The Waiting - Synopsis

In the mystical woods of Vermont, the veil thins between the living and dead. There, in the space between worlds, exists “The InBetween” — a timeless purgatory where souls wait, tethered to a lost life they can’t remember.

This world is forever changed when a young girl, Willow, vanishes from Earth without a trace. Her mother, Chlo, embarks on a desperate search to find her that leads to this otherworldly realm. Drawn into The InBetween, Chlo stirs a storm that unearths long-buried grief and forces both the living and dead to forge a path through impossible loss.

Woven through haunting folk melodies and earthly poetry, The Waiting asks:

"What if death wasn’t the end?”

Origins

"There was a family who lived up the hill..."

Maria and EmmaLee first began collaborating in the spring of 2019 in Eric Price and Will Reynolds "Writing for Musical Theatre" course. While originally working on a Harry Potter spinoff musical, they decided they wanted to write something entirely their own. They decided to write a story based on themes of motherhood, family, love, and loss.

The Waiting is a fictional story based on a very real place in rural Vermont. Maria's grandfather built a cabin on Castle Hill Road with his bare hands - a place for his family to gather and spend time together (pictured at right). Generations later, Maria's family still returned to the cabin for restorative family time. Not only is this place sentimental to Maria, but the lush flora of rural Vermont provides a unique experience to visitors. There is a tangible magic to the air of this place that suggests the veil between this world and the next is thin - when standing at the steps of the cabin or in the forest nearby, it is easy to feel the energy of the people who have stood on the steps before.

EmmaLee and Maria took a trip to the setting in 2020 - below are more pictures from the cabin in Vermont as well as the forest surrounding the home.

Theatre For Everyone

Maria and EmmaLee are committed to making musical theatre that everyone can see themselves in.

In The Waiting, the majority of characters use gender neutral language (as after death, there is no gender binary to uphold), and all the characters in the show are open to any actors of any gender. Maria and EmmaLee are committed to working with gender queer artists to assure that the full spectrum of gender is seen, heard, and represented in their show.

Accessibility in the arts (particularly in musical theatre) is often limited, and Maria and EmmaLee are working to create spaces that are more accessible to everyone. They have utilized close captioning, provided digital scripts to accompany live performances, and will be using an ASL interpreter at their SHENYC performance.

EmmaLee and Maria are also committed to employing creative teams that are at least 50% comprised of BIPOC artists - as two white creators, they innately hold privilege in the artistic workspace, and they are consistently working to decentralize their voices in the rehearsal room and allow for collaboration with artists from varying backgrounds. It takes a village to make musical theatre, and Maria and EmmaLee want to create the most diverse, unique, and powerful village possible.

About Us

EmmaLee Kidwell (Book & Lyrics)

EmmaLee Kidwell was raised in Louisville, Kentucky and now resides in New York City. She is a multi-hyphenate storyteller with a career in performance, writing, directing, and choreography. EmmaLee is the Managing Director for the non-profit theatre company Live & In Color and is a co-founder of Butterfly Effect Productions LLC - a theatre production company founded with Maria Isabella Andreoli. They have performed off-Broadway and toured the country in Baby Shark Live! EmmaLee’s theatrical works have been performed at the SheNYC Festival, Days of The Dead Festival, and the Triad Theatre. She won “Best Song” at the 48 Hour Film Project for their song “Ranger Danger" and is a 2024 recipient of the Lucille and Jack Yellen Award. They are also the creator and frontman of their band, EmmaLee & The Dream, whose music can be found on all streaming platforms. EmmaLee is a member of Maestra Music, ASCAP, and a member of the Musical Theatre Factory Makers Cohort III.

Maria Andreoli (Composer)

Maria Isabella Andreoli was born and raised in Albany, New York with their Big Fat Greek and Italian family. They started writing music at a young age and would put on concerts for anyone who would listen. Their love of music grew as they learned to play flute, guitar, and piano. Some of their biggest songwriting inspirations are Brandi Carlile, Phoebe Bridgers, and Sara Bareilles. Maria received their degree from Pace University and is a proud member of ASCAP, Maestra Music, and Musical Theater Factory Makers Cohort III. They co-founded Butterfly Effect Productions with EmmaLee Kidwell and have showcased their work at the SheNYC Festival, Days of The Dead Festival and the Triad Theatre. They won “Best Song” at the 48 Hour Film Project for their song “Ranger Danger.” Maria also performs at various venues around NYC with their band Ditto.! You can find Ditto.’s music on all streaming platforms.