BORDERLINE
Music and Lyrics by Benjamin Velez
Book by Aryanna Garber
Borderline is a new musical dramedy about a larger-than-life aspiring artist, Anna. Anna is in her mid-twenties, single, a recent college dropout who can’t seem to hold down a job, even as a barista—so it’s going well. Every attempt at a new job or romantic relationship seems to result in total disaster. As Anna becomes more destructive and self-destructive she finds herself on a downward spiral that lands her in jail. When her father comes to bail her out, she has no choice but to move back in with him as she attempts to get her life together. Anna meets people along the way who recognize her potential as well as her pain. She begins working with a talented psychiatrist who is able to diagnose her and support her in walking a more even line. Will Anna find the will to invest in her own future? To embrace her circumstances and have a life of connection and expression she’s been longing for? Anna’s is a deeply personal story that explores the highs and lows, the heartache and absurdity, of living on the borderline.
Borderline is the 2018 Weston Playhouse New Musical Award Winner and had two concert presentations at the Weston Playhouse in Vermont in March 2018, directed by Michael Berresse and starring Margo Seibert, Stephen Bogardus, Derrick Baskin, Katie Thompson, and Leo Ash Evens.
Borderline then had the honor of being the first musical in the 2019 O’Neill National Musical Theater conference. We had four presentations in June 2019 directed by Jaki Bradley, music directed by David Gardos, dramaturged by Carrie Chapter, with our insanely talented cast of Florrie Bagel, Charl Brown, Lincoln Clauss, Matt Dallal, Sarah Lynn Marion, Gilli Messer, Andy Taylor, & Tatiana Wechsler.
FEATURED SONGS
"Borderline" (Anna)
Anna has just been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and is working to make sense of what that means after a lifetime of not having a name for her illness.
"I'm Gonna Die Alone" (Anna)
Plagued by crippling anxiety and known for blowing every dating opportunity that comes her way, Anna laments her likely fate and admits her desire for real intimacy.
"Crazy Wonderful" (John)
John, Anna’s father, makes every attempt he can to avoid discussing his late wife. But when he befriends Anna’s case worker Dana, John opens up about his wife for the first time.
"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, who’s never had the upper hand when it comes to dating, is committed to playing hard to get.
"Land of Lost and Found" (Dr. Brenner)
Anna’s therapist, Dr. Brenner, feels helpless to help Anna as she decides to go off her meds and falls down a terrifying spiral of withdrawal.
