“It is scary how prevalent this disorder has become. Today, I am sending a card to a family whose daughter, Alex DeVinny, died last March 5th from anorexia. Monday is the first anniversary of her death. This was a vibrant 20 year old who played soccer with my daughter. She was artistic, a state champion high school runner, and a truly great person. She came from a highly supportive family. I wonder if seeing something such as NOR•MAL might have made a difference. Nothing else could. Bless you for the work that you and these students are doing.” ~Terri T. “I wanted to let you know that I just got off the phone with my niece (she was in her guidance office at school because she had a panic attack about having eaten breakfast) and she wants to go to residential treatment NOW.   I feel like the play started a chain reaction of hope this week and my niece and her family finally can imagine a brighter and healthier future for all involved. I have to reiterate: her big decision on Friday [to enroll in a treatment program], truly, was directly connected to NOR•MAL.  Her mom agrees. We've been around and around for the last several years trying to get more focused help for her; and, it was the combination of the theater part, the whole family on stage part, and her talk with Sami [a person in recovery] that did the trick. There is a whole new layer of honesty in the family now that has been a long time in coming (even though certain issues, of course, are still there and this will all take much more time and effort). But, this is new. This feels different. And you've all been a part of making that happen.” ~Terry B., Assistant Professor, Marquette University

photos courtesy of Mark Frohna © 2006

What Does the NIS Curriculum Include?

-- Lessons for Middle School and High School English, Health, Consumer Education and Family Systems and Drama classes were written by teachers at Greendale High School, Greendale Middle School, teachers from New York, Dr. Laura Lees and the NOR•MAL creative team.

-- Reflections and Discussion Questions

-- “Team NOR•MAL” – in-service workshop to teach coaches, guidance counselors, administrators and teachers about eating disorders. The goal is that this group of teachers and coaches form a community to support individuals who are suffering from an eating disorder.

-- Handouts and study guides for classrooms, post show discussion materials, resources and contact information for help

-- Copies of student work and reflections

-- Service learning legacy: students who study eating disorders teach the rest of the community about the issues at hand

-- A documentary film by Logan Productions -- this film is a curriculum piece itself, complete with footage from the musical, interviews with the writers, people in recovery, community members, teachers, students and medical professionals (for more information please see "Current Projects")


Meet the NIS Team:

Robyn Hussa -- NIS Founder, Executive Director. 
In addition to creating NIS, Robyn is also co-Founder and former Executive Director of the Drama Desk award-winning New York City theatre company, Transport Group. For ten years, Robyn produced, organized and managed fundraising events for various nonprofit organizations in New York City, including: Transport Group, Inverse Theatre, manhattantheatresource, Creative Arts Workshops for Kids and First Fig Productions.  In addition, Robyn hosted producing seminars with the prestigious American Theatre Wing's Springboard NYC! series.

For Transport Group, Robyn's producing credits include: Our Town, Requiem For William, First Lady Suite (Drama Desk Nomination - Outstanding Revival of a Musical), The Audience (Drama Desk Nomination - Outstanding Musical), NOR•MAL: and Cul-de-sac. Her favorite work to date was on Transport Group's production of NOR•MAL.  Robyn arranged for therapists, doctors, survivors and experts to attend each production and she lead talk backs with the audience.  Several young audience members were encouraged to seek treatment as a direct result of these seminars.  As a result, Robyn was inspired to create a nonprofit to bring educational versions of the production to schools around the country.

Robyn is the creator of Transport Group's outreach program.  She used her background in education to develop outreach workshops that ranged in scope from violence awareness and stage combat to theatrical writing, acting, mask technique and movement.  She was also a volunteer mentor and board member with Creative Arts Workshops for Kids, Inc. -- a non-profit organization dedicated to developing arts programs that empower inner-city youth to voice their needs and to enhance their self-expression. Robyn joined Transport Group's outreach program with Creative Arts Workshop for Kids, Inc. by creating a Summer Theatre Institute for teenagers.

Robyn is a professional actress, singer and dancer.  Career highlights include performing her one-woman show Kathryn Layne - an Old Fashioned Girl at Joe's Pub and playing Jacqueline Kennedy in Michael John LaChiusa's First Lady Suite at The Connelly Theatre and as part of the New York Historical Society's exhibit on First Ladies alongside Cheryl Stern, Mary Testa, Julia Murney, Judy Blazer, Donna Lynne Champlin, Diane Sutherland, Audra McDonald, Jim Hindman, Ruth Gottschall, Sherri Boone and Mary Beth Piel. 

Robyn holds a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from The University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts in Drama with an emphasis in a Single Subject Teaching Credential in English from San Diego State University.   She is a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders, First Fig Productions, the Drama League, a recognized actor-combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors, a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT200) and a proud card-carrying member of Actors Equity, Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

Yvonne Adrian -- Book writer for NOR•MAL:—the true story of Yvonne's life. 
Yvonne's writing credits in New York City include: B.M.I. Musical Theatre Workshop (Harrington Award) NOR•MAL: a family musical, Directed by Jack Cummings III (Jonathan Larson & TRU Award with creative team, Cheryl Stern & Tom Kochan); Gene Game, commissioned by Ensemble Studio Theatre/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation; The Audience, Directed by Jack Cummings III (Drama Desk Nomination); Flyboy; Ensemble Studio Theatre Marathon, published by Smith & Kraus; Are We There Yet? (Additional writer - written with Jim Hindman and Cheryl Stern). Yvonne is the recipient of the New York Foundation Artists & Arts Award for playwrighting; Legendary Siren – NYFA Playwrighting Award for best original play.

Tom Kochan -- Composer for NOR•MAL:
Career highlights include: two plays with Arthur Miller (at Roundabout and Williamstown), five CD's with James Galway (on RCA Records), three NYC productions with film maker Mike Leigh (for Scott Elliott's New Group), the Drama Desk nominated The Audience (for Transport Group) and Dave Eigenberg's movie Fish. He is the proud recipient of an Emmy Award for his work on “As The World Turns.”

Cheryl Stern -- Lyricist for NOR•MAL: 
A Broadway veteran actress and writer, Cheryl created lyrics for the critically acclaimed Off Broadway musical, Normal, starring Barbara Walsh. She also contributed lyrics to Transport Group’s hit Off Broadway production of The Audience (Drama Desk nom. Best Musical). Are We There Yet? a new revue written with Jim Hindman, Ray Roderick and John Glaudini recently had it’s New York area premiere at the Westchester Broadway Theater and at Queens Theatre in the Park. Other writing credits include: Requiem for William (Transport Group), The Gene Game (EST), contributing writer of the Off B’way revue, That’s Life! (Outer Critic’s Nom.), Buffalonia (solo performance, EST), new verses for Carnival of the Animals (Cleveland Orchestra), In the Cracks ( Triad, CNBC’s America’s Talkin’), A Christmas Survival Guide ( contributing lyricist; Samuel French ) and Littlest Light on the Christmas Tree. Upcoming: Being Audrey with Jim Hindman, Jack Cummings and Ellen Weiss.

Cheryl recently created the role of Maryanne in the world premiere of HATS!, the Red Hat Society musical and can be heard on the newly released cast album. Broadway acting credits include: The Women (Roundabout; filmed for PBS.) Laughing Room Only with Jackie Mason and Candide (NY City Opera). Off B’way : The Drama Desk nominated First Lady Suite ( Mamie), Requiem for William, Game Show, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, The Immigrant. TV: "All My Children," "As the World Turns" and "Law and Order : Criminal Intent." Film: Brooklyn Lobster with Danny Aiello and Jane Curtin. Cheryl is a graduate of Northwestern University.

"Piloting the NORMAL in Schools adaptations and program at Greendale has been by far the most rewarding experience of my professional life. From the very first day we arrived, I could feel power of what was about to take place over the next few months. Eric Christiansen, Robyn Hussa and the students have reached deep within themselves and created a profoundly rich interpretation of our original text and the process of watching them make new discoveries along each step of the journey has been joyous and deeply moving.

Observing how the students, teachers and community have embraced this often silent subject matter with so much passion and connectivity has made it very clear that we must continue this mission of bringing the musical and the hugely successful curriculum to schools everywhere. It has been overwhelming to see students perform this material with such depth of understanding and commitment and the impact it has had on everyone who attended the performances is a testament to the power of the piece and to the carefully designed and executed program. I feel so grateful that the enriching, enlightening and often therapeutic effects of NORMAL will continue to impact audiences at high schools and colleges everywhere. I thank Robyn Hussa for her extraordinary vision and Eric Christiansen and his students for taking the leap by jumping in with all their hearts and collective talents to make this unique dream an important reality. I am just thrilled by the work that has taken place here and look forward to being able to witness all that is ahead for NIS."

From left: Yvonne Adrian (book), Tom Kochan (composer), Cheryl Stern (lyricist)
Photo courtesy of Robert Lange.