When it comes to matters of true love, reason often becomes trivial.

Sometimes the best decisions are made by the heart, especially if it means another person's happiness.

"The Light in the Piazza," Pioneer Theatre Company's latest musical production, is a love story, not only between two young people but of a mother faced with wrenching decisions and her daughter.

"It's a very compelling story. It's very poignant and charming and loving and upbeat," said director John Going, who has guest directed at Pioneer for more than 15 seasons. "You can't help but get caught in the story because it's so beautifully told."

Going, associate artistic director of the Olney Theatre in Maryland, returns to Pioneer after directing last year's production of "The Heiress." The veteran of regional theater across the country has credits on and off Broadway.

The musical, which premiered in 2005 on Broadway and received six Tony Awards that year, including Best Original Score and Best Orchestration, tells the story of Margaret Johnson and her daughter, Clara.

The two well-to-do Southern women are traveling through Italy in 1953, when Clara meets Fabrizio, a young Italian, and it's love at first sight. Margaret is a protective mother because her daughter suffered a traumatic injury as a child. She tries to keep the young lovers apart and finds herself facing a difficult decision about her daughter's future.

"She does what she can to prevent it, but finally realizes -- why shouldn't her daughter have something that she really didn't have herself?" Going said.

Lynne Wintersteller, a New York-based actor performing at Pioneer for the first time, plays Margaret. She said it's a touching story about a woman letting go of her daughter.

"I find out something about myself in the end, that I'm in a loveless marriage and my daughter finds the passion. I never had it," Wintersteller said of her character.

Wintersteller describes the musical as a modern opera. "We have some pop songs, too, but its a nice art piece."

Audiences watch as the women mingle in a new culture and a new language with a backdrop of poetic Florentine watercolors. The set, designed by Gary English, features re-creations of centuries-old masterpieces. Pioneer brought in Utah sculptor Silvia Davis to re-create a 6-foot torso out of Styrofoam.

Some of the scenes are in Italian, but little is lost in translation for audiences.

Wintersteller said she was moved by the musical when she first saw it and wanted to play Margaret, a strong role for a middle-aged woman that is rare in the theater world.

"They both are exquisite performers," Going said of Wintersteller and Betsy Morgan, who plays Clara. He described both women as great actors but also great singers, something that was essential in casting the roles.

Morgan, making her debut at Pioneer with this production, is also a New York-based actor. Morgan said she empathized with Clara, whom she describes as charming and innocent.

While the main storyline is about her character falling in love, Morgan said the musical is about understanding, forgiveness and love between parent and child.

"There is nothing like it around. It's a completely unique love story," Morgan said. "It really has something that everyone [can] pull from."