Post graduate student in her final semester at Notre Dame completing her degree in psychiatry. Avery is methodical, numbers-oriented and feels science can cure all. She struggles when she cannot find the scientific link to explain the deeply emotional symptoms of anxiety and depression.

AVERY

Avery’s younger sister. Secretly suffering from extreme depression and manic behaviors. Unbeknownst to Avery, Macy has lived through a suicide attempt. Macy is reaching out to Avery but Avery doesn’t see it until it’s almost too late. Macy is caring and longs for companionship with her sister. Macy is easily angered and explodes quickly. Often feeling she is “always the bridesmaid,” she does things for people claiming to not want anything in return but hurt when they don’t. 

MACY

Rachel’s mom, who has experienced anxiety and depression for a long time. She's survived suicide attempts several times and grapples with self-harm. She tends to lash out when confronted and then when backed into a corner, collapses emotionally. She loves her daughter, but her illness keeps her from having a real relationship with her.

ELIZABETH

Elizabeth’s daughter. Hard working, self-sufficient – been cleaning up her mother’s messes for some time. She has it down to a science. Would love to just walk away – but can never quite do it, so she finds herself caught in the same cycle with her mother over and over again.

RACHEL

Charming, mid-20’s, funny and somewhat nerdy person living with anxiety and depression. Self-deprecation and humor are defense weapons that he wields like a ninja. A validation seeker.

DYLAN

Laura experiences anxiety and depression with a great deal of hypersensitivity. Gets her feelings hurt easily. Continually feels alone. Feels she cannot properly express how she feels and that no one would understand anyway. Cannot maintain long relationships as she bails early before she can become a burden to them.


LAURA

Laura’s boyfriend. Loves her very much. Frustrated that he cannot solve her problem because he doesn’t understand it. The classic non-sufferer companion – carries the shrapnel of her disease just skin deep. 

CHARLIE

Mid-30’s, diagnosed as manic depressive and bipolar, which keeps her awake for as many as three days at a time. Level-headed. Understands her disease. Married to Neil for some time now. She feels she should no longer hurt him and decides she needs to leave him for both their sakes.


ANNIE

Mid-30’s, husband to Annie. Loving, loyal, hurt, bitter. Has always been there for her, so her leaving him comes as a hurtful blow. It’s an ending he cannot understand.


NEIL

Generalized anxiety triggered by father abandonment at age 8. Medication and therapy is a way of life. In fact, he’s doing quite well until his father re-emerges in his life 15 years later.


Deadbeat dad. Abandoned his wife and child when Dan was 8. Wrote a few letters, but largely has been absent. He is regretful, but too late – the damage to both of them is done. 

DAN’S FATHER

Recovering alcoholic. Her intoxicated days led to physical and emotional hurt she is now on a journey to repair – as much as she can. Falling off the wagon is a very real possibility. 

CARA

Cara’s former friend (perhaps more). Joe and Cara spent a good deal of their time together while she was drunk. When Cara earned her first DUI, she and Joe severed ties. He loves Cara – but is hesitant to bring all of that chaos back into his life. 


Ethan's anxiety and depression symptoms manifest in physical violence – especially against his girlfriend. He often fails to see or maybe even know the severity of his actions. That is, until his girlfriend Molly decides she’s had enough.


ETHAN

Ethan’s supportive girlfriend – who has suffered abuses both physical and emotional from him and has finally decided it’s enough. 

MOLLY

Three women at various stages of their life with exact same diagnoses but starkly different symptom manifestations. They represent frustration for Avery as she constantly searches for scientific consistency. 


ROSE, ALICIA, & KRISTINA

Manic depression, medicated, ashamed. Loving, passionate – feels his disorder is a black cloud that makes him unlovable and problematic in relationships.

AARON 

Aaron’s fiancé. Loving, supportive – aware of Aaron’s disease and loves him anyway. It’s a non-factor for him. Max wants to marry Aaron, but Aaron worries that he will become too much for Max to handle. Max is the wisdom in the room when it is most needed.


16-year-old girl. ADHD, generalized anxiety, struggles with self-harm. Quiet sufferer. Obsessed with Robert Downey Jr. as he represents a new life for her – a life where she isn’t medicated but the toast of the town, the wife of Iron Man.


HOPE

Long time self-harmer, in a support and recovery group. We meet her when she is three months free of cutting. Amy’s history is dark but represents an emergence from the pain – a pain-free life IS possible. 


60-Minute Talkback with the Creators

Video Recording

The Anxiety Project

'The Anxiety Project' Original Cast Recording by Rebecca Rudnyk | YabYum Music + Arts | your PHX guide to music everywhere

'The Anxiety Project' Original Cast Recording | YabYum Music + Arts

Featuring book and lyrics by DAVID BRUSH and music by RACHEL DEAN, the new musical The Anxiety Project: Original Cast Recording will be available for purchase and streaming August 13. The cast recording features all 21 show tracks plus a bonus track recorded by CAELAN CREASER (Frozen national tour, Elsa u/s)

THE ANXIETY PROJECT Original Cast Recording Releases August 13

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The Anxiety Project tells the story of Avery - one semester away from her doctorate in psychiatry. When mental illness hits closer to home than she ever imagined, Avery realizes that clinical must meet compassion as she finds herself fighting the stigma and giving voice to those who need it most. 