom. She is so grateful for the talented, dedicated humans who joined her to make Next to Normal happen. Directing credits include First Date, Godspell (Okaeri Productions); Almost, Maine, The Drowsy Chaperone (AfterWork Theater). Select acting credits: Woman 1 in Songs for a New World, Company in Godspell (Okaeri Productions); Liza Minnelli in Forbidden Broadway (MSTDA). Apart from this side hustle, she loves to laugh with her colleagues and cultivates relationships as Development Director at The People’s Theatre. You can call her “Doctor,” if you want to. PhD, Musicology, The Graduate Center CUNY.
IG: @ayaesther / Website: ayaestherhayashi.com
Melody Valdez, she/her, (Music Director, Piano Choreographer) is excited to return to Okaeri after working on Godspell with the team! Favorite credits include subbing on Keys 2 for Lempicka, music assisting on the Once Upon a Mattress Broadway Revival, and touring as AMD/Keys 3 for SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical. Additional music directing credits include Lippa’s The Wild Party, Something Rotten, Cabaret, and A Chorus Line. She has also worked with AfterWork Theater, Berkeley Playhouse Conservatory, and National Asian Artists Project. Outside of theatre, Melody enjoys reading romance novels, eating Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, and daydreaming about traveling the world.
IG: @mymelodyvaldez
Sarah Hulsmann, she/her, (Assistant Director, Co-producer) is a New York based stage manager, choreographer, director, performer, and mental health advocate. She has been in love with all things theater since she was a young child after seeing a Broadway performance of Mary Poppins (when Mary flew over her head in the audience!). Since then, Sarah has been involved with theatrical productions in every possible way possible. Previous stage managing/ choreography/directing credits include Hello! Dolly, Oliver!, She Kills Monsters, The Drowsy Chaperone, and another production of Next to Normal. Sarah is immensely excited to wear many hats for this production and be “whatever Aya needs” on a given day and to have the opportunity to work on such a meaningful show with such a talented group of people.
IG: @sarah_hulsmann
Brandon Lax, he/him, (Lighting Designer) is very excited to be working with Okeari Productions for the first time. Other than this production, he has been mainly supporting AfterWork Theatre, having designed lights for 19 shows over the past 3 years. Outside of theatre, he is a full-time software engineer with a passion for making technology for the arts more affordable and accessible.
Margaret Montagna she/her, (Sound Designer) is a New York City based sound designer, originally from Brooklyn. She is so excited to be designing with Okaeri for the first time! Select design credits include: Hamlet: What Dreams May Come (The Frank Shiner Theater), The Jester’s Wife (The Chain Theatre) Brainsmash (59E59 Studio C), I Wanna F*ck Like Romeo and Juliet (59E59 Studio C), The Panic of ‘29 (59E59 Studio B), Alison Leiby: Oh God, A Show About Abortion (Cherry Lane Theatre), The Collision/The Martyrdom (59E59 Studio C), Decomposed Theater (The New School), Family of Lear (Stella Adler Studios), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (The New School), A Woman of the World (59E59 Studio C), Queen (Astoria Boys and Girls Club), Holy ghosts (Urban Stages) margaretmontagnasd.com
Credits
Cast (in order of appearance)
Diana Amanda Chin
Gabe MJ Abdul
Dan David Teano
Natalie Olivia Lincoln
Henry Jason Schulof
Dr. Fine / Dr. Madden Chris Villanueva
Band
Conductor/Piano Melody Valdez
Guitar Nick Cocks
Cello Isabella Palacpac
Drums Balam Sarellano
Creative Team, Production, and Crew
Director/Choreographer/Producer Aya Esther Hayashi
Music Director Melody Valdez
Asst. Director/Co-Producer Sarah Hulsmann
Lighting Designer Brandon Lax
Sound Designer Margaret Montagna
Stage Hand Nicole Suazo
Graphic Designer MJ Abdul
Musical Numbers
Act 1
Prelude - Orchestra
Just Another Day - Diana, Natalie, Dan, Gabe, Company
Everything Else - Natalie
Who’s Crazy / My Psychopharmacologist and I - Dan, Diana, Dr. Fine, Company
Perfect For You - Henry, Natalie
I Miss the Mountains - Diana
It’s Gonna Be Good - Dan, Company
He’s Not Here - Dan
You Don’t Know - Diana
I am the One - Dan, Gabe, Diana
Superboy and the Invisible Girl - Natalie, Diana, Gabe
I’m Alive - Gabe
Make Up Your Mind / Catch Me I’m Falling - Dr. Madden, Company
I Dreamed A Dance - Diana, Gabe
There’s a World - Gabe
I’ve Been - Dan, Gabe
Didn’t I See This Movie - Diana
Light in the Dark - Dan, Diana
Act 2
Wish I Were Here - Diana, Natalie, Company
Song of Forgetting - Dan, Diana, Natalie
Hey #1 - Henry, Natalie
Seconds and Years - Dr. Madden, Dan, Diana
Better Than Before - Dr. Madden, Dan, Natalie, Diana
Aftershocks - Gabe, Diana
Hey #2 - Henry, Natalie
You Don’t Know (Reprise) - Diana, Dr. Madden
How Could I Ever Forget - Diana, Dan
It’s Gonna Be Good (Reprise) - Dan, Diana
Why Stay? / A Promise - Diana, Natalie, Dan, Henry
I’m Alive (Reprise) - Gabe
The Break - Diana
Make Up Your Mind / Catch Me I’m Falling (Reprise) - Dr. Madden, Diana, Gabe
Maybe (Next to Normal) - Diana, Natalie
Hey #2 / Perfect For You (Reprise) - Henry, Natalie
So Anyway - Diana
I Am the One (Reprise) - Dan, Gabe
Light - Company
Special Thanks
Emmanuel Abreu (production photos), Jason Liebson (sub music director), Kaeden Oh (sub music director), Nicole Suazo (stagehand), People’s Theatre Project (in-kind rehearsal space), David & Jemimah Teano (concessions & box office); Kristi Towey, Ashleigh Herndon, Zackary Childers, & Jonathan Fadner (MSTDA).
Mission
Founded in 2018, Okaeri Productions creates intimate musical theatre shows that feature artists and creative teams of the global majority, doing its small part to “change the stage.”
Support Our Work
Okaeri Productions is a labor of love: all profits go directly into paying the creative team, musicians, and artists, or covering space rentals.
A gift of $20 covers one hour of studio rental on Roosevelt Island
A gift of $50 covers one day of theater usage on Roosevelt Island
A gift of $28-70 covers one hour of studio rental in Manhattan (total of 62 rehearsal hours)
A gift of $100+ makes a significant contribution towards designer/artist/musician pay