Once on This Island – THIS WEEKEND!

First look at Once on This Island!

A director at work

Greg Langstine, one of the senior directors (with Kathryn Durkin) on “Once on This Island” observes dance rehearsal this week.

Once on This Island in Rehearsal!

The cast of “Once on This Island” is hard at work rehearsing for their upcoming show. Don’t miss this beautiful story, to be performed at Toquet Hall.

Happy Valentine’s Day from “Once On This Island”

The production staff of “Once On This Island” had the great idea to sell “public valentines” as a fundraiser to cover some of the cost of their show. Their efforts were a smash hit – check out all the valentines that students bought!

Once on This Island CAST LIST!

Congratulations to everyone who auditioned, you all were truly amazing!  Casting this show was literally the most difficult thing we have ever had to do, and we wish that we could have cast everyone who auditioned, but unfortunately we could not. 
If you were not cast in this show, don’t worry – auditions for the One Act Play Festival are coming up, which is a great casting opportunity!
We will have a read-thru on this upcoming Monday, January 10th from roughly 2:30-5:30, and the rehearsal schedule for the rest of the week will be determined by then, so please do not make other plans until you know if you have rehearsal.
 
CAST LIST:
DANIEL BEAUXHOMME: Clay Singer
AGWE: August Laska
PAPA GE: Tyler Jent
TONTON JULIAN: Sam Adelmann
ARMAND/DANIEL’S FATHER: Michael Findley
GATEKEEPER: Gregg Bonti
TI MOUNE: Michelle Pauker 
MAMA EURALIE: Whitney Janell Andrews
ASAKA: Jamie Yarmoff
ERZULIE: Meaghan Elliot
ANDREA: Grace McDavid-Seidner
LITTLE TI MOUNE: Allie Daut
STORYTELLERS:
Sydney Robinson
Sami Schwaeber
Maddy Rozynek
Will Haskell
 
ENSEMBLE:
Cara McNiff, Liam Orly, Gregg Bonti, Michael Findley, Thomas Bonner, Alexandra Rappaport, Allie Daut, Grace McDavid-Seidner, Sydney Robinson, Sami Schwaeber, Maddy Rozynek, Will Haskell, Helena Wippick, Annie Cooperstone, Danielle Frost
 
UNDERSTUDIES:
Understudy for Ti Moune: Sydney Robinson
Understudy for Mama Euralie: Cara McNiff
Understudy for Asaka: Maddy Rozynek
Understudy for Erzulie: Alexandra Rappaport
Understudy for Andrea: Sami Schwaeber
Understudy for Daniel: Thomas Bonner
Understudy for Agwe: Liam Orly
Understudy for Papa Ge: Will Haskell
Understudy for Tonton: Gregg Bonti

Once on This Island Callbacks

Thank you so much to everyone who auditioned, we are super excited for callbacks! You were all wonderful but unfortunately we cannot call everyone back. However, not being called back does not mean you will not be cast, and being called back does not mean you will be cast.  Feel free to dress up if it will help you act and move as your character.  We will post a second callback list Thursday night, and the cast list will be posted Friday night.

CALLBACKS WILL TAKE PLACE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AT 2:30 AFTER SCHOOL

Remember that the songs we are using for callbacks are ALL OF THE AUDITION SONGS + EXTRA CALLBACK SONGS we added (that you weren’t allowed to use in auditions).

See you tomorrow!

Ti Moune

Jamie Yarmoff

Grace McDavid-Seidner

Michelle Pauker

Meaghan Elliot

Sydney Robinson

Erzulie

Jamie Yarmoff

Whitney Janell Andrews

Grace McDavid-Seidner

Michelle Pauker

Meaghan Elliot

Alexandra Rappaport

Asaka

Jamie Yarmoff

Whitney Janell Andrews

Cara Mcniff

Michelle Pauker

Maddy Rozynek

Sydney Robinson

Andrea

Danielle Honigstein

Sami Schwaeber

Grace McDavid-Seidner

Meaghan Elliot

Alexandra Rappaport

Mama Euralie

Bess Spencer

Whitney Janell Andrews

Cara Mcniff

Alexandra Rappaport

Sydney Robinson

Lauren Weinberger

Storytellers

Danielle Honigstein

Sami Schwaeber

Emily Bowman

Bess Spencer

Cara Mcniff

Maddy Rozynek

Sydney Robinson

Gregg Bonti

Thomas Bonner

Will Haskell

Daniel

Michael Findley

Tyler Jent

Clay Singer

Thomas Bonner

Will Haskell

August Laska

Papa Ge

Michael Findley

Gregg Bonti

Tyler Jent

Clay Singer

Liam Orly

Will Haskell

August Laska

Agwe

Michael Findley

Tyler Jent

Clay Singer

Liam Orly

August Laska

Tonton

Gregg Bonti

Tyler Jent

Clay Singer

Sam Adelmann

August Laska

Once on this Island CALLBACK Information

Callback sides are posted below (we separated them from the audition songs in the previous post in order to make the difference more clear.) Please contact Kathryn Durkin if you have any questions.

Callback Songs and Sides:

Forever Yours Reprise – Papa Ge (singing)

Forever Yours Reprise Monologue – Papa Ge (acting)

One Small Girl – Storytellers (singing)

Some Girls – Daniel (singing)

Extended Waiting for Life – Ti Moune (singing)

Mama Will Provide – Asaka (singing)

The Human Heart – Erzulie (singing)

Rain – Agwe (singing)

Andrea Sequence – Andrea, Daniel, Ti Moune (singing and acting)

One Small Girl – Mama, Tonton (acting)

Ti Moune – Mama, Tonton, Ti Moune (singing)

Wedding Sequence – Ti Moune Monologue (acting)

Daniel and Ti Moune Scene (acting)

Forever Yours – Ti Moune, Daniel, Papa Ge (singing)

Gods Heard Her Prayer – Asaka, Erzulie, Agwe, Papa  Ge (singing and acting)

Storyteller Monologue (acting)

We Dance – Storytellers (singing and acting)
Andrea Sequence – Andrea, Daniel, Ti Moune

Daniel and Ti Moune Scene

Extended Waiting for Life – Ti Moune

Forever Yours – Ti Moune, Daniel, Papa Ge

Forever Yours Reprise Monologue – Papa Ge

Gods Heard Her Prayer – Asaka, Erzulie, Agwe, Papa Ge

One Small Girl – Mama, Tonton acting

Storyteller Monologue

Ti Moune – Mama, Tonton, Ti Moune

We Dance – Storytellers

Wedding Sequence – Ti Moune Monologue

 

 

Once on This Island AUDITION Information

Please read below for a message from OOTI Director Kathryn Durkin!

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND AUDITION INFORMATION

Hi everyone! We are so excited for auditions and we hope you are too! Here is some information regarding how the process will work:

For auditions, we are posting songs from the show.  You are required to sing one of the chosen songs as your audition song.  Furthermore, we have chosen specific sections of each of these songs.  The sheet music will be posted below.  We are also posting the callback sheet music and sides (IN A SEPARATE POST); we will be using all of the audition songs plus a few extra songs and sides. (DO NOT SING A CALLBACK SONG FOR YOUR AUDITION!) Use the break to get familiar with the show and callbacks.

The first day of singing auditions will take place on TUESDAY, JANUARY 4^TH (changed from Monday, January 3^rd)! There will be no dance auditions on this day.  Auditions will begin at approximately 4:30 after the Orphenians rehearsal.

On WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5^TH (date changed from Monday, January 3^rd), everyone will have their DANCE audition.  This is a very dance and movement heavy show, so remember to wear clothing you can comfortably move in – no short skirts, tight jeans, or baggy pants.  Please wear appropriate footwear – sneakers or dance shoes, BUT NO CHARACTER SHOES!  This will be day two for singing auditions!

AUDITIONS AREN’T ALPHABETICAL!

The performance dates for this show are March 18^th, 19^th, and 20^th.  To audition for the show, please be sure you are available on these dates as well as the two weeks before it, no exceptions.

Monday 3^rd – NOTHING

Tuesday 4^th – Singing auditions beginning at 4:30

Wednesday 5^th – Singing auditions and ALL DANCE AUDITIONS beginning at 2:30

Night of Wednesday 5^th – Callback list is posted

Thursday 6^th & Friday 7^th – Callbacks

Night of Friday 7^th – Cast list posted!!

Audition Songs:

Forever Yours Reprise – Papa Ge

One Small Girl – Storytellers

Some Girls – Daniel

Waiting for Life – Ti Moune

Mama Will Provide – Asaka

The Human Heart – Erzulie

Rain – Agwe

Callback Songs and Sides:

Forever Yours Reprise – Papa Ge (singing)

Forever Yours Reprise Monologue – Papa Ge (acting)

One Small Girl – Storytellers (singing)

Some Girls – Daniel (singing)

Extended Waiting for Life – Ti Moune (singing)

Mama Will Provide – Asaka (singing)

The Human Heart – Erzulie (singing)

Rain – Agwe (singing)

Andrea Sequence – Andrea, Daniel, Ti Moune (singing and acting)

One Small Girl – Mama, Tonton (acting)

Ti Moune – Mama, Tonton, Ti Moune (singing)

Wedding Sequence – Ti Moune Monologue (acting)

Daniel and Ti Moune Scene (acting)

Forever Yours – Ti Moune, Daniel, Papa Ge (singing)

Gods Heard Her Prayer – Asaka, Erzulie, Agwe, Papa  Ge (singing and acting)

Storyteller Monologue (acting)

We Dance – Storytellers (singing and acting)

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

Ti Moune: (15-24) Female Lead.  A naive peasant girl in Haiti whose life is being led/helped by the Gods. The heroine.  Young, full of restless energy and fervour, she is immature and even a little selfish in her single-minded quest for freedom.  Initially her love for Daniel is little more than a focus for her dreams, but she grows in maturity, poise and genuine love later Spontaneous. Requires a strong dancer. Belt – Vocal Range – G (below C) to E (2 above C)

Daniel Beauxhomme: (17-28) Male Lead  A wealthy Haitian, who is cared for by Ti Moune after a car crash.  Sensitive and poetic, he must be quite convincing as a romantic interest for the spirited Ti Moune.  His love for her is almost genuine, fuelled by her romantic view of him, and his betrayal of her is not cruelty but thoughtlessness and weakness of character  Tenor – Vocal Range – B (2 below C) to F Sharp (above C)

Erzulie: (25-45) Goddess of Love. A mentor for Ti Moune. Ethereal. Loving. The most approachable of the gods, but ultimately no less egocentric; by love she means romance.  Daniel is her choice for Ti Moune and in the end her concern is to prove her own power against that of Papa Ge. Requires a strong Soprano – Vocal Range – B (below C) to E (2 above C)

Agwe: (25-60) God of Water. A mentor for Ti Moune. Larger than life. Mysterious. Given that the sea and the weather are the most unpredictable and powerful elements of the peasants’ lives, they imagine Agwe as a commanding presence, but he holds himself rather aloof.  Requires a very strong singer with a dramatic voice and big range; Baritone/Bass – Vocal Range – B ( 2 below C ) to E ( above C )

Asaka: (30-60) Mother of the Earth.  A mentor for Ti Moune. Spunky. Happy. Personifies the peasants’ connection to the land, she is generous and good-humoured on the surface, but like all the gods feared by the islanders, her “motherly” facade is not to be trusted. Requires a strong singer – Vocal Range – A ( below C ) to E ( 2 above C )

Papa Ge: (30-50) God of Death. Antagonist to the other Gods. Embodying the fears of all the peasants, and easy to dislike, the storytellers will “cast” an outsider in the group, probably against his will, and he will carry some of that cynicism and bitterness into his “bargain” with Ti Moune. Vocal Range – C sharp ( below C ) to G ( above C )

Mama Euralie: (30-50) Ti Moune’s adoptive mother, protective, superstitious, fiercely loving and strong willed, her similarities often lead to clashes with Ti Moune. Caring, loving – a typical mother. Vocal Range – F sharp ( below C ) to B ( above C )

Tonton Julian: (30-50) Tonton is a French affectionate term for Uncle.  He is Ti Moune’s adoptive father, and from him she has learnt the sacrificial love she demonstrates later. Caring, loving – a typical father. Vocal Range – A ( 2 below C ) to E ( above C )

Storytellers: (All ages) Narrators of the story of Ti Moune.  Predominantly speaking roles.

Young Ti Moune: (4-9) Also plays the child for whom the story is told.  Energetic, confident, and sweet with a strong speaking and singing voice. Vocal Range – E flat ( above C ) to D Flat ( 2 above C )

Andrea Devereaux: (18-28) Daniel’s opposite – she seems cold at first, but turns out to be both humane and determined – she pities Ti Moune, but despite having little affection for Daniel, she will not allow sentiment to interfere with her well-ordered plan for marriage. Vocal range – B ( Below C ) to D ( 2 above C )

Monsieur Beauxhomme: (40-60) Daniel’s father.  For the peasants, very much part of another world, they portray him as quite callous and distant – a pantomime villain ( therefore probably doubled with Armand in the Tale of the Beauxhommes ) Vocal range – A ( 2 below C ) to D ( above C )

Forever Yours Reprise – Papa Ge

Mama Will Provide – Asaka

One Small Girl – Storytellers

Rain – Agwe

Some Girls – Daniel

The Human Heart – Erzulie

Waiting for Life – Ti Moune

Once On This Island Summary

This studio production, directed by senior Kathryn Durkin, will be performed at Toquet Hall. Featuring a cast of 20, this show features some fabulous music and creative storytelling.

Taking place on a Caribbean island divided by social prejudice, ‘Once On This Island’ is a calypso-flavored re-telling of the traditional “Little Mermaid” tale. The show revolves around Ti Moune, a poor peasant girl, who falls in love with Daniel, an upper class boy whose life she saves after a car crash. Various gods control the peasants’ lives including the god of Love, (Erzulie) Earth (Asaka), Water (Agwe), and Death (Papa Ge). The show focuses on the effects social class divisions have on love. 

For a listing of characters, click here: http://www.stageagent.com/Shows/View/1108#ixzz15e1t4kQn