Photo by Jacob Bowler
Our Story
Have you ever thought about where your favorite musical comes from?
Maybe you love shows like The Wizard of Oz or Into the Woods, born from children’s literature. Or maybe you gravitate toward musicals set to iconic pop albums, like Mamma Mia! or MJ. Perhaps you cherish shows like Cabaret or Hamilton, which immerse us in history and reveal perspectives we may have never otherwise seen.
Everyone remembers a curtain call—the thunder of applause, the final bow—but what about the spark that inspired the opening scene? What about the writer whose heartbreak shaped a single lyric, or the composer who spent years crafting the perfect act-two ballad? What about the monologues whispered into mirrors and the melodies sketched on coffee-stained napkins?
There’s no single path to becoming a writer. Ours began by chance. Both originally political science majors, we met in an international-relations course freshman year. At the time, our only clear similarity was that neither of us was shy during our discussion section. A year later, thanks to a conveniently timed club meeting, we realized we both desperately wanted to write but life kept getting in the way. So, together we ditched all excuses and began our journey toward producing our first show.
Through the culmination of many voice memos, Google Docs, coffee shop meetings, and countless nights stretching into mornings spent behind an old keyboard, our first show, MOMENTS, was born—and so was our friendship.
Though our process of writing together has certainly evolved, our mission remains the same: to create art that celebrates and expands the world of musical theatre. New work is never easy—bridging the gap between timeless storytelling and innovation is a delicate dance—but in the words of Stephen Sondheim, “It’s our time, breathe it in—Worlds to change and worlds to win.”
From horrific tales about man-eating plants to campy, ‘80s big-haired teens, there is no one-size-fits-all musical. Yet, there is one thing that unites all of theater: connection. Audience members flock to the stage for affinity, the exchange of laughter, and a reminder of what makes us human. In a musical, the setting of text to rhythm, pitch, timbre, and musical texture adds a new dimension for all of us, creating the potential for not just a show but an experience. As the house lights dim, the audience is invited to take two hours away from their everyday shuffle and indulge in a new narrative. With each story, we get the opportunity to appreciate the extraordinary motions of ordinary life as we watch versions of ourselves played out before us in a close setting, where risks are not only taken but encouraged.
Visibility matters. We became artists in the pursuit of creating stories that portray life boldly and unapologetically and make our audiences feel less alone. Nothing in life is guaranteed—but at least in the spotlight, the chaos has a script (mostly). Theatre lets us step back and see the beauty in the spontaneous, the extraordinary in the ordinary.
Whether you blast showtunes on every car ride or have never seen a production (but secretly want to), there is a place for you in our audience. If you believe in representation in theatre, if you want to support early-career writers, or if you simply love seeing new work take its first steps center-stage, we invite you to follow our journey.
Sincerely,
Morgan Vanderlaan & Nicolas Chalise
Photo by Jacob Bowler
Morgan Vanderlaan
Morgan is a junior at the University of Florida majoring in political science and English with seven years of experience in lyricism, playwriting, and directing. Her plays have been produced by multiple regional theaters including the Hippodrome and the AcrossTown Repertory Theatre in Gainesville, FL. With a background in poetry, she has been awarded by the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for her words. This past summer she worked in London as a screenwriting intern and entered in a festival at Riverside Studios where she received her off-West End debut with a ten minute piece entitled "Ants."
Photo by Jacob Bowler
Photo by Morgan Vanderlaan
Nicolas Chalise
Nicolas is a junior at the University of Florida majoring in music composition and has been writing music for as long as he can remember. As a composer, lyricist, music director, vocalist, violinist, and pianist, his passion for music drives his ambition toward innovation both in the concert hall and on stage. In both Spring and Fall of 2025, he has been a featured composer in the University of Florida Undergraduate Composition Concert. From string quartets and chamber music to pop-styles and song writing, he is always eager to create musical moments which capture the essence of human experiences.