ONCE ON THIS ISLAND to be Presented at BTTUNY in February
Performances will run from Feb. 6-16.
By: Chloe Rabinowitz Jan. 23, 2025
The Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate NY has revealed the second show in its 2024-2025 season will be "Once On This Island” by Lynne Ahrens with music by Stephen Flaherty, Feb. 6-16. The show will be directed and choreographed by Hettie Barnhill with musical direction by Emily Rose Rivera.
“Once On This Island” is a Caribbean retelling of "The Little Mermaid" story, set in a fictionalized version of Haiti. This one-act musical is a love story and a coming-of-age tale appropriate for the whole family. Ti Moune, a peasant girl, rescues a wealthy boy, Daniel, from the other side of the island, with whom she falls in love. Unbeknownst to Ti Moune, the pompous gods who preside over the island make a bet with one another over which is stronger, love or death–the stakes being Ti Moune's life. Exceedingly funny and touching, with passionate music, gorgeous harmonies and memorable characters, this award-winning show is always a crowd favorite.
This show features 24 local BIPOC actors and is BTTUNY’s first musical production. It is a milestone for the company, both in scope and talent. As is usual with BTTUNY’s productions, the cast contains a combination of both seasoned and newer performers, including five local children. With a Production Team of over 15 people supporting the actors, this is a true community effort, resulting in a very professional product.
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