Porchlight Music Theater Presents ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, Previews 5/9

Porchlight Music Theatre will end its 2008-2009 season, Musical Journeys-A Season of Musical Destinations, with the exhilarating Broadway musical Once On This Island at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 West Belmont. The production begins previews May 9 with a Press Opening on May 11 at 7:30 p.m. and runs through June 28, 2009.

Once on this Island is a musical love story set in the beautiful Caribbean islands. In Porchlight Music Theatre's production, the tale is told by immigrants living in an urban neighborhood. This re-imagining is a fresh and unique approach to this Broadway musical. The story is made new and relevant to Chicago audiences.

Based on the novel My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy and the classic fairy tale The Little Mermaid, Once on this Island tells the story of Ti Moune, a poor peasant girl who falls in love with an upper-class gentleman named Daniel. The island gods of Love, Earth, Water, and Death try to manipulate the young lovers on a fateful journey that tests the strength of their love. The show features a contemporary, calypso-flavored score by the Tony Award-winning songwriting team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime). An imaginative story for all ages, Once on This Island received eight Tony Award Nominations in 1991, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book.

Once On This Island stars Melanie Brezill (from Caroline or Change at Court Theatre) as Ti Moune and Sean Walton as Daniel, and also features Jayson Brooks (Coalhouse in Porchlight's Ragtime) as Agwe, Jastine Dumlao as Erzulie, Caitlainne Rose Gurreri as Andrea, Luis Herrera as Papa Ge, Renardo Johnson as Ton Ton, Krystal Metcalfe as Euralie, Austin Moore as Little Ti Moune, Gerald Richardson as Armand, Bethany Thomas (from Porchlight's Nine and Ragtime) as Asaka.

The show is directed by Mark Lococo with Music Direction by Eugene Dizon and Choreography by Brenda Didier. Scenic Design by Ian Zywica, Costume Design by Carol J. Blanchard, Lighting Design by Gary Echelmeyer, and the stage manager is Mary Stewart.

Porchlight Music Theatre is Chicago's music theater leader; producing award-winning interpretations of classic musicals and cutting-edge new works on intimate stages. The company has staged 37 shows including four world premieres, among them, The Teapot Scandals, its first work developed through Off the Porch, Porchlight's new works program, as well as seven Chicago premieres. Porchlight earned the most Jeff awards of any Chicago music theater and the most After Dark Awards of any Chicago theater in 2007. An Equity theater since 2004, the company has already received a total of 29 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations resulting in 11 Jeff Awards.

Porchlight Music Theatre is partially supported by generous contributions from the A.R.T. League, the Arts Work Fund at the Chicago Community Trust, the William Blair & Company Foundation, Capri Capital Partners, LLC, a City Arts Program 2 Grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council (a state agency), the MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, National Association of Realtors, 900 North Michigan Surgery Center, Peoples Energy, and The Saints.

Once On This Island previews May 9 and 10, opens May 11, and runs through June 28, 2009. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:45 pm and Sundays at 2:30 pm. Special Matinees are scheduled for Thursday, May 21 at 10:00 am and Thursday, June 18 at 2:00 pm. Single tickets are $37 with discounts available for students and seniors. Single Tickets may be purchased through the box office at Theatre Building 773.327.5252 or www.TicketMaster.com. Group Sales Discounts are available through Group Theater Tix at 312.423.6612 or 866.809.3075.

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