Once On This Island Jr at Ballantyne Arts Center

This highly original and theatrical st1:place w:st="on"Caribbean/st1:place adaptation of the popular fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" garnered eight Tony nominations for its Broadway run, including Best Musical, Book and Score. In almost non-stop song and dance, the show tells the story of Ti Moune, a black peasant girl who rescues and falls in love with Daniel, a wealthy boy from the other side of her island. When Daniel is returned to his people, the fantastical 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. brbrEqually effective regardless of its cast size, "Once On This Island Junior" features minimal--though colorful--sets and costumes that capture the imagination of the audience. Creative movement is also part of the show's style, calling upon performers to portray trees, wild animals and even a fierce rainstorm. 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.