www.maestrotimothy.com | News
Briefs | News Archive | Show
Poster | Large Show Poster |
A Caribbean Carnival of Delight!
Once On This Island
Book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Music by Stephen Flaherty.
Based on the story My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy.
Directed by
Timothy D. Turner
Musical
Direction by Timothy D. Turner
Produced by Golden Music Academy of
Casselberry, Florida
auditions in February, information below! Many Roles Available for those in High School
& Middle School
Performances June 2 @ 7:30 p.m., June 3 @ 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m.
& 7:30 p.m., June 4 @ 2:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.
All
Performances at the Golden Music Academy Theatre (click for map)
This highly
original and theatrical Caribbean adaptation of the popular fairy tale “The
Little Mermaid” sings and dances the story of Ti Moune,
the black peasant girl who rescues, nurses and falls in love with Daniel, a
mulatto from a wealthy family. When Daniel is returned
to his people, the gods who rule the island guide Ti Moune
on a quest to test the strength of her love against the powerful forces of
prejudice, hatred and death.
There is a violent storm raging around the small Caribbean island. A frightened child is being comforted by the storytellers.
The island is inhabited by light skinned people who
are the rich landowners and the darks skinned people who are the poor peasants
who have to scrape for a living. Ti Moune is an
orphan girl chosen by the gods for a special fate and saved for a special
destiny by Asaka, mother of the Earth.
Now a
grown-up, Ti Moune sees the handsome Daniel Beauxhomme passing by in his fine car. In the storm the car crashes and Ti Moune
rushes to his rescue. By cheating the Demon of Death, Papa Ge, Ti Moune saves Daniel's life
but at a terrible price - her soul. In the past, in the 19th century,
Armand, a Frenchman, has a son, the original Beauxhomme.
It is he who rises up and expels his father and his compatriots from the island
- but he and his future descendants are cursed by Armand.
Ti Moune wants to marry Daniel but Euralie,
who raised her, points out the impossibility of this as they are from different
social class. Nevertheless, the pair become lovers. As
Daniel recovers, he realizes his responsibilities; his bride-to-be is the rich
Andrea Devereaux and the announcement of their
engagement is made at a grand ball. Papa Ge arrives to
claim Ti Moune. It is only by killing Daniel herself that can save her from her part in the Devil's
bargain. Of course, she is unable to do the only thing that can save her. After the wedding of Daniel and Andrea, the
newly married couple come to the front of the hotel and throw
coins to the peasants. Daniel gives a coin to Ti Moune
but she is dying. Her life and untimely death leave a
positive ending to the story - the power of love conquers the fear of death.
“Once On This Island” is a
director/choreographer’s dream, an intimate show presented in a dance/movement-driven
style reminiscent of story theatre, with minimal – though colorful – sets and
costumes that capture the imagination of the audience. Its catchy,
contemporary, and Caribbean-flavored score by the Tony® Award-winning
songwriting team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (“Ragtime” and the
animated film “Anastasia”) includes tender ballads and rousing celebratory
numbers for an ensemble cast of strong singers.
Opened
10/18/1990 Ran for 469 performances.
“A rattling good time! A carnival of
swirling rhythm. Delightful." - New York Post
"Explodes with music and motion! The best musical of the
season!" - Associated Press
"Rousing, musical theatre! Everyone is likely to emerge from the theatre
ready to dance down the street" - The New York Times"
Please
prepare an upbeat musical selection—please bring sheet music in your key. An accompanist will be
provided. Cold
readings possible. Please come dressed and prepared to learn a dance routine
for your audition.
February 19 & 20, 2006 4 – 6:30
p.m. The Golden Music Academy of Casselberry, FL (click for map)
Golden
Music Academy Audition Information (407) 260-5552
February 26, 2006 2 – 4:30
p.m. The Golden Music Academy of Casselberry, FL (click for map)
Golden
Music Academy Audition Information (407) 260-5552
|
Character Breakdown: |
|
|
LITTLE GIRL/ LITTLE TI MOUNE |
Very young girl, some group singing |
|
STORYTELLERS 1-4 |
True leads of show, excellent singers and actors, male or female
|
|
MAMA EURALIE |
Symbolic mother of all, good actress and singer, loving,
practical, earthy, couples with Tonton |
|
TONTON JULIAN |
Good actor and singer, strong and supportive, couples with Mama |
|
TI MOUNE/ PEASANT GIRL |
Excellent singer (pop style), good dancer, good actress |
|
DANIEL BEAUXHOMME |
Good voice (pop style), moves well |
|
DANIEL'S SON |
Small walk-on at end of show |
|
GATEKEEPER |
Big, impressive voice, moves well, in one scene and ensemble for
bulk of show |
|
DANIEL'S FATHER |
Some singing, acting, not sympathetic character |
|
ANDREA |
Good singer and actress, refined, educated, a bit of an elitist,
Daniel's fiancee |
|
PAPA GE |
Good voice, the "bad guy" of the show |
|
ASAKA |
Excellent singer, moves well, "Goddess of the Earth" |
|
AGWE |
Excellent singer, "God of Water" |
|
ERZULIE |
Good singer (pop style), "Goddess of Love" |
|
GOSSIPERS 1-7 |
Good voices, one-line features |
|
CHOIR OF STORYTELLERS |
Play many roles including peasants, villagers, guests, grands hommes |
|
·
We
Dance Storytellers |
|
·
One
Small Girl Mama, Tonton, Storytellers |
|
·
Waiting
For Life" Ti Moune, Storytellers |
|
·
And The
Gods Heard Her Prayer Agwe, Asaka,
Erzulie, Papa Ge, Andrea,
Storytellers |
|
·
Rain
Agwe, Asaka, Erzulie,
Papa Ge, Storytellers |
|
·
Discovering
Daniel Ti Moune, Agwe,
Asaka, Erzulie, Papa Ge |
|
·
Pray
Agwe, Asaka, Erzulie,
Papa Ge, Mama, Tonton, Ti
Moune |
|
·
Forever
Yours Ti
Moune, Daniel, Erzulie,
Papa Ge, Storytellers |
|
·
Ti Moune Ti Moune, Mama, Tonton |
|
·
Mama
Will Provide Asaka, Storytellers |
|
·
The
Human Heart Erzulie, Agwe,
Storytellers |
|
·
Pray
(reprise) Storytellers, Ti Moune, Daniel |
|
·
The
Ball (Some Girls) Andrea, Daniel, Storytellers |
|
·
Ti Moune's Dance Orchestra |
|
·
Andrea
Sequence Andrea, Daniel, Ti Moune |
|
· Promises? Forever
Yours (reprise) Agwe, Ti Moune,
Storytellers |
|
·
A Part
Of Us Agwe, Asaka, Erzulie, Papa Ge, Little Ti Moune, Storytellers |
|
·
Why We
Tell The Story Storytellers |
Timothy D. Turner
has been performing professionally for 27 years in professional &
commercial productions, on stage and screen, with celebrities such as Rita
Marino & Marvin Hamlisch and groups like Canadian
Brass & the King’s Singers. He has
directed and produced theatre, cabarets, stage shows, concerts and film for
more than 20 years throughout the continental United States and Europe. Although this is his 1st
production with The Golden Music Academy, this show marks his 53rd
production in the area since his relocation to Central Florida in 2001. He holds a BM in Performance from Millikin University and works as a director, performer,
performance coach, clinician, producer, composer, community organizer and
writer. Currently, he resides in
Longwood, Florida just north of Orlando, but he travels extensively as a
working professional.
