BORDERLINE
A NEW MUSICAL WITH PERSONALITY
ORIGIN STORY
Inspired by book writer Aryanna’s own experience living with Borderline Personality Disorder, we started writing BORDERLINE in 2018 after the world’s most awkward coffee date. Several more coffee dates later, once I’d fallen head-first into Aryanna’s mind, the two of us became inseparable and wrote our first draft in just three months, deeply inspired to try and capture all the complexities and absurdities of this illness with music, humor, and heart.
That first draft won us the Weston New Musical Award, which let us hear an early version in front of an audience and realize we had something immensely special on our hands. We’ve since developed the show at the O’Neill, the Dramatist Guild Foundation, and Benjamin’s score has won him a Jonathan Larson Grant, Fred Ebb Award, Kleban Award, and Stephen Schwartz Award.
We’re eager for the show to finally have its first production and are partnering with Hartford Stage in CT to bring the show to life in 2027.
SYNOPSIS
Borderline follows Anna Liddell, a young woman who’s never quite fit into the world around her. After losing her job and getting evicted, Anna hits rock bottom—arrested for vandalizing a bar and forced to move back in with her estranged father, John. As part of her sentence, she’s ordered into therapy with a court-appointed psychiatrist, Dr. Brenner—a woman Anna neither knows nor trusts.
Used to keeping people at arm’s length, Anna isn’t prepared for Dr. Brenner’s blunt, no-bullshit approach. She’s even less prepared to meet Jesse, a neurotic but kind-hearted asthmatic who somehow sees past her defenses. For a moment, it feels like things might be turning around. But Anna’s old habits die hard, and a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder threatens to unravel it all. Can Anna rebuild her life with this new understanding of herself? Can she trust others when she can barely trust her own emotions? And can she let love in when her instinct is to push everyone away?
Borderline is an honest exploration of illness, family dysfunction, and fragile hope. It’s a story about breaking down and rebuilding, about finding meaning in the mess—and about realizing that even when you’re at your most broken, you’re not alone.
WHY THIS SHOW NOW?
In a post-pandemic world where social media & increased polarization has left us feeling more isolated than ever, Anna’s story is a powerful balm to anyone feeling alone. Unlike previous Broadway shows that engage with mental illness, such as NEXT TO NORMAL and DEAR EVEN HANSEN, ours balances the heaviness with a healthy does of comedy and absurdity, channeling Anna’s biting wit to try and survive and ultimately find love.
We’ve partnered with NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) to help promote their work and showcase ours, and we’re excited to plan more partner events with them as we lead up to our world premiere in 2027, including joining their podcast and charity performances.
FEATURED SONGS
"Borderline" (Anna)
Anna has just been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and is working to make sense of what that means.
"I'm Gonna Die Alone" (Anna)
Plagued by crippling anxiety and known for blowing every dating opportunity that comes her way, Anna admits her desire for real intimacy.
"Crazy Wonderful" (John)
Anna’s mother left when Anna was eight, leaving John to raise Anna alone. With Anna moved back home, he wrestles with his memory of Sarah.
"Wanna Go Out" (Jesse and Anna)
Jesse, a guy Anna has befriended in the waiting room of her therapist’s office, is trying to ask her out on a date. Anna is playing hard to get.
"Land of Lost and Found" (Dr. Brenner)
Anna’s therapist, Dr. Brenner, feels helpless to help Anna as she begins to spiral after her diagnosis.
JOIN US!
We’re excited to be premiering the show at Hartford Stage in the fall of 2027 but are still in need of partners to help us fund the production. If you’re interested in supporting the production with a Tax-Deductible Donation, have an idea of how to amplify the show, or would be interested in learning more, please send us a message in the form below. We’re excited to have you join our family!