A mental health journey back to Broadway.
What is Insalia?
Edee Shay is finally making her debut on Broadway. But thanks to an exposed eating disorder, returning to the stage means she must attend treatment. Resistant but determined, Edee seeks treatment at a partial hospitalization program, Insalia. Watch Edee's journey unfold…along with the patients and staff she encounters as they face their diagnoses, ethical dilemmas, relationships, careers, and obviously, treatment. This show gives a fresh and realistic, yet relatable and entertaining tell-all about the truth of mental health treatment. While destigmatizing mental health, Insalia paves way for Edee to get back to the life she loves.
ACT I
Treatment is about telling your story, in your way, at your pace. To gain awareness and insight into how the past impacts your past and present behavior. For the main character, Edee, this is not her plan. Edee is focused on returning to the stage as quickly as possible, attempting anything to avoid treatment as she lashes out, resists, and tries her best to disappear into the background. But she can’t hide from her therapist, Ms. Blaine, and even more, she can’t hide from herself. She quickly realizes finishing faster means trusting the process. While at Insalia, Edee is tempted by romantic relationships, drama of staff and patients, and searches for distractions. With her first “crack” in softening, she becomes invested in her cohort’s stories and begins to understand that the first crack is the first step in returning to the Broadway stage. Will she continue to engage in treatment, or will she face her deepest fear of Broadway becoming a distant dream?
ACT II
Edee begins act II lonely and devastated from her weight gain as she mourns the loss of distractions and love. But the knowledge of having the power to heal herself plunges her into investing in treatment. She further understands that progress is not perfection and everyone around her, even Ms. Blaine, lacks perfection. The distractions she once knew become the pieces in her journey that move her forward instead of holding her back as she leans into love, vulnerability, and works on healthier relationships, including the one with herself. Edee breaks away from pleasing others and owns her identity, as she encourages those around her to do the same. To keep moving forward, no matter how difficult. Finally, at Insalia’s alumni night all the unknowns are revealed. Love, healing, Broadway, and even the understanding’s that deepened her journey. Regardless of the outcomes, Edee is proud to be an advocate for mental health and to support destigmatizing it.