The Story of STOA: A New Musical Journey
By Alivia Tagliaferri
The story of STOA, is, at its heart, a story of motherhood in all of its various forms.
Many people ask me how the idea for this children’s musical came to be. In truth, I had no idea I was writing a musical. The first song came to me the night I learned I was pregnant.
"Come on, little John, let’s go. Hop on my back, it’s time to see the show…"
That night, I knew two things: my baby was a boy, and his name was John.
But like every story, there’s a beginning before this.
A Walk in the Woods
It was early fall of 2017. I was 41 and had just finished raising my two nieces, ages 15 and 5, for nearly a year. I was in a serious relationship with a man who had two children I loved very much. One of my favorite things to do with all the kids in my life was to take nature walks — spotting animals, insects, and trees along the trail — just like my father used to do with me.
After years of uncertainty about motherhood, I finally felt ready to say “yes.” But with hypothyroidism since my early 30s, I didn’t know if pregnancy was possible. At times, I felt as though my reproductive system was “offline.”
By 2017, though, my health had rebounded. My hormones and energy were back in balance. And as I walked an autumn trail one day, I felt guided to reflect on the many ways I was already a mother: to my nieces and nephews, to my pets, to the creative works I had birthed, and to the connections I had nurtured.
I stopped on the trail and whispered aloud:
"Thank you for all the ways I experience motherhood. If I am meant to have a child someday, may it be. If not, I am okay with that, too."
Peace washed over me.
A Whisper of What’s to Come
Days later, I sat under “Mother Tree” in Brandon Park with a dear friend.
This oak tree is massive and stoic, her trunk thick with time. I often imagined the centuries she had witnessed — generations of people coming and going, the storms she endured, the connections she fostered. If anyone could help me navigate a changing world, it was her.
That afternoon, sharing a simple meal beneath her branches, I told my friend about my experience in the woods and my reflection on the many ways I was already a mother.
She smiled, placed a finger to her lips, and whispered: “I think a little one is coming to you.”
Later that evening, surrounded by friends, I felt the presence of a little one. And in that moment, I knew: I’m pregnant. I’m having a boy.
I rushed home, took a test, and it was confirmed.
As I laid down to sleep (or tried!) after the shock and excitement waned, the first song came.
Songs Like Seasons
Every month of my pregnancy brought a new song.
Sometimes a melody. Sometimes a lyric. Sometimes just a fragment.
I hummed them aloud, recorded them on my iPhone, and occasionally shared them with friends.
On July 8, 2018, my son John was born. A week later, a lullaby came to me:
"Come now, my child,
It is our time now.
To laugh and play, and sing all day.
And I swear, I’ll love you for all time.
I’ll be there, wind, rain or shine…"
That’s when I realized: The songs were connected.
They were pieces of a larger story waiting to be told.
The Birth of STOA
The vision came quickly.
STOA, an older black bear and the forest’s den mother, cares for young animals and teaches them the wisdom of the forest and the ways of the trees — each gifted a “soul song” by Mother Tree. When STOA learns she will be a mother to a cub of her own, she faces the ups and downs of life anew, discovering that she must teach not only her cub but also herself the connecting power of love and the guiding spirit of friends, both new and old.
The themes that resonated with me most were nature, community, the power of love, and the truth that whatever we do in life — it takes a village.
I leaned on a mantra I had used before: The Power Of One. Albeit a very different meaning. In the context of writing STOA, it was just one word, one stanza, one page each day. Writing in pockets of time while my son slept, I finished the first draft of STOA: A New Musical Journey in April 2019.
At Its Core
At its core, STOA fuses story and song with spirit and fortitude. This musical is a journey through heart and imagination, celebrating our growth, our connections, and the enduring magic of love, friendship, and community — a story meant to be shared.
A Little About Me
I’m an author and documentary filmmaker, a business owner — and a late-in-life mother.
Some of my previous works include:
Beyond the Wall: The Journey Home (historical fiction)
Beyond The Wall: Homeless Zone (documentary)
Power of One: Preventing Suicide In America (platform and discussion series)
Remember. Honor. Ride. The Story of the 9/11 Memorial Ride (documentary)
As founder of Ironcutter Creative, my team and I produce videos for organizations such as West Branch Drug & Alcohol. I also own and operate Tag’s Take Out in Williamsport. I serve as a board member of YWCA Northcentral PA, and somehow, I’m also an AYSO soccer coach for an 8U boys team.
My vision for STOA is that it will bring together youth, parents, grandparents, and caregivers — reminding us of our true nature, our deep connections, and the power of love and community.
I invite you to be part of this journey as my production team and I bring STOA to the stage this January.
(STOA: A New Musical Journey is coming to the stage in the Williamsport area this January 2026. Venue and ticket information will be shared soon.)