Once on This Island is a one-act musical with a book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by
Stephen Flaherty. Based on the 1985 novel My Love, My Love; or, The Peasant Girl by Rosa Guy, it
is set in the French Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. The show includes elements of the Romeo and
Juliet story and elements of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Little Mermaid. It concerns a
peasant girl on a tropical island, who uses the power of love to bring together people of different
social classes.
The original Broadway production ran from 1990 to 1991, and the West End production opened in
1994, where it won the 1995 Olivier Award for Best New Musical.
SYNOPSIS
One stormy night, thunder booms, making a small girl cry in fear. To comfort her, the villagers tell her the story of Ti
Moune, a peasant girl who falls in love with a grande homme, Daniel Beauxhomme – a story of life, pain, love, grief, faith,
and hope. In this story, four gods (Asaka, Mother of the Earth; Agwé, god of Water; Erzulie, goddess of Love; and Papa
Ge, Demon of Death) rule an island, the Jewel of the Antilles (Haiti), where poor peasants worship them (Prologue/"We
Dance"). The peasants, live on one side of the island, and the grandes hommes, decendants of the original French
planters live on the other. One day, Agwe unleashes a terrible storm upon the island, which in turn causes a disastrous
flood, wiping out many villages. However, the gods save the life of little Ti Moune, an orphan, by placing her in a tree,
above the flood's waves. She is found and subsequently adopted by the peasants Mama Euralie and Tonton Julian ("One
Small Girl").
Years afterwards, Ti Moune, grown up, prays to the gods to let her know her purpose, and to let her be like the fast-driving
strangers on the roads near her village - the grandes hommes ("Waiting for Life"). Hearing her plea, the gods laugh at her.
However, Erzulie says to give her love, because it is stronger than any of the other elements. Papa Ge, offended,
proposes a bet to prove which is stronger: love or death. Agwe arranges for the car of Daniel Beauxhomme, a
young grande homme, to crash during a storm so that Ti Moune may meet Daniel and restore him to health ("And The
Gods Heard Her Prayer/Rain"). Despite the objections of the other peasants, including her own parents, Ti Moune helps
the intruder recover ("Pray"). Ti Moune falls in love with the stranger and, as she cares for the unconscious boy, imagines
he loves her too. When Papa Ge comes to take Daniel's life, Ti Moune offers her life in exchange for Daniel's so that he
will not die ("Forever Yours"). Papa Ge is angry but leaves, hinting he will return – sooner or later, as her life now belongs
to him.
Tonton travels to the other side of the Island to seek Daniel's family at the Hotel Beauxhomme. But, Ti Moune is tearfully
separated from Daniel and tells her parents that she will go after Daniel to marry him. Ti Moune's parents reluctantly let
her go ("Ti Moune"). During her travels, she encounters the goddess Asaka, who tells her not to fear, as the Earth will give
her everything she needs on her journey to Daniel ("Mama Will Provide"). Ti Moune travels across the island ("Waiting For
Life (Reprise)"). The storytellers then relate the story of her difficult journey to the city (including being forced to wear tootight shoes) through the hotel gates and finding Daniel's room ("Some Say"). Daniel, still ill and unable to walk, does not
remember her but believes her after she describes the scar on his chest. As they stay together, Erzulie gives them the gift
of love ("Human Heart"). Daniel ignores the townspeople's gossiping ("Pray (Reprise)") over the unlikely relationship of a
rich Beauxhomme and a poor peasant.
At a ball held at the hotel, Andrea Deveraux, a daughter of Daniel's family friends, cajoles Ti Moune to dance for them (her
ulterior motive being to make her look bad in front of the grande hommes). Ti Moune does dance and gains the admiration
of the rich society members. Afterwards, Ti Moune learns that Daniel is engaged to be married to Andrea ("When We Are
Wed"). Daniel, reminded of his responsibilities, must go through with the arranged marriage. Ti Moune is crushed. Papa
Ge reappears and reminds Ti Moune of her promise to exchange her life for Daniel's – but says she can revoke the
bargain if she kills Daniel ("Promises/Forever Yours (Reprise)"). Ti Moune enters Daniel's room with a knife, but she still
loves him too much to kill him - proving love is stronger than death. However, Daniel finds Ti Moune with the knife.
Appalled at the attempted murder, the Beauxhommes throw her out of the hotel grounds. She waits for days to meet
Daniel at the gate. As Daniel and Andrea are married, they follow an old tradition of throwing coins to the peasants
outside the hotel gates - Ti Moune calles to Daniel, who places a silver coin in Ti Moune's hand and leaves. The
storytellers tell how Erzulie took her by the hand and led her to the ocean, where Agwé allowed her to drown peacefully,
Papa Ge received her gently and brought her back to shore, where Asaka transformed her into a tree ("A Part Of Us").
The tree becomes a celebration of life and love that cracks open the gates of the hotel, allowing those of all social
statuses to become one. Her legacy brings together another peasant girl and a new young grande homme, Daniel's son,
as they play in her branches. The storytellers share with them a retelling of the story how a peasant girl proved the power
of love could bring together the people of the island. It helps us to remember, to forgive - and out of what we live and we
believe, our lives become the stories that we weave. As the musical ends, the little girl who was frightened by the storm
begins to retell the story herself ("Why We Tell The Story").
MUSICAL NUMBERS
Prologue/"We Dance" - Storytellers
"One Small Girl" - Mama Euralie, Tonton Julian, Little Ti Moune, and Storytellers
"Waiting for Life" - Ti Moune and Storytellers
"And the Gods Heard Her Prayer" - Asaka, Agwe, Erzulie, and Papa Ge
"Rain" - Agwe and Storytellers
"Pray" - Ti Moune, Mama Euralie, Tonton Julian, Guard and Storytellers
"Forever Yours" - Ti Moune, Daniel and Papa Ge
"Ti Moune"- Ti Moune, Mama Euralie, Tonton Julian
"Mama Will Provide" - Asaka and Storytellers
"The Human Heart" - Erzulie and Storytellers
"Pray" (Reprise) - Storytellers
"The Ball" - Andrea, Daniel, Ti Moune, and Storytellers
"Forever Yours" (Reprise) - Papa Ge, Ti Moune, Erzulie, and Storytellers
"A Part of Us" - Mama Euralie, Tonton Julian, Little Ti Moune, and Storytellers
"Why We Tell the Story" – Storytellers
CASTING INFORMATION
Roles for Girls:
TI MOUNE - Ti Moune is the focus of our story and featured in solo songs and
dance. Needs to have an excellent voice and be an excellent dancer. Ti Moune has a pivotal dance solo.
ERZULIE - Erzulie is the triumphant Goddess of Love. She has a pretty voice and can sing in a pop style.
ASAKA - Asaka is the Goddess of the Earth and sings “Mama Will Provide”. Needs to be an excellent singer who
moves well, earthy look, open personality and is fun to watch.
MAMA EURALIE - Mama is the symbolic mother of us all. She is loving, practical, and earthy. Needs a nice voice and
be a good acting skills.
ANDREA - Andrea is Daniel’s refined and beautiful fiancee. Promised to Daniel since birth. She is refined, educated, and
the exact opposite of Ti Moune.
LITTLE GIRL/LITTLE TI MOUNE - This role is perfect for a very young performer (could potentially be cast as an
elementary student) Needs to be able to stay focused, and listen. The role requires some singing with the ensemble.
Roles for Boys:
DANIEL BEAUXHOMME - Daniel is the male ingenue in Once On This Island. Daniel needs to have a nice voice and
should be able to move well.
PAPA GE - Papa Ge is the self-described “sly demon of death” - closet thing to a “bad guy” in the show. Needs a nice
voice and an evil laugh.
TONTON JULIAN - TONTON is the loving adopted father of Ti Moune. He is strong, practical, and supportive. He is
faced with the very difficult task of allowing Ti Moune to chase her dreams, even if it means that he may never see the
daughter he loves again.
GATEKEEPER - The Gatekeeper has one scene. He should be impreessive in size and have a booming voice. Capable of
stage combat. Performs with the ensemble.
Roles for either Girls or Boys:
AGWE - Agwe is the God of Water. Has a solo early in the show that requires an excellent voice (“Rain”).
STORYTELLERS - These are the narrators who tell the story of Once On This Island Junior. These are perhaps the most
difficult of the show. Not only do they sing the bulk of the show, they also tell the story, and may portray multiple people..
AUDITIONS
**IN ORDER TO AUDITION YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TIME SLOT AT THE FOLLOWING
WEBSITE: www.signupgenius.com YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN BOTH THE
MOVEMENT AUDITION AND THE INDIVDUAL AUDITION ON THE SAME DAY**
Monday, October 13th
2:30-3:15p
Movement Audition
3:20-5:15p
Singing/Acting Audition (Individual Time Slots)
Tuesday, October 14th
2:30-3:15p
Movement Audition
3:20-5:00p
Singing/Acting Audition (Individual Time Slots)
Thursday, October 16th
2:30 – 4:30
Possible Call-Back Session (If Needed)
Friday, October 17th - Cast List Posted Online @ approx. 3:00
Monday, October 20
2:30 – 5:00
First Rehearsal & Read Through
**Online postings (callback & cast lists) will be available at www.kingstheatre.net **
For the auditions you will have the following to prepare:
*Snippets of two songs from the show. (To be taught at audition meeting)
Girls: One Small Girl – measure 31 – 51
Waiting for Life – measure 1 - 32
Boys: One Small Girl – measure 31 - 51
Rain – measure 9 - 38
*A 1 to 2 minute memorized monologue (To be provided on your own)
In theatre, a monologue is presented by a single character, most often to express their mental
thoughts aloud, though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience.
Audition monologues demonstrate an actor's ability to prepare a piece and deliver a performance.
The choice of monologues for an audition can often depend on the play in question or the role the
actor wants to land.
Good places to find Monologues for auditions include:
http://www.ace-your-audition.com/monologues-for-teens.html
http://freedrama.net/small1t.html
http://monologuesforallages.webs.com/
http://www.ispgroupinc.com/monologues/monologues_for_kids_and_teens.htm
And of course you can still go to a public library to look for monologue books too ;-)
*A brief movement audition (To be taught at the audition on Monday)
**The demonstration & audition tracks will be available at www.kingstheatre.net**
Start Here
END
Start Here
END
Start Here
END