The world premiere of an ambitious new musical is being produced at Theatre Horizon, and it’s not to be missed. Wishing to Grow Up Brightly is a brand new musical created by some of the Philadelphia area’s top talents with the support of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. The piece examines heritage, belonging, and parental dynamics all with a Black Mirror-esque sci-fi backdrop. This bold new show blends deep themes, a fascinating plot, and lovely performances to deliver an exciting new production.
The musical tells the story of Amanda Newton, inspired by the life of co-creator Amanda Morton. Newton is a Korean-American who was adopted by white parents as a baby, but yearns to know more about her origins. Early in the show, we learn that Newton’s father recently died, and she learns she’s pregnant, further causing her to introspect on her history with her parents. Searching for answers from her past, Newton learns that her dad preserved his memories in a technology called reMemorex, a way for loved ones to step inside the recollections of the deceased. Amanda, starving for answers, ignores the “careful what you wish for” aspect and dives into the unknown.
The musical is wonderfully directed by Theatre Horizon co-founder Matthew Decker, who also co-wrote the book with Brenson Thomas. Especially once Amanda enters the memories of her dad in Act II, Decker’s crystal clear direction never leaves you confused amidst the complexities of exploring a mind. The music by Josh Totora with lyrics co-written by Totora and Morton, is enjoyable and varied. The talent on display is, unsurprisingly with Theatre Horizon, excellent. Sami Ma plays Amanda in a way that has you completely empathetic for her yearning, even when she makes questionable decisions. Marybeth Gorman plays Amanda’s mom with a grounded wisdom while Trey Lyford plays Amanda’s dad in memory form, an incredibly difficult role that Lyford aces. Rounding out the principal cast is Amanda’s best friend Ally, played sharply by Katie Boren with a booming voice.
Wishing to Grow Up Brightly examines difficult questions, making you wonder what you would do if you had access to your departed loved ones’ memories. Is it better to leave the past in the past, or learn everything about your history? What would you do for the ability to view your loved ones one more time, even artificially? How far would you go to learn your origin if you were adopted as a baby with no context as to why? Wishing to Grow Up Brightly blends fascinating themes with a clever science fiction device to evoke deep questions, all while delivering a sweet examination of family dynamics. Even as a world premiere production, Wishing to Grow Up Brightly seems to have a bright future.