Next to Normal is the story of Diana Goodman, a suburban housewife, who is desperately trying to maintain the appearance of a perfect family. Staged at the Yale School of Drama from Dec 11-17, 2022, this production was a senior directing thesis. This show was the first time I was part of an extensive design process prior to the rehearsal period. I was interested in how choreography represented the acceleration of time. Movement revealed the inner psyche of Diana’s mind and her psychological journey throughout the show. I drew movement inspiration from TV family sitcoms, Dumbo’s Pink Elephants on Parade, and pharmaceutical commercials. In the show, Diana is the only character who can see the presence of her deceased son, Gabe. To convey this perspective, Gabe was the only character who accessed specific parts of the playing space, including climbing up street lamps built into the set. As Gabe held more power in Diana’s inner mind, Gabe’s physical presence and choreographed movement represented this transformation.