A new one-woman play tackling eating disorders, body image and family relationships is making its world premiere in New York before heading to one of the world’s largest theater festivals.
Written by and starring Reilly O’Shaughnessy, BELLY will debut with a limited three-performance engagement at 59E59 Theaters in Manhattan from July 22-25, before traveling to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where it will run from Aug. 7-29 at the Sprout Theater.
Directed by Juliet Kapanjie, the 55-minute production tells the interconnected stories of three women from the same family, all portrayed by O’Shaughnessy.
The play follows Ellie, a high school swimmer whose pursuit of athletic success contributes to the development of an eating disorder; Katie, her pregnant aunt, who struggles with wellness culture and weight stigma while preparing for motherhood; and Susan, Katie’s recently widowed mother, who is learning to navigate grief and loneliness after the loss of her husband.
Though their experiences differ, each woman wrestles with expectations surrounding body image, control and self-worth.
“I wrote BELLY because I wanted to tell the truth about what it means to grow up in a body under constant surveillance—by yourself, by other people and by the world around you,” O’Shaughnessy said.
Drawing on her own experience with an eating disorder, the playwright said she wanted to create a work that reflects both the personal and shared realities many people face when confronting body image and societal pressures.
The production blends conversational storytelling with more poetic theatrical sequences as O’Shaughnessy shifts between the three characters, exploring how ideas about food, appearance and identity can be passed from one generation to the next.
The play also arrives at a time when conversations surrounding weight-loss medications, wellness culture and body positivity continue to evolve, making its themes especially timely.
Early supporters have praised the production’s emotional depth. Lexy McAvinchey of the Geffen Playhouse described O’Shaughnessy’s work as tapping into audiences’ “deepest, most ancient connective tissue,” while actor and podcaster Sam Valentine called the play particularly relevant amid changing conversations about body image.
The creative team includes lighting designer Claire Chrzan, sound designer Eric Backus, and stage manager and technical director Jeremy Harris.
Following its New York performances, BELLY will join thousands of productions at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where emerging playwrights often gain international attention.
By combining humor, vulnerability and intimate storytelling, BELLY aims to spark conversations about eating disorders, grief and the pressures women face throughout their lives. Through the voices of three generations, the production asks audiences to reconsider how society measures worth—and what it takes to reclaim it.