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Arts & Entertainment

"Once on This Island" Plays at the Arts Barn Theater

The Arts Barn Theater presents Tony Nominated musical "Once on this Island" in conjunction with KAT 2nd Stage Productions.

Tony-Nominated, one-act musical "Once on This Island," replete with jubilant musical numbers and artful coreography to stir even the toughest audiences, is playing on the Arts Barn Stage from now until May 22, 2011.

Based on the novel My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy, with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty, this original Broadway production, takes place on a Caribbean island and traces the story of a young, orphan peasant girl who falls in love with a wealthy boy under the auspices and machinations of the dieties that govern over the island.

Colorful costumes and lighting schemes enliven a minimal set on stage, as a chorus recounts the tale through song and dance. The young Ti Moune must brave the elements and the social barriers of lineage and social standing in a joyous but simultaneously obstacle-ridden journey to make her own path and destiny by bending the will of her parents and displacing the wrath of the God of Death, Papa Ge.

A KAT 2nd Stage Production, the musical features: Avia Fields as Ti Moune, Jose Pineda as Daniel Beauxhomme, Dan Henderson as Papa Ge, Katie Mays Reedy as Erzulie, Sonie Mathew as Agwe, Meghan Elkins as Asaka, Dru Hardwood as Mama Euralie, Yazid T. Gray as Tonton Julian, Diana Rodriguez as Andrea Deveraux, E. C. Melvin as Armand, Mavonte Johnson as the Gatekeeper, Talia Brenner as the Young Ti Moune and Renee Browne as Leeelu.

The Artistic and Production Team include: Heather Latiri, Director; Amanda Marie Imhof, Producer, Stage Manager and Sound Operator; JR Russ, Choreographer; Arielle Bayer, Music Director; Matt Wolfe, Set Designer; Michael Wilke, Light Designer; Patrick Hughes, Sound Designer; Bobby Maglaughlin and Michelina Abrahamzon, Costume Designers; Carlton Cobb, Light Operator; Doe Kim and Diana Rodriguez, Set Constructors; Dru Hardwood, Dance Captain and Donna Jean Garrett and Heather Latiri, Executive Producers.   

During its Broadway runtime, the musical received eight separate Tony nominations, including:

  • Tony Award for Best Musical
  • Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical
  • Tony Award for Best Original Score
  • Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical
  • Tony Award for Best Costume Design
  • Tony Award for Best Lighting Design
  • Tony Award for Best Choreography
  • Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical

Show times at the Arts Barn are Fridays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 2:00 pm.

To learn more about the play and purchase tickets online, click here.

To learn more about Kensington Arts Theatre and KAT 2nd Stage, click here.

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