Our awareness of mental health disorders has shifted dramatically since Next to Normal's debut in 2008, and I wanted the audience to experience that from the inside. It was my mission to give the audience a clearer perspective about what it's like to internally struggle with a mental health disorder and process unresolved trauma. We aimed to accomplish this by telling the story from the point of view of Diana's mind. The audience wore wireless headphones, immersed in 4D binaural sound, which aurally allowed them to hear from Diana's perspective. This was coupled with the visual scenic metaphor for Diana's mind, an anechoic chamber, and an expanded cast size that fleshed out the chaotic world surrounding Diana – a flurry of doctors, memories of her younger self, and even her own family.