With a book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, based on the 1985 novel My Love, My Love, or the Peasant Girl by Rosa Guy, a creative retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid," takes place on a Caribbean island divided into two worlds: the peasants and the rich Grand Hommes. These worlds never cross paths until, one day, Ti Moune, a peasant, rescues a rich city boy (Daniel) from a car crash. This action saves his life, but also results in her falling in love with him. In doing so, she begins a journey that will take her away from her home, into the city, and put her at the mercy of the four gods who rule over this island, Asaka, Pape Ge, Erzulie and Agwe. They have been watching her and decide to make a bet with each other over which is stronger, love or death. It's a coming of age story about being guided by love and finding one's place in the world.
ONCE ON THIS ISLAND is presented through special arrangement with Music Theater International (MTI) and will run from Feb 2-12 in the Von der Heyden Studio Theater. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
