Development and Performance Timeline
Early Development 2004 to 2008
The composer, lyricist and book writer for the musical Guilin, A China Story is Louis Steven Santora, a lifelong musician, writer, composer and music arranger. Guilin is an inspired story with beginnings that originated with Santora’s trip to China in 2004.
Early development began after Santora’s return from China. Several of the core songs were written and produced by Santora utilizing young talent from the Carnegie Mellon University world-renowned musical theatre department. The story at this time was an undeveloped idea. Development of the script for the musical followed the initial recording sessions in Pittsburgh and Nashville. While in Nashville, Santora met a producer who had a show on Broadway at that time. After learning of Santora’s story idea and listening to the early songs, the producer encouraged him to write a script for a staged musical.
2009 to 2014
Development continued with new songs added to support a script version of a story now focusing on Mei Li Goodson as the protagonist. Santora’s idea at first was to have the show focus on the character Zhuang Guo, Mei Li’s Chinese father. The songs Fly and Stay With Me Mei Li were recorded in Pittsburgh and New York respectfully, along with several songs written to support new content in the story.
It was Santora’s vision to write a musical not only about people, but about a place as well, “the most beautiful place under heaven,” Guilin. The character Zheng Hu, The Mayor of Guilin, represents the heart and soul of Guilin, China. His songs reflect the beauty and rich history of “the most beautiful place under heaven.” Another prominent character, Yo Ping, developed into having a greater role as Mei Li’s guide and romantic interest. Now with Yo Ping’s expanded role there are four primary characters, Mei Li Goodson, Zhuang Guo, Zheng Hu and Yo Ping.
With over ten years of development that included countless script revisions with the help of dramaturge Anne Hamilton, new songs were added and produced in New York and Los Angeles to support the revisions. Santora utilized many of the same Carnegie Mellon University student talent now working as professional performers with Broadway credits. The most significant advance in the musical’s development was Santora’s invitation to be part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival in New York City in a 2014. The musical was performed by a cast of New York actors with theatre credits that include Cats, Miss Saigon, The King and I, and Allegiance. Go to NYMF The festival cast list and pictures are available at the musical’s Facebook page. Go to Facebook
Critical audience comments from the festival led to more development over the next several years. Script rewrites, new recordings of songs and performances further refined the project to its current state.
2015 to 2019
There are 21 songs in the current version of the script. Over 40 songs were written and produced throughout the development of the project. Presenting the musical in New York City as either a showcase, a staged reading or workshop is the next step in moving the project to a full production. In the quest for a Broadway run, a regional theatre may be an intermediary step in the production process. Indicated by statistics from the Facebook fan base, the theme of the musical appeals to a broad audience, specifically targeting the ideal demographic profile of a ticket buyer.
ACT 1 SONGS 1 AND 2
THERE’S UNREST is performed by THE REFORMER and HARDLINERS, in reference to historical Chinese political figures and events.
WE ARE EAST NOT WEST is performed by THE THREE ELDERS, in reference to historical Chinese political figures and events. These songs can be presented by off-stage performance in sync with video or staged with performers requiring a larger cast.
ACT 1 SONG 3
A COLD NIGHT IN JANUARY is performed by ZHUANG GUO. This song can be presented here following a timeline of events or later in ACT 2 as a flashback. If the song is presented in ACT 2 the introduction of the protagonist character MEI LI GOODSON will occur sooner in the show.
ACT 1 SONG 4
FARAWAY IN THE EAST is performed by MEI LI GOODSON the protagonist. It is now 2008, 18 years later.
ACT 1 SONG 5
LIFE IN AMERICA is performed by the Cast (High School Students, teachers, cafeteria personnel, LISA and MEI LI, and A MALE STUDENT). The male vocal lead can be the actor performing the character YO PING.
ACT 1 SONG 6
FLY is performed by MEI LI GOODSON. This song marks the start of MEI LI’S dream.
ACT 1 SONG 7
AT THE END OF THE RIVER is performed by MEI LI GOODSON. MEI LI is now in China.
ACT 1 SONG 8
THIS IS YO PING is performed by THE BELLMAN, YO PING and ENSEMBLE.
ACT 1 SONG 9
MODERN CHINA is performed by ZHENG HU and ENSEMBLE (people in the park).
ACT 1 SONG 10
GUILIN is performed by ZHENG HU and ENSEMBLE (people in the park).
ACT 1 SONG 11
THE LOVE INSIDE is performed by YO PING and MEI LI GOODSON.
ACT 1 SONG 12
MEI WEN TI is performed by THE NANNIES and CHILDREN at the Institute. Presented as background score during MEI LI’S tour of the Institute.
ACT 1 SONG 13
JUST GIRLS is performed by THE NANNIES at the Institute. Presented as background score during MEI LI’S tour of the Institute.
ACT 1 SONG 14
IN A CHINESE WAY is performed by ZHUANG GUO.
ACT 2 SONG 1
A COLD NIGHT IN JANUARY is presented as a reprise underscore.
ACT 2 SONG 2
PEARL OF CHINA is performed by ZHENG HU.
ACT 2 SONG 3
WHY CAN’T WE BE FREE is performed by YO PING and ENSEMBLE.
ACT 2 SONG 4
LULLABY is performed by ZHUANG GUO, XI’ER and ENSEMBLE.
ACT 2 SONG 5
A COLD NIGHT IS JANUARY (SCORE) as underscore.
ACT 2 SONG 6
THIS IS CHINA LIFE is performed by ZHUANG GUO.
ACT 2 SONG 7
PROMISE ME as underscore. PROMISE ME is a musical theme for MEI LI’S adoptive parents JOHN and LIA.
ACT 2 SONG 8
GET ME OUT OF HERE is performed by MEI LI GOODSON.
ACT 2 SONG 9
LIFE IN AMERICA LIFE IN CHINA is performed by THE CHINESE POLITBURO, MEI LI GOODSON, and ENSEMBLE.
ACT 2 SONG 10
STAY WITH ME MEI LI is performed by ZHUANG GUO.
ACT 2 SONG 11
WHIRLWIND is performed by MEI LI GOODSON.
ACT 2 SONG 12
I ALWAYS THOUGHT I’D SEE YOU IN HEAVEN is performed by ZHUANG GUO.
SESSION VIDEO
SONGS AND SCENES FROM THE MUSICAL
FARAWAY IN THE EAST
Mei Li Goodson, an Asian American teenager about to graduate from high school, is loved by her adoptive parents and has had a good life with few issues or problems. That is until the night the dreams begin. A recurring dream takes her back in time to a cold night in January where she is being carried by a policeman along the Li Jiang River in Guilin, China. The dreams are the start of an identity crisis for Mei Li. She becomes obsessed with finding out more about her early life in China.
A COLD NIGHT IN JANUARY
A Cold Night In January is performed by the character Zhuang Guo. In the second act, Mei Li, the protagonist, has learned from Zhuang Guo that he is her Chinese father. In this scene, Zhuang Guo is explaining to Mei Li why he took her, his infant daughter, to the orphanage on a cold night nearly two decades past.
The sound of the wind on a cold night is a recurring theme throughout the musical.
FLY
Mei Li is confused about her life and wishes she could just fly away from her thoughts.
THIS IS YO PING
She wakes up the same way from her dreams, shivering in her bed from the cold, even though it is summer in Connecticut. But on one night she does not wake up shivering, but instead follows a Chinese man and woman to the banks of the Li Jiang River. She is alone on the banks of the Li Jiang River in Guilin, “the most beautiful place under heaven.”
At first Mei Li is mesmerized by the beauty of the river and the nearby karst mountains. But she is alone and knows she will need help. She sees a hotel nearby and approaches a Bellman who offers to help by providing a guide – a guide named Yo Ping.
GUILIN
Yo Ping shows Mei Li the way to the park at Elephant Trunk Hill, a famous place she has read about many times.
When Mei Li arrives at the park at Elephant Trunk Hill, Yo Ping fades into the crowd. Once again looking for help she spots a man who appears to be important. He is Zheng Hu, the Mayor of Guilin.
The mayor greats Mei Li and shows her “the most beautiful place under heaven.”
POST GUILIN DIALOG
THE MAYOR AND MEI LI
LULLABY
Mei Li hopes that she will find answers to questions about her past at the orphanage, but only finds out one thing – the identity of the policeman that brought her there. That policeman patrols the park and is called The Old Guard. His formal name is Zhuang Guo. Zhuang Guo is Mei Li’s Chinese father – a father she never knew – a man who is driven by his desire to turn back time, right the wrongs of the past and live a life with his daughter once again.
Mei Li only knows that a policeman brought her to the orphanage. She does not know that this policeman is her father until he reveals it. Zhuang Guo’s deceased wife, Xi’er, had told this truth to him in a dream. At first confused and angry about the revelation, Mei Li calms and listens to Zhuang Guo explain what had happened when she was born.
GET ME OUT OF HERE – STAY WITH ME MEI LI
After telling her the truth, Zhuang Guo senses that Mei Li is not convinced that China is the right place for her. He starts to pressure Mei Li by suggesting she stay in China with him at his home. She suddenly imagines her American parents John and Lia and her home in Connecticut and wants to return there. She can no longer stand the confusion and runs away from Zhuang Guo.
Mei Li runs away and becomes lost and tangled in a frightening scene with surreal images of life in China versus life in America. Afraid and exhausted she runs until she no longer can.
Under attack by beggars, street vendors and criminals, she realizes that all she has in China is Zhuang Guo, her father. She screams for him and suddenly finds she is back in the park. Zhuang Guo runs to her and rescues her from all that is bad in Guilin. Now in his arms, Mei Li feels the comfort of a loving father. He convinces her to come to his home in the village. It is the house where she was born.
Once Mei Li is asleep in her bed, Zhuang Guo pleads to the heavens for help that she might stay with him forever.
WHIRLWIND
The next day Mei Li wakes up content in her room in her birth home. She smells the fragrant Osmanthus blossoms outside the window. She has a Chinese breakfast with her father. They decide to go to the park where they have a wonderful day making up for time lost.
EPILOGUE
Late in the evening and tired from the day, they return home to rest. Zhuang Guo falls asleep but Mei Li cannot because she is homesick for America. She leaves in the middle of the night after writing Zhuang Guo a note that says she is going home.
A short way from the village, Mei Li realizes she must say goodbye to her father face to face. She returns to find Zhuang Guo at the door holding the note.
Mei Li leaves again. A short distance away she sees Yo Ping. He has come to show her the way home. She wakes up in her bedroom in Connecticut. Under her pillow is a note from Zhuang Guo. By being with him in “the most beautiful place under heaven,” Mei Li discovers who she truly is and where she belongs.