NORRISTOWN, PA — Theatre Horizon is set to premiere Wishing to Grow Up Brightly, an original musical that blends memory, identity, and imagination into an emotional, genre-bending journey. Created by Amanda Morton, Matthew Decker, Brenson Thomas, and Josh Totora, the semi-autobiographical production draws inspiration from Morton’s life as a Korean-born adoptee and acclaimed composer. The show runs November 5–23 at the award-winning Norristown theater.
Morton, whose credits include Broadway’s Operation Mincemeat and Gutenberg! The Musical!, joins forces with Decker—Theatre Horizon’s interim artistic director and co-writer of Broadway’s upcoming La La Land. Supported by the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, Wishing to Grow Up Brightly explores how families navigate loss and the fragile boundaries between memory and technology.
At its heart is Amanda Newton (played by Sami Ma), a Korean-born woman adopted by white parents in the U.S., who returns home to help her mother pack up after her father’s death. Amid boxes and grief, she discovers reMEMOREX™, a company offering virtual reconnections with the past. Through this surreal encounter, the story examines what it means to remember—and misremember—the people who shape us.
“This show explores how we remember—and misremember—the people who shape us,” said co-creator Matthew Decker. “Inspired by Amanda’s story as a Korean-American adoptee, the process revealed something deeply universal about how we grieve, remember, and move forward.”
Featuring a genre-defying score that moves from satirical pop to haunting choral harmonies, the production stars Ma alongside Marybeth Gorman, Trey Lyford, and an ensemble of rising regional talent.
Theatre Horizon, celebrated for its bold new works and community-driven productions, will complement the run with adoption-centered conversations, open mics, and post-show events designed to deepen audience engagement.
Tickets for Wishing to Grow Up Brightly range from $35 to $55, with select pay-what-you-want and student performances available. More information and a full schedule of special events can be found at theatrehorizon.org.
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