Island” rehearses recently for
the musical, which opens
Friday at Parker Junior High
in Flossmoor. (Provided photo)
“Once Upon This Island,” a musical play about the power of love on a Caribbean island, comes to Parker Junior High School Friday for one performance. The curtain goes up at 6:30 p.m. at the junior high, 2810 School St. in Flossmoor.
Twenty-seven Parker students have parts in the play, which is directed by music teacher Elizabeth Tuazon.
The one-act musical with a book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty is based on the 1985 novel “My Love, My Love” or “The Peasant Girl,” by Rosa Guy. It tells the story of a peasant girl
on a tropical island in the French Antilles who brings together people of different social classes. The original Broadway production ran from 1990 to 1991 and the London production won the 1995 Olivier Award for Best New Musical.
Cast members are Laila London as Ti Moune; Deon Davis as Daniel Beauxhomme; Alexandra Reese as Mama Euralie; Matthew Koutsopanagos as Tonton Julian; Mia Napue as Andrea; Siara Carpenter as Asaka; Curtis Abrams as Agwe; Barbara Burns as Erzulie; Noah Patton as Papa Ge; Dillon Taylor as Daniel’s father; Samuel Ayodiran as Daniel’s son; Winston Doss as the gatekeeper; and Morgan Barber as little girl/Little Ti Moune/peasant girl.
Lead Storytellers are Alexis Randolph, Jessica Buchanan, Zora Shannon, Miranda Swanagan and Maria Byers. Ensemble Storytellers are Sydney Doss, Zaria Hamilton, Ava Jones, Lauren Matthews, Daniel Miller, Chloe Nesbit, Lori Rauch, Matthew Ryan and Anna Wootton.
Tickets are $4 for adults, and $2 for seniors and students with ID. Children under 3 are free.
