March 12, 2008
Caribbean-Flavored Musical
Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 30 at 2 p.m.
Daniels Theater, Atwood Hall
Admission is free, and the subject matter is suitable for all ages
"Once On This Island" is a Caribbean-flavored musical set in the French Antilles. Based upon both the novel "My Love, My Love," by Rosa Guy, and Hans Christian Andersen’s "The Little Mermaid," the musical tells the story of Ti Moune, a poor peasant girl who falls in love with an upper-class boy whose life she saves from a car crash. Central to the story are the gods of Love, Earth, Water, and Death, who send Ti Moune on a fateful journey that tests the strength of Love against the power of Death. While comedic and emotionally stirring, the show brings to light many social issues plaguing developing nations around the world. Central to the story is Ti Moune’s struggle to find her identity in the class-based society in which she lives. This fictional society, based upon historic Haiti, explores problems created during the age of imperialism that remain in the world today.
Taking the stage is a cast of thirty Clark students, including Allison Schenkler ('11) as Ti Moune, Sam Rubin ('10) as Daniel Beauxhomme, Kevin McGerigle ('11) as Agwe, Liz Couture ('08) as Asaka, Aaron Fenster ('10) as Papa Ge, and Kate Lerner ('09) as Erzulie.
"Once On This Island" is written by the acclaimed team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty ("Ragtime," "Seussical," "Anastasia"). It is directed by Jeremy Woloski, a certified Theater Arts teacher in New England, with musical direction from Clark music faculty Kallin Johnson, and choreography by Stacie Beland.
This production is sponsored by Clark Musical Theater with support from the Caribbean African Student Association. For more information, please contact Robert Hipps at (913) 219-7862.