Sometimes, the best way to quiet your mind isn’t silence—it’s a story. A gentle voice. A soft melody. Familiar enough to feel safe, and just new enough to draw you in.

At BetterSleep, we’re always exploring new ways to help people drift off more easily. For some, that means white noise. For others, it’s a calming narrative. And for many, the right voice can make all the difference.

That’s where Ellie’s Coffeehouse: A Musical comes in. This cozy, heartwarming SleepTale—written by Nick Navari, composed by Aden Kent Ramsey, and brought to life by Broadway legend Lea Salonga—weaves soothing narration, original music, and soft vocals into something entirely new. It’s part story, part lullaby, and it just might be your new favorite way to fall asleep.

A Musical SleepTale, Set in a Cozy Café

Ellie’s Coffeehouse invites you into a warm, rain-soaked café on a quiet Tuesday night—the kind of place where time slows down and memories gently unfold. Picture the soft clink of mugs, the quiet hum of conversation, and the calming rhythm of rain against the window. At the center is Ellie, a local musician reflecting on love, family, and the small but meaningful moments that leave a lasting mark.

Bringing it all to life is the unmistakable voice of Lea Salonga. Her narration and vocals carry the story with a soft, grounding presence—gentle enough to soothe, rich enough to stay with you.

As Ellie shares her music and stories with her close-knit community, original music flows seamlessly through the narrative. The melodies are tender, the piano delicate, the vocals lullaby-like—designed to calm your nervous system, not capture your attention.

Inspired by musical theatre, but made for rest—this SleepTale offers the emotional resonance of a stage performance, without the intensity. The result is something new: a musical you don’t have to stay awake for.

Navari describes how this experience went against his natural instinct as a playwright and composer, “I still wanted to tell a compelling story with a narrative arc––that's quite literally my job––but I had to avoid anything that would be too jarring as to, god forbid, wake someone up! In every sense of the word, I started writing in my comfort zone. Rather than push myself to write challenging stories which would stretch my prose, I settled into what I knew so well, and allowed the stories to flow from there. It was quite the rewarding process, and I hope you enjoy the show!"

Meet Lea Salonga: Broadway Icon and Disney Legend

Lea Salonga has captivated audiences around the world for decades. She became a global star at just 18 years old when she originated the role of Kim in Miss Saigon, earning both a Tony and Olivier Award—and becoming the first Asian woman to win either honor.

She’s also the singing voice behind two beloved Disney princesses: Jasmine in Aladdin and Mulan in Mulan. Her performances of “A Whole New World” and “Reflection” helped define the sound of 1990s Disney—and still resonate with audiences today.

Salonga has since starred in major productions of Les Misérables, Once on This Island, and Allegiance, performing at venues from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House. Known for her crystal-clear vocals, perfect pitch, and emotional depth, she’s also admired for her professionalism, humility, and trailblazing impact on Asian representation in the arts.

In her interview with BetterSleep, Salonga spoke about her dream for the next generation of artists, “I think the only thing I can dream of for the next generation of artists, particularly artists of colour, is that they don’t have to go through the same trials and tribulations our generation faced. Steve Jobs once said, ‘Sometimes people don’t know what they want until you give it to them.’ So to these young actors: make strong choices, and give them your best because you could very well be what they’re looking for.”

Across her career, Salonga has built a rare kind of trust with audiences—a voice that’s not only technically flawless but emotionally grounding. Whether she’s performing in front of thousands or narrating a bedtime story, she knows exactly how to meet the moment with grace and care.

In Ellie’s Coffeehouse, Salonga takes on a new kind of role—one that helps listeners unwind, slow down, and drift into sleep. The stage is quieter, but her voice is just as powerful.

Why Music and Stories Help You Sleep

“We’ve known for a while that music and stories have a big impact on helping people sleep. But what if we combined the two? Could we create something completely new, that people would be able to enjoy, while still allowing them to drift off? It was a challenge, but we had the perfect team to make it happen,” says Kassandra Khouri, Creative Content and Strategy Manager.

In fact, studies show that calming music and guided narration can have a measurable impact on sleep quality and emotional regulation. By stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system—the one responsible for rest and digestion—soothing sound can help ease you out of fight-or-flight mode and into a state of calm.

An integral part of that team who produced Ellie’s Coffeehouse was sound engineer Bryan Greenfield. He found the fun in balancing a live show with falling asleep, “A major feat was trying to create a cozy atmosphere of the cafe with the rainstorm outside. If you listen closely, you’ll notice the sound design and music at the beginning is more dynamic and lively in order to grab your attention, but towards the end, it's about creating a soft steady ambience to lull the listener to sleep.”

Here’s a few other ways Ellie’s Coffeehouse can help you relax:

• Calming composition: The music features soft piano and lullaby-like vocals, and sticks to slow pacing, minimal dynamics, and gentle repetition—all of which encourage physical relaxation.
• Narrative structure: A quiet, reflective storyline gives your mind something to follow, helping interrupt anxious thoughts without overstimulation.
• Emotional safety: Themes of familiarity, comfort, and connection are known to reduce cortisol levels and support emotional regulation at bedtime.
• Routine reinforcement: Making this SleepTale part of your nighttime ritual signals to your brain that it’s time to wind down—reinforcing consistent, restful habits over time.

Inspired by Broadway, Made for Sleep

With the Tony Awards just around the corner, we wanted to honor the art of musical theater in our own way—by creating a stage made for sleep. Ellie’s Coffeehouse is a loving nod to Broadway, blending storytelling, song, and emotion with the slower pace and softness BetterSleep is known for.

Our SleepTales have always reimagined bedtime stories for all ages. But this one adds something new—music, mood, and a little Broadway magic. We created it for anyone who finds comfort in a gentle melody, a good story, and a voice that makes you feel like everything’s going to be okay. The focus is always on helping you wind down, not keeping you wired.

Aden Ramsey Kent, the SleepTale’s composer, shared that “this was a new, innovative, and creative endeavor designed to help the listener relax, unwind, and fall asleep naturally. It was challenging to write music and lyrics that were just interesting enough for the listener and yet would subtly lull them into a deeper state of sleep. Working against the general rules of writing traditional musical theatre that are engaging and action driven provided a unique opportunity to think outside the box. It’s our expectation to have created a musical that will help guide the listener into a much needed realm of better sleep.”

Press Play, and Drift Off

Whether you’re a lifelong fan of Lea Salonga or simply searching for a new way to unwind, Ellie’s Coffeehouse: A Musical offers something special: a tender journey into story, music, and memory.

This isn’t a show you need to stay awake for. There’s no plot twist to catch, no big number to wait for—just soft melodies, a soothing voice, and the quiet comfort of a story well told. Like any good lullaby, it stays with you in the background—gentle, steady, and just present enough to help you feel at ease. It’s not a performance you need to follow. It’s one you can simply feel.

So add it to your wind-down routine. Let it be the signal that it’s time to rest. And let the gentle storytelling of Nick Navari, the calming score by Aden Ramsey Kent, and Lea Salonga’s voice carry you there—calmly, beautifully, and at your own pace. Available now on the BetterSleep app.