Full Casting Announced For Fabulist Theatre's Production Of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND With A Diverse Twist

Known for presenting rarely-done, diversely cast shows, Fabulist Theatre is back again this year with its own production of Once On This Island.

Once On This Island is a one-act musical with a book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty. Based on the 1985 novel "My Love, My Love; or, The Peasant Girl" by Rosa Guy, it is set in the French Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. The show includes elements of Romeo and Juliet story and Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid. It is the story of an orphaned peasant girl named Ti Moune, who uses the power of love to bring together the different social classes living on her island.

The original Broadway production ran from 1990 to 1991, and the West End production opened in 1994, where it won the 1995 Olivier Award for Best New Musical. The musical is currently being revived on Broadway in a production that opened on December 3, 2017 after being in previews since November 9, 2017 at the Circle in the Square Theatre.

Director Damon Bradley Jang states "we wanted to cast based on the culturally diverse community of performers who make up Greater Vancouver and might otherwise be underrepresented in the city. We fully acknowledge that the story is a largely set in Haiti but we wanted to use the story as a platform to address the more universal themes of love, death, and social prejudice. In the agreement, the writers have stipulated that the can be done with an multi ethnic cast as long as these themes are presented.Traditionally, the show focuses heavily on the division of class indicated by paleness of skin. The native islander "peasants" were darker skinned and the French "Grand hommes" were lighter skinned.  However, in our version, our Ti Moune (Brianna Clark) is "pale skin" in comparison to our Daniel (Michael Gnansounou) who is "darker skin" which is a bit of a nontraditional casting choice. Both of whome are of mixed race heritage. We didn't plan that, they were simply the best fit for the roles. We also have our gods with Hebrew, African, Latin and Korean ethnic backgrounds. At the end of the day, these are storytellers, telling a story."

Vancouver's 1st semi-professional CAST of Once On This Island includes:

Ti Moune - Brianna Clark (title role in the 2017 Ovation-Award-winning Cinderella panto, METRO THEATRE)

Daniel - Michael Gnansounou (Vancouver Debut)

TonTon Julian - William Taylor* (Othello, BARD ON THE BEACH)

Mama Euralie - Marci Chimich (Vancouver Debut)

Agwe - Ricardo Cunha Pequenino (Parade, A Chorus Line, FIGHTING CHANCE PRODUCTIONS, Ovation nominee for Best Male Newcomer 2017)

Asaka - YooRa Kang (Heathers, FIGHTING CHANCE PRODUCTIONS)

Erzulie - Alexandra Quispe (Merrily We Roll Along, UNITED PLAYERS)

Papa Ge - Sari Rosofksy (Draining The Swamp, CURIOUS CREATIONS - VANCOUVER FRINGE FESTIVAL)

Andrea - Karliana DeWolff (Canadian Premiere of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, FIGHTING CHANCE PRODUCTIONS)

Armand/Daniel's Father - Jorge Taracena (Vancouver Debut)

Little Girl/Little Ti Moune - Arta Negahban (Billy Elliot, ARTS CLUB THEATRE COMPANY)

Storytellers - Jessie Chan (Vancouver's SHOWSTOPPERS), Yasmin Pena (title role in FVGSS's The Little Mermaid panto), Teilani Rasmussen (Lindbjerg Academy), Kenneth Tynan (Elixir of Love, VANCOUVER OPERA)

*appearing courtesy of the Canadian Actors' Equity Association. All performers appearing under the Artists' Collective Policy.

CREATIVE TEAM

Director/Associate Choreographer: Damon Bradley Jang (Songs For A New World, FABULIST THEATRE, Little Shop Of Horrors - choreographer, VAGABOND PLAYERS)

Choreographer: Marion Landers (AFRICAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL OF MUSIC AND DANCE SOCIETY, Welcome Back To Harlem! ROOTED THEATRE)

Musical Director: Amy Gartner (Vancouver Debut, star of The Who's Tommy, RENEGADE THEATRE COMPANY, Merrily We Roll Along, UNITED PLAYERS)

Producer: Mary Littlejohn (Songs For A New World, FABULIST THEATRE, Under The Hawthorn Tree, THE TWO MARYS)

Costume Consultant: Chris Sinosich (Ovation winner for Beauty and The Beast, THEATRE UNDER THE STARS VANCOUVER)

Lighting Designer: Michael Methot (Cabaret, TOMO SURU PLAYERS)

Stage Manager: Dionne Phillips (BROADWAY CHORUS, GIGGLES & GAGS)

Once On This Island (Vancouver Production) plays April 6th to 14th at the Redgate Revue Stage on Granvillie Island, in Vancouver, Canada.

Connect with Fabulist Theatre on Facebook and on Instagram/Twitter @FabulistTheatre

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