On one night a dream takes Mei Li Goodson on a journey to a magical land called Guilin

– the most beautiful place under heaven.

Mei Li Goodson, an adopted Chinese American teen who grew up in the United States, has a recurring dream. In the dream, she believes she is being called back to her birthplace in China. At the same time, Zhuang Guo, a Chinese police official, through a connection to the spirits, is hoping to bring his daughter back to him – the daughter he gave up 18 years ago as an infant. He is obsessed with bringing her back home to “the most beautiful place under heaven.”

The European-influenced American culture with a comparatively short history, in contrast to the centuries-old Chinese culture, is the basis for the story of Guilin. The conflict resides in the difficult choice presented to the protagonist Mei Li. She is being compelled to choose between two cultures, American and Chinese, and two fathers who both love her.

Developmental History

Following our trip to China in 2004 to facilitate the adoption of our daughter, Han Xi’er, now Amanda Santora, I was inspired by my experiences while in my daughter’s birth city Guilin, Guangxi Province, China. Up until this time, I had never seen a place more beautiful than Guilin.

Upon my return home, I wrote several songs inspired by the trip. I recorded and produced them utilizing young talent from the Carnegie Mellon University world-renowned musical theater department which is located near my home in Pittsburgh. The talent is extraordinary at CMU. I am fortunate to have this valuable talent resource available to me.

I am an experienced commercial music producer. I had an early career wearing many hats as a performer, studio musician, writer, arranger and producer. At one point in time I changed career paths. On my return to music as a career, I built a state-of-the-art audio recording facility in my home in order to focus on writing and producing. I have a broad range of samples in my sound libraries that I use to arrange and compose. My sample libraries include synthesis, orchestral, ethnic, Chinese traditional instruments, guitars, pianos, and an extensive range of percussion.

I started the China project in my home studio and then brought it to Nashville for additional instrument tracking, mixing and mastering. A session drummer friend in Nashville had just returned from New York City where he was cast in the Johnny Cash musical Ring of Fire. He introduced me to one the producers of the Broadway production of Ring of Fire. The producer liked my songs, and the theatrical nature of the lyrics. He encouraged me to write a story to accompany the songs.

Although I have writing skills as an experienced lyricist, I don’t consider myself a script writer. However, the story of Guilin emerged naturally from the songs and lyrics. While in China, I envisioned a man like me – a man with emotions and a creative spirit

But instead of being a musician like me, this man was a Chinese police official during the Tiananmen Square student protests in 1989. Under pressure from superiors during the protests, and due to the “one child policy,” Zhuang Guo, so named in the musical, is forced to give up his newly born infant daughter – a decision he regrets for nearly two decades. The infant is adopted by Americans and grows up in the United States.

To help with the script, I engaged a New York based dramaturge. Numerous script revisions and additional song recordings produced in Pittsburgh, New York, and Los Angeles, continued over a number of years.

New York Musical Theatre Festival – Exposure to a New York Broadway theater audience

The musical was selected to be part of the New York Musical Theater Festival in New York City. The show was presented as a staged reading in front of a New York audience. The reading was presented by a cast of New York actors, Scott Watanabe, Paul Martinez, Cheeyang Ng, Herman Sebek, EJ Zimmerman, Manna Nichols, with Matthew Rodin, Richie Abanes, Madelyn Monaghan, Maggie Wetzel, Chelsie Nectow, and Brad Frenette, with theater credits that include Cats, Miss Saigon, The King and I, and Allegiance. The Music director was Jonathon Lynch, and stage direction was provided by Peter Gregus (Jersey Boys). The festival cast list and pictures are available at the musical’s Facebook page. Facebook

Critical audience comments from the festival led to more development over the next several years. Script refinements, new recordings of songs and performances, further refined the project to its current version.

Current Development

The goal in 2025 is to enhance the show bringing in creative input from a writer and director whereby integrating more cultural, spiritual, a fantasy elements. Most of the show takes place in China during a dream, and a majority of the characters are Asian. More complexity defining character motivations, along with fantasy spiritual elements from traditional Chinese culture, will help make Guilin a must see show. Guilin is a magical place. The characters in Guilin are magical. Over 50 songs were written for the show. I am excited about where 2025 will take us.

Main Characters

Mei Li Goodson (protagonist) – A Chinese-American teen in her final month of high school, she sings about discovery, wonderment, romantic love, personal turmoil, hurt and confusion.

Zhuang Guo (main character) – A Chinese police official and Mei Li’s biological father, he sings about regret, hope, longing, paternal love, and need for affection and redemption.

Zheng Hu (primary character) – The Mayor of Guilin, The Hotel Doorman, Zhuang Guo’s friend and moral conscience. Zheng Hu is capable of magic. He appears as different characters throughout the show. He is able to levitate above the crowds in the park. His songs are a Guilin historical narrative, positive and educational. He is wise, a story teller, and an observer of beauty. When he speaks, everyone listens.

Yo Ping (primary character) – Mei Li’s guide and love interest in China. He is able to move from fantasy to reality throughout the story. Like Zheng Hu, he is capable of magic.

Secondary Characters

John and Lia Goodson – Mei Li’s American parents
Xi’er (spirit) – Mei Li’s biological mother
The Politburo (3)
The Elders (3)
Students at Mei Li’s high school

Louis Steven Santora – Composer

I had a love for music for as long as I can remember. I sang in the church choir when I was in first grade. I wanted to learn piano but my parents were not able to provide an instrument for my practice. They offered to give me accordion lessons on a rented instrument as an alternative. Although the accordion offered exposure to music, I was never happy and wanted to learn piano. As a teenager I was able to buy an electronic piano and thus began to learn. A high school band was forming and needed a bass guitar player. I was attracted to the attention you get when performing so I bought a cheap guitar and learned to play the bass by mimicking players on recordings. As a performer late in high school and while in college, I either performed on bass or piano in numerous bands.

My desire to do more with music beyond performing motivated me to become a studio musician, an arranger, orchestrator, and producer. At one point, my life’s path moved away from music as a career. But my passion for the art always remained active. Throughout my life, I continued to write and produce songs. A trip to China in 2004 was in part the motivation for my return to music as a career focused on musical theater. … click here for more