As Discovering Magenta opens, we meet Katrina, a young woman in her 20’s who is in a catatonic state. Henry, a mental health worker, discusses with his colleague Rachel that he has no idea how to reach Katrina. The scene shifts and we see Henry finishing dinner with his good friend Eliot. Henry laments that he still feels directionless in life and hope he can FIND MY WAY. Rose enters and suddenly joins them, acting inappropriately.. She is soon followed by the charismatic Cole (30’s), who apologizes for the intrusion. He explains that Rose is having personal difficulties; she responds with a non sequitur (LITTLE BOYS).
Cole, who is also interested in psychology, exchanges numbers with Henry. The next scene shifts back to the hospital, where Henry and Rachel discuss the curious case of Katrina further. They note that her condition makes her easy to care for – almost A MODEL PATIENT. Henry has lunch with Cole, where they share secrets and Cole encourages Henry to DO THE UNEXPECTED. That weekend, Henry and Eliot’s night of drinking (LONELY GUY’S CLUB) is joined by Cole. Cole tells Henry about a new technique for helping catatonic patients: singing to them (WAKE UP). A skeptical Henry tries singing to Katrina the next day; to his shock, it works.
Henry is soon working with Katrina to learn what caused the catatonic state. Despite meeting with initial resistance (LET ME IN), he does find out some details of her past history, including severe abuse from her brother. Katrina is reluctant to confide more in the confines of the institution (GIVE ME SPACE). While Rose and Eliot spark an odd connection (THIS AIN’T OZ), Henry and Cole continuing to discuss Cole’s problems with Rose and Henry’s attempts to reach Katrina (HOW CAN I HELP HER?). As Katrina is sent home, Henry slips her his phone number. They both wonder WHERE WILL I GO FROM HERE.
As Act Two opens, Henry and Katrina meet socially. Katrina confides in him further about the horrific abuses of her brother. Eliot and Rose continue their strange relationship (THIS AIN’T OZ – reprise); after he leaves, however, Rose kills herself (LITTLE BOYS – reprise). Henry’s discussion with Eliot about his slowly emerging feelings for Katrina (REPRESS MY FEELINGS) is interrupted by Cole’s frantic phone call telling them about Rose’s death.
Henry and Katrina continue bonding, as Katrina talks of her fear being insane (DAYS OF MADNESS). Henry explains his idea that happiness may be like the color magenta – not existing in the real world, but created inside oneself. Later, Cole talks of his wish to somehow save Rose (CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE). Katrina confides more of her past to Henry, including the terrifying knowledge that before she went into her catatonic state, she recognized her brother in a supermarket. Henry tries to comfort her, but Katrina explains that she can never truly relax (HE’S OUT THERE NOW). They end up in each others’ arms.
Later, Henry has coffee with Rachel. An innocent conversation makes him realize that Cole used to be a mental patient –and shares common traits with Katrina’s brother. Back at his apartment, we see Cole overpower Eliot and lay in wait for Katrina. When she comes, he confronts her – he is her brother – and begins to taunt her (KATRINA, KATRINA). She manages to overpower him.
A month later, Cole is in custody and Katrina has nearly recovered. Although she initial breaks up with Henry (CLICHÉ OF LOVE), he offers to start all over with their relationship. She decides to give it a try. Henry and the cast sing of the importance of DISCOVERING MAGENTA.