SYNOPSIS
When Two of Us Meet is an uplifting immigrant story that celebrates resilience, perseverance, and the power of community.
A heartfelt portrait of one Armenian family’s journey from their homeland to a new life in America, the musical is told through the eyes of young immigrant Aleck. Moving between past and present, he grapples with lingering memories while piecing together his family’s story—one shaped by love, humor, and unexpected turns.
From their close-knit life in Armenia to adventures across Europe, Cuba, and Los Angeles, each family member pursues their own path while holding onto the hope of reuniting with those they love. Along the way, they discover resilience, community, and the strength that comes from never letting go of where you came from—or who you love.
DEVELOPMENT
Composer/lyricist/librettist Emily Simonian began writing When Two of Us Meet in 2020. During the writing process, Simonian gathered historical information, and Simonian's father, Wayne, recalled secondhand accounts of his family's experiences in Armenia and America.
2020-2023
2020: Conception & development begins
2023: Initial table read
2024
September 2024: AIWA Grant Recipient
December 2024: Top 12 Finalist, Florida Festival of New Musicals
2025
January 2025: Strobia Foundation Grant Recipient
February 2025: Top 10 Finalist, New Musical Project, Boulder, Colorado
March 2025: Debut Concert Reading: The Green Room 42
April 2025: New Works Cabaret - Musical Writers Academy, Dallas, Texas
May 2025: DC Concert in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to the U.S.
August 2025: New Works Cabaret - New Musical Project, Boulder Colorado
2026
March 2026: Semi-finalist - National Musical Theater Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center, Waterford, CT
July 2026: First staged presentation at PenArts, Pensacola, FL
Late 2026: TBD - concert in Fresno, CA
Subscribe to the mailing list for performance notifications!