Review Roundup: Critics Sound Off On ONCE ON THIS ISLAND On Tour; Updating Live!

The National tour of Once On This Island is now officially open in Nashville, TN at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC). Once On This Island will play over 25 cities in its first year on tour.

Once On This Island is the tale of Ti Moune, a fearless peasant girl who falls in love with a wealthy boy from the other side of the island. When their divided cultures keep them apart, Ti Moune is guided by the powerful island gods, Erzulie, Asaka, Papa Ge, and Agwe, on a remarkable quest to reunite with the man who has captured her heart.

Bursting with Caribbean colors, rhythms and dance, the story comes to vibrant life in a striking production by Tony Award-nominated director Michael Arden and acclaimed choreographer Camille A. Brown. This production transforms the reality of a tropical village devastated by a storm into a fantastical world alive with hope.

Let's see what the critics have to say!

Nashville

Jeffrey Ellis, BroadwayWorld: It would be hard to imagine a cast more appealing, more ideal for Once On This Island than the ensemble brought together under Arden's focused direction. Carter possesses a certain authenticity that ensures Ti Moune is easily accessible to every member of her audience and her performance of "Ti Moune's Dance" is startlingly, hauntingly performed, while Hardwick is perfectly cast as the object of her affections, cutting a dashing figure as Daniel.

William Shutes, Out & About Nashville: Once on This Island gives the impression of being a perfect little package of a musical and it is. Laughs and tears come equally. If you're one who loves a good toe-tapper of a song, you're likely going to find yourself stomping your entire foot. And if go to theatre seeking some revelatory cathartic moment in your heart, I'll bet dollars to doughnuts that this show will give you exactly what you want. I think star Tamyra Gray put it best when she was asked why she wanted to continue with the show after Broadway when she said "I wasn't done telling the story."

Greenville

Paul Hyde, Greenville Journal: The cast is uniformly terrific. Courtnee Carter dazzles as the irrepressible Ti Moune. Tyler Hardwicke is her suave-voiced love interest Daniel. Of the many fine actors, two deserve special mention: Kyle Ramar Freeman brings down the house with the showstopper "Mama Will Provide," while Tamyra Gray is a riveting presence as Papa Ge, the god of death.

Sandy Staggs, Carolina Curtain Call: Cassondra James is divine as Erzulie, the Goddess of Love (a Broadway replacement for Erzulie as well as an original Storyteller and Flute Player in the Tony-winning production) displaying beauty and power in a constant struggle with the extraordinary Tamyra Gray (a master with the extensive make-up application and also from the Broadway run) as Papa Ge, the terrifying Demon of Death.

Charlotte

Lawrence Toppman, The Charlotte Observer: Courtnee Carter, who plays the perennially hopeful and strong-willed Ti Moune, carries most of the emotional burden. Carter retains her stubbornly buoyant attitude until Fate stuns her, then bravely soldiers on, and she wins us over from the first beaming smile. Nobody else has much character development in a show that's just under 90 minutes, but all the gods - especially Kyle Ramar Freeman in the showstopping "Mama Will Provide" - and Ti Moune's strong-voiced parents (Phillip Boykin and Danielle Lee Greaves) leave vivid impressions. It takes a village to raise "Once on This Island" to the level it has achieved, and this village has no dull inhabitants.

Hershey

Andrea Stephenson, BroadwayWorld: Another aspect of the show that cannot be ignored is the movement and dancing. Camille A. Brown's choreography seems to flow seamlessly from the story itself. The actors throw themselves whole-heartedly into the movement, creating a visually stunning experience. Once on this Island is much more than a love story-it is a tale of how our lives become part of one another's stories. Don't miss out on a chance to get swept away by the story.

Dallas

Janice L. Franklin, TheaterJones: Once on This Island is fun but not frivolous, and seriously messaged without being preachy. There is a tragedy but there is also hopefulness. After but a few minutes in it is easy to understand the show's popularity and sustainability. It might seem an odd pick for a holiday timeslot, but anything that leaves the audience feeling better than when it entered the space is right for a season of good will and mirth.

Bianca R. Montes, Park Cities People: Once on this Island is filled with a phenomenal cast, music that will make you want to sway your hips, and some of the best dancing I've seen. It is a must-see. Courtnee Carter, who plays Ti Moune, does a brilliant job in the role. Her voice is magical, and her dancing is fierce. Tony nominee Phillip Boykin as Tonton Julian, one of the peasants who adopted Ti Moune, offers a lot of depth and emotion to his role as a loving father. And my personal favorite was former American Idol contestant Tamyra Gray as Papa Ge, the demon of death. She was terrific in this role that reminds us of the precious balance between life and death and the inevitability of both.