Theatre Horizon (401 DeKalb Street, Norristown), the award-winning professional theater nestled in Norristown’s Arts Hill District, is proud to present the world premiere of Wishing to Grow Up Brightly, a new musical created by Amanda Morton, Matthew Decker, Brenson Thomas, and Josh Totora.
The production is loosely inspired by the life of Morton, a three-time Barrymore Award-winning composer, lyricist, and music director, and this inventive work fuses memory, identity, and imagination into an unforgettable theatrical event.
Her credits include Broadway’s Operation Mincemeat and Gutenberg! The Musical! as Associate Conductor, and KPOP as
Associate Music Director. The production is directed by Decker, a three-time Barrymore Award winner and Theatre Horizon’s Interim Artistic Director, whose theater work includes Theatre Horizon’s productions of The Few, A New Brain, and Into the Woods, and co-writing Broadway’s upcoming La La Land. Wishing to Grow Up Brightly, supported by the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, runs from Nov. 5-23.
Opening night is on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 PM. The play has an estimated runtime of two hours and 10 minutes, with an intermission, and is recommended for audiences aged 13 and above. Tickets run from $35 to $55. Click here to purchase single tickets, here to purchase memberships, or call 610-283-2230 ext. 1.
At once hilarious and heartfelt, the musical follows Amanda Newton (Sami Ma), a Korean-born woman adopted by white parents in the U.S., as she returns home to help her mother, Jean (Marybeth Gorman), pack up their house after the death of her father, Walt (Trey Lyford). Amidst the clutter and grief, Amanda stumbles upon reMEMOREX, a futuristic company that promises families a way to reconnect with the past. Amanda sifts through boxes both real and virtual, and the boundaries between memory
and imagination blur, revealing a story about family, loss, and the inheritance of identity. Powered by a genre-defying score that spans satirical pop and choral requiems, Wishing to Grow Up Brightly explores how we search for connection in the fragments left behind.
“This show explores how we remember — and misremember — the people who shape us,” said Decker. “Inspired by Amanda’s story as a Korean-American adoptee, the process of bringing it to the stage revealed something deeply universal about how we grieve, remember, and move forward. We hope audiences leave with a renewed tenderness for their own memories—and for the people who live within them.”
Wishing to Grow Up Brightly’s vibrant cast features new and familiar faces for Theatre Horizon audiences. Sami Ma (Amanda Newton) makes their Theatre Horizon debut after previously appearing Off-Broadway in Once Upon A (Korean) Time. Regionally, their roles have included productions with the Indianapolis Repertory Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe, Paper Mill Playhouse, and Cincinnati Playhouse.
Marybeth Gorman (Jean Newton) returns to Theatre Horizon, where she previously appeared in Kimberly Akimbo (Pattie). Her regional work includes roles at Arden Theatre Company, Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, and Lantern Theatre.
Trey Lyford (Walter “Walt” Newton) is a Philadelphia-based theatre creator, director, designer, and performer who previously appeared at Theatre Horizon in roles in Head over Heels (Basilius) and Peter & the Starcatcher (Black Stache). Regionally, he has also worked with The Civilians in New York City, Pig Iron Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, 1812 Productions, and Quintessence Theatre.
Katie Boren (Alison “Allie” Park) is a New York-based performer making her Theatre Horizon debut. Previously, she performed in the Broadway production of Lysistrata Jones and understudied in Avenue Q.
Brenson Thomas (Ensemble) returns to Theatre Horizon, where he previously appeared in TOWN (Ensemble). He has been in regional productions at Wilma Theater, Theatre Exile, Arden Theatre Company, and Delaware Theatre Company.
Jacinta Yelland (Ensemble) is a Philadelphia-based Australian physical theater creator, performer, and teacher, who’s returning to Theatre Horizon after previous roles in Oedipus in Seattle and Broccoli, Roosevelt, and Mr. House. Her regional work includes productions at Opera Philadelphia, Quintessence Theatre, Pig Iron Theatre, and People’s Light Theatre.
Hannah Catanoso (Ensemble) is a Philadelphia-based performer making her Theatre Horizon debut. Her regional work includes roles at Media Theatre, Arden Theatre Company, Bristol Riverside Theatre, and Walnut Street Theatre.
Francesca Nong (Ensemble) is a New York City-based actor, singer, and dancer who is debuting at Theatre Horizon after appearing on the Broadway national tour of Miss Saigon in the ensemble and as an understudy. Regionally, she has appeared in productions at Arden Theatre Company, Walnut Street Theatre, 11th Hour Theatre Company, and Princeton Summer Theater.
The creative and production team includes Amanda Morton (Book Writer and Lyrics), Matthew Decker (Book Writer and Director), Brenson Thomas (Book Writer), Josh Totora (Lyrics and Music), Brigitte Rottman (Music Director/Conductor), Mikayla Coxe (Associate Music Director/Music Assistant), Niki Cousineau (Choreographer), You-Shin Chen (Set Designer), Thom Weaver (Lighting Designer), Jill Keys (Costume Designer), Damien Figueras (Sound Designer), Jen Burkhart (Set Designer), Sarah Hahm (Cultural Consultant), Alec Ferrell (Stage Manager), D Cousineau (Assistant Director), Karly Amato (Assistant Stage Manager), Harbour Edney (Head Electrician), and AJ Bloomfield (Audio Engineer).
Theatre Horizon is hosting a variety of special events and performances to further engage audiences around Wishing to Grow Up Brightly, including:
Pay-What-You-Want Dress Rehearsal: Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 PM. Watch the Final Dress Rehearsal of Wishing to Grow Up Brightly, before anyone else! Tickets start at just $5 for this special opportunity to see the show early and be part of the process.
Preview and Open Mic: Thursday, Nov. 6. In partnership with Power Street Theatre and Souletri, enjoy a Post-Show Reception & Open Mic Night immediately following the 7:30 PM performance.
Opening Night: Saturday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 PM. Guests are invited to imbibe complimentary cocktails in the lobby before the performance and return for free cake afterward.
Student Matinees: Wednesday, Nov. 12, and Nov. 19 at 10:30 AM. Nothing is more important to Theatre Horizon than the next generation of artists and audiences. A talkback with the professionals who worked on the show will immediately follow the performance.
Front Row Fridays: Friday, Nov. 14, and Nov. 21, at 7:30 PM. To ensure Theatre Horizon shows are accessible to everyone, every Friday after the opening of each production in its 21st season is Front Row Friday. All seats in the front row are available for just $15.
Saturday Sips: Saturday, Nov.15, and Nov. 22, at 7:30 PM. The second Saturday of Theatre Horizon productions through its 21st season, enjoy a complimentary themed beverage with every ticket purchased.
Theatre Horizon is a professional non-profit theatre company located in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Since 2005, it has produced nationally recognized work while building bridges between artists and the local community. Known for producing Tony Award-winning musicals, bold new plays, and community-based storytelling, Theatre Horizon is also a leader in accessibility and education programming. The company received the American Theatre Wing National Theatre Company Award and is celebrated for its commitment to inclusion, imagination, and the transformative power of live performance.
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