View source for Once on This Island

{{Short description|1990 musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty}}
{{use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox Musical
|name=Once on This Island
|image=Once on This Island.jpg
|caption=Original Broadway Production Logo
|music=[[Stephen Flaherty]]
|lyrics=[[Lynn Ahrens]]
|book=Lynn Ahrens
|basis= ''My Love, My Love; or, The Peasant Girl''<br /> by [[Rosa Guy]]
|productions= 1990 [[Broadway theater|Broadway]] <br /> 1994 UK/Europe <br /> 1995 [[West End theatre|West End]] <br /> 2009 UK [[revival (theatre)|revival]] <br /> 2017 Broadway revival <br /> 2019 National Tour <br /> 2022 Hong Kong
<!-- Please do not include production-specific (acting, directing, etc.) awards -->
|awards=1995 [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical]]<br />2018 [[Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical]]
}}
'''''Once on This Island''''' is a [[List of coming-of-age stories|coming-of-age]] [[One-act play|one-act]] [[Musical theatre|stage musical]] with a book and lyrics by [[Lynn Ahrens]] and music by [[Stephen Flaherty]]. It is based on the 1985 novel ''My Love, My Love; or, The Peasant Girl'' by [[Rosa Guy]], a [[Caribbean]]-set retelling of [[Hans Christian Andersen]]'s fairy tale ''[[The Little Mermaid]]''.<ref>{{cite book|page=196|title=The Dark Fantastic|date=2019|last=Thomas|first=Ebony Elisabeth|publisher=NYU Press}}</ref> It concerns a peasant girl in the [[French Antilles]] who falls in love with a rich boy and makes a deal with the gods to save his life.

The original [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] production ran from 1990 to 1991, and the [[West End theatre|West End]] production opened in 1994, where it won the 1995 [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical]]. The musical was revived on Broadway in a production that opened on December 3, 2017 at the [[Circle in the Square Theatre]]. The revival was showered with critical acclaim, with ''New York Times'' critic [[Jesse Green (theatre critic)|Jesse Green]] describing it as "ravishing"<ref>{{Cite news|last=Green|first=Jesse|date=2019-01-06|title=Review: 'Once on This Island,' Revived and Ravishing|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/03/theater/review-once-on-this-island-revived-and-ravishing.html|access-date=2020-09-30|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and ''The Huffington Post'' praising it for creating "an aesthetic experience unlike anything seen on Broadway."<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Lewis|first1=Christian|date=2017-12-03|title='Once On This Island' Revival Creates an Aesthetic Experience|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/once-on-this-island-revival-creates-an-aesthetic_b_5a231ac1e4b05072e8b569d0|access-date=2020-09-30|website=HuffPost|language=en}}</ref> It won the 2018 [[Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/192481/once-on-this-island-wins-2018-tony-award-for-best-musical-revival/|title=''Once On This Island'' Wins 2018 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival|website=broadway.com|first=Lindsey|last=Sullivan|date=June 10, 2018|access-date=March 29, 2024}}</ref>

A [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Disney]] film adaptation is currently in development for [[Disney+]].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Mcphee|first1=Ryan|date=2020-07-30|title=Film Adaptation of Once On This Island in the Works at Disney+|url=https://playbill.com/article/film-adaptation-of-once-on-this-island-in-the-works-at-disney|website=Playbill|language=en}}</ref>

==Production history==

=== Off-Broadway (1990) ===
''Once on This Island'' was originally staged at [[Off-Broadway]]'s [[Playwrights Horizons]], running from May 6, 1990, until May 27, 1990. 

=== Broadway (1990-1991) ===
The Broadway production opened on October 18, 1990, at the [[Booth Theatre]] and closed on December 1, 1991, after 469 performances and 19 previews. With direction and choreography by [[Graciela Daniele]], the musical featured [[LaChanze]] as Ti Moune, Jerry Dixon as Daniel, Andrea Frierson as Erzulie, Sheila Gibbs as Mama Euralie, Kecia Lewis as Asaka, Gerry McIntyre as Armand, Milton Craig Nealy as Agwe, Eric Riley as Papa Ge, Ellis E. Williams as Tonton Julian and Afi McClendon as Little Ti Moune.

=== First National Tour (1992-1993) ===
Daniele returned as director/choreographer for a U.S. national tour, which opened at the [[CIBC Theatre]] in [[Chicago]] on March 31, 1992 and closed at the [[Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts]] in [[Pittsburgh]] on January 3, 1993. Gibbs reprised her role as Mama Euralie and Gerry McIntyre (the original Armand) played Papa Ge. [[James Stovall]] (who replaced Eric Riley on Broadway as Papa Ge) played Agwe. The rest of the cast included Vanita Harbour as Ti Moune, [[Darius de Haas]] as Daniel, [[Natalie Venetia Belcon]] as Erzulie, Carol Dennis as Asaka, Miles Watson as Tonton Julian, Monique Cintron as Andrea, Keith Tyrone as Armand, and Nilyne Fields as Little Ti Moune.

=== West End (1994) ===
The European premiere took place in 1994, hosted by the [[Birmingham Rep]], and then transferred to the [[West End theatre|West End]] Royalty Theatre (now the [[Peacock Theatre]]) in September 1994. The production won the [[Olivier Award for Best New Musical]].<ref name=playbill>Shenton, Mark. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/125098.html "Clarke to Star in U.K. Revival of Ahrens and Flaherty's 'Once on This Island' "], Playbill.com, January 12, 2009.</ref>

=== Broadway Revival (2017-2019) ===
The first Broadway revival of ''Once on This Island'', produced by Ken Davenport, directed by [[Michael Arden]] and choreographed by [[Camille A. Brown]], began previews on November 9, 2017, and officially opened on December 3 at the [[Circle in the Square Theatre]]. This production featured a stage covered in sand, with live animals onstage, and set and costume design intended to suggest a wrecked beach community recovering from a hurricane.<ref>{{cite news|last=Deb|first=Sopan|date=April 27, 2018|title=Ravaged but Resilient: Creating 'Once on This Island'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/27/theater/once-on-this-island-set-costumes-haiti.html|work=New York Times|access-date=February 10, 2019}}</ref> The opening night cast included [[Hailey Kilgore]] as Ti Moune, [[Isaac Cole Powell|Isaac Powell]] as Daniel, Alysha Deslorieux as Andrea, [[Phillip Boykin]] as Tonton Julian, Kenita R. Miller as Mama Euralie, [[Alex Newell]] as Asaka, [[Merle Dandridge]] as Papa Ge, [[Quentin Earl Darrington]] as Agwe, [[Lea Salonga]] as Erzulie and David Jennings as Armand.<ref>[http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-Lea-Salonga-Merle-Dandridge-Quentin-Earl-Darrington-Alex-Newell-Join-ONCE-ON-THIS-ISLAND-20170808 "Breaking: Lea Salonga, Merle Dandridge, Quentin Earl Darrington & Alex Newell Join ''Once on this Island''"], Broadway World, accessed August 8, 2017</ref> The revival closed on January 6, 2019, after 458 regular performances.<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/article/tony-winning-once-on-this-island-revival-sets-closing-date-on-broadway "Closing Date on Broadway"], ''Playbill''</ref>

=== Second National Tour (2019-2020) ===
The Broadway revival production tour in North America starting at The Carson Center, Paducah, Kentucky on October 12, 2019,
with the official opening on October 15 at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Nashville, Tennessee. The tour is directed by Michael Arden with choreography by Camille A. Brown. The tour featured onstage seating, "creating a unique experience within the footprint of every theatre we play... Audiences will be invited to put their feet in the sand and surround our company, becoming part of the show."<ref>Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/tamyra-gray-phillip-boykin-more-will-star-in-national-tour-of-once-on-this-island# "Tamyra Gray, Phillip Boykin, More Will Star in National Tour of ''Once On This Island''".], ''Playbill'', August 15, 2019</ref> The tour ended early due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] at the Smith Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/ONCE-ON-THIS-ISLAND-National-Tour-Has-Played-its-Final-Performance-20200322|title=ONCE ON THIS ISLAND National Tour Has Played its Final Performance|first=Stephi|last=Wild|website=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=30 December 2021}}</ref>

=== Other notable productions ===
In 2002, the original Broadway cast was reunited with special guest [[Lillias White]] to perform the show for [[Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS]] and the [[Cantor Fitzgerald]] Relief Fund.

The musical was revived in the UK in 2009 at Birmingham Rep, [[Nottingham Playhouse]], and the [[Hackney Empire]] Theatre in London. Susie McKenna directed, with [[Sharon D. Clarke]] reprising her 1994 role as Asaka.<ref name="playbill" /><ref>[http://www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/index.cfm/page/events.details.cfm/id/486/navid/3/parentid/39 ''Once on This Island'' listing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807010807/http://www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/index.cfm/page/events.details.cfm/id/486/navid/3/parentid/39 |date=2009-08-07 }}, nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk, 2009, retrieved January 10, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/event/once-on-this-island ''Once on This Island'' listing], birmingham-rep.co.uk, 2009, retrieved January 10, 2010</ref><ref>Bosanquet, Theo. [http://www.whatsonstage.com/reviews/theatre/london/E8831248888808/Once+on+this+Island.html "Review:''Once on This Island'' at Hackney], whatsonstage.com, July 29, 2009.</ref>  The original West End Ti Moune, [[Lorna Brown (actress)|Lorna Brown]], played Erzulie in this production.
In June 2012, the [[Paper Mill Playhouse]] presented a production directed by [[Thomas Kail]],<ref>[http://www.newyorker.com/arts/events/theatre/once-on-this-island-paper-mill-playhouse "Goings on about Town: The Theatre"], ''The New Yorker''</ref> with [[Syesha Mercado]] as Ti Moune<ref>[http://www.lightingandsoundamerica.com/news/story.asp?ID=-LUJGOS "Theatre in Review: Once on This Island (Paper Mill Playhouse)"], L&S Online America, June 11, 2012</ref> and [[Darius de Haas]] as Agwe.<ref>[http://broadwayworld.com/article/STAGE-TUBE-Highlights-from-Paper-Mill-Playhouses-ONCE-ON-THIS-ISLAND-20120601 "Stage Tube: Highlights from Paper Mill Playhouse's ''Once on this Island''"], broadway.com, June 11, 2012</ref>

A new London production directed by [[Ola Ince]] and starring [[Gabrielle Brooks]] as Ti Moune was announced for May 2023 at [[Regent's Park Open Air Theatre]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/once-on-this-island-cast-and-creatives|title=ONCE ON THIS ISLAND full cast and creatives announced|first=Eleni|last=Cashell|website=LondonBoxOffice.co.uk|access-date=3 May 2023}}</ref>

==Synopsis==
[[Image:The four gods of "Once on This Island".jpg|thumb|Clockwise from left, Asaka, Erzulie, Agwe, and Papa Ge, from the [[Alfred University]] production.]]

One stormy night in the [[Antilles]] archipelago, thunder booms, making a small girl cry in fear. To comfort her, the village [[storytelling|storytellers]] tell her the story of Ti Moune, a peasant girl who falls in love with a ''grand homme'', Daniel Beauxhomme – a story of life, pain, love, grief, faith, and hope. In this story, four gods (consisting of [[Azaka Medeh|Asaka]]: Mother of the Earth, [[Agwé]]: god of Water, [[Erzulie]]: goddess of Love, and [[Guédé|Papa Ge]]: [[demon]] of Death) rule an island known as the [[Haiti|Jewel of the Antilles]] where poor [[peasant]]s worship them (Prologue/"We Dance"). The peasants, "black as night", live on one side of the island, and the ''grands hommes'', lighter-skinned descendants of the original French planters and their slaves, live on the other. One night, Agwe unleashes a terrible storm upon the island, which in turn causes a disastrous flood, wiping out many villages. However, the gods save the life of a little orphan named Ti Moune by placing her in a tree above the flood's waves. She is found and subsequently adopted by the peasants Mama Euralie and Tonton Julian ("One Small Girl").

Years afterwards, a grown-up Ti Moune prays to the gods to let her know her purpose, and to let her be like the fast-driving strangers on the roads near her village - the ''grands hommes'' ("Waiting for Life"). Hearing her plea, the gods laugh at her. However, Erzulie suggests that they give her love, because it is stronger than any of the other elements. Offended, Papa Ge proposes a bet to prove which is stronger: love or death. Agwe arranges for the car of Daniel Beauxhomme, a young ''grand homme'', to crash during a storm so that Ti Moune may meet Daniel and restore him to health ("And the Gods Heard Her Prayer/Rain"). Despite the objections of the other peasants including her own parents, Ti Moune helps the intruder recover ("Pray"). Ti Moune falls in love with the stranger and as she cares for the unconscious boy, she imagines he loves her too. When Papa Ge comes to take Daniel's life, Ti Moune offers her life in exchange for Daniel's so that he will not die ("Forever Yours"). Papa Ge is angry but leaves, hinting he will return – sooner or later, as her life now belongs to him.

Tonton Julian travels to the other side of the Island to seek Daniel's family at the Hotel Beauxhomme. When he returns, he brings with him some of Daniel's people to take the boy back, as well as the story of Daniel's family: Four generations ago, during the Napoleonic era, a French aristocrat named Armand colonised the island. Although Armand had a wife, he had affairs with several natives, one of which bore him a son, named Beauxhomme. When Beauxhomme grew up, war broke out between the peasant locals and the French. The peasants won the war with Beauxhomme's help, after which he banished Armand back to France. Before leaving, however, Armand cursed Beauxhomme and his descendants saying their "black blood will keep them forever on the island, while their hearts yearn forever for France." To this day the curse causes future Beauxhommes to alienate the peasants for reminding them of their homeland ("The Sad Tale of the Beauxhommes"). Ti Moune is tearfully separated from Daniel and tells her parents that she will go after Daniel to marry him, and though they are reluctant to let her go, they eventually give her their blessing ("Ti Moune"). The goddess Asaka tells Ti Moune not to fear, as the Earth will give her everything she needs on her journey to Daniel ("Mama Will Provide").

Ti Moune travels across the island ("Waiting for Life (Reprise)"), and the storytellers relate the many versions of her difficult journey to the city (including being forced to wear too-tight shoes), through the hotel gates and finding Daniel's room ("Some Say"). Daniel, still ill and unable to walk, does not remember her but believes her after she describes the scar on his chest. As they stay together, Erzulie gives them the gift of love ("Human Heart"). Daniel ignores the townspeople's gossiping ("Pray (Reprise)") over the unlikely relationship between a rich Beauxhomme and a poor peasant. Daniel delights in Ti Moune's differences from the rich girls in his life, noting that "some girls you marry, some you love" ("Some Girls").

At a ball held at the hotel ("The Ball"), Andrea Devereaux, a daughter of Daniel's family friends, cajoles Ti Moune to dance for them (her ulterior motive being to make her look bad in front of the ''grands hommes''). Ti Moune does dance and gains the admiration of the rich society members, inspiring both the peasant servants and the ''grand homme'' guests to join her ("Ti Moune's Dance"). Afterwards, Ti Moune learns that Daniel is already engaged to be married to Andrea ("When We Are Wed"). Daniel, reminded of his responsibilities, must go through with the arranged marriage, although he insists they can be lovers forever, leaving Ti Moune crushed. Papa Ge reappears and reminds Ti Moune of her promise to exchange her life for Daniel's – but says she can revoke the bargain if she kills Daniel ("Promises/Forever Yours (Reprise)"). Ti Moune enters Daniel's room with a knife, but she still loves him too much to kill him, proving love is stronger than death. However, Daniel finds Ti Moune with the knife. Appalled at the attempted murder, the Beauxhommes throw her out of the hotel grounds.

Barred from the hotel, Ti Moune waits for two weeks to try and meet Daniel at the gate. As Daniel and Andrea are married, they follow an old tradition of throwing coins to the peasants outside the hotel gates. Ti Moune calls to Daniel who gently places a silver coin in Ti Moune's hand, kisses her cheek, and leaves. The storytellers tell of how the gods were moved to tears by Ti Moune's selflessness and love, and chose to bestow a final kindness on her; Erzulie took her by the hand and led her to the ocean, where Agwé allowed her to drown peacefully. Papa Ge received her gently and brought her back to shore where Asaka transformed her into a tree ("A Part of Us").

The tree becomes a celebration of life and love that cracks open the gates of the hotel, allowing those of all social statuses to become one, including a peasant girl and a young ''grand homme'', Daniel's son, as they play in her branches. As the years go by, the story of Ti Moune is told again and again, passed down through generations as proof of the power of love and stories to bring people together. As the musical ends, the little girl who was frightened by the storm begins to retell the story herself ("Why We Tell the Story").

==Characters==
* '''Ti Moune''' – A peasant girl.
** '''Little Ti Moune''' – Ti Moune as a child.
* '''Daniel Beauxhomme''' – A {{lang|fr|grand homme}} (French for "upper class"); Ti Moune's love interest; {{lang|fr|Beauxhomme}} is French for "beautiful man"
* '''[[Guédé|Papa Ge]]''' – The sly Demon of Death who is the main [[antagonist]] of the show. He tricks the main character into giving her life for another. He is seen as a [[Skeleton (undead)|skeleton]] and is very sneaky. The people on the island fear him because of what he represents: the unknown that is death.
* '''[[Erzulie]]''' – Beautiful Goddess of Love; the foil to Papa Ge
* '''[[Agwe]]''' – God of Water
* '''[[Azaka Medeh|Asaka]]''' – Mother of the Earth 
* '''Mama Euralie''' – Ti Moune's adoptive mother 
* '''Tonton Julian''' – Ti Moune's adoptive father 
* '''Andrea Deveraux''' – Daniel's promised wife; also "Madame Armand" 
* '''Armand Beauxhomme''' – Daniel's stern father.
* '''"Armand"''' – The ancestor of Armand Beauxhomme.
* '''[[Gatekeeper]]''' – The Hotel Beauxhomme's fierce guard (commonly played by Armand).
* '''The Little Girl''' – A young girl who is told the story of Ti Moune.
* '''Daniel's Son''' – Daniel's young son (commonly played by Daniel's actor).
* '''[[Storytelling|Storytellers]]'''/'''Gossips''' – Various Grands Hommes and peasants (in most productions, the storytellers are shown as also performing the parts of the Gods).

'''Note''': The original cast was chosen along racial lines with darker-skinned actors portraying the peasants and lighter-skinned actors portraying the upper-class landowners. In the script, the writers provide small line changes that can be used to remove references to skin color to accommodate multi-ethnic productions, while preserving the storyline about differences between the upper and lower classes.<ref>{{cite book | last = Ahrens | first = Lynn | year = 1991 | title = Libretto Vocal Book, Once on This Island | publisher  = Hillsdale Music | page = vii}}</ref>

==Original casts==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:1000;"
! rowspan="2" |Character
!Off-Broadway<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/07/theater/review-theater-once-on-this-island-fairy-tale-bringing-caribbean-to-42d-street.html|title=Review/Theater; 'Once on This Island,' Fairy Tale Bringing Caribbean to 42d Street|last=Rich|first=Frank|date=1990-05-07|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-08-05|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
!Broadway<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/personlistpage/person-list|title=Person List|website=Playbill|access-date=2017-08-05}}</ref>
!West End<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/shows/cast.php?showid=6400#content|title=Once On This Island Original West End Cast - 1994 West End|website=Broadwayworld.com|language=en|access-date=2017-08-05}}</ref>
!Broadway Revival<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/full-casting-once-on-this-island_82682.html|title=Broadway's Once on This Island Announces Complete Casting|last=Rickwald|first=Bethany|date=2017-10-06|work=TheaterMania.com|access-date=2017-10-19}}</ref>
! National Tour
|-
! colspan="2" |<small>1990</small>
!<small>1994</small>
!<small>2017</small>
!<small>2019</small>
|-
!Ti Moune
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[LaChanze]]
| align="center" |[[Lorna Brown (actress)|Lorna Brown]]
| align="center" | [[Hailey Kilgore]]
|align="center"| Courtnee Carter
|-
!Daniel Beauxhomme
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Jerry Dixon (actor)|Jerry Dixon]]
| align="center" |Anthony Corriete
| align="center" |[[Isaac Cole Powell]]
|align="center"| Tyler Hardwick
|-
!'''[[Azaka Medeh|Asaka]]'''
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Kecia Lewis]]
| align="center" |[[Sharon D. Clarke]]
| align="center" |[[Alex Newell]]
|align="center"| Kyle Ramar Freeman
|-
!'''[[Agwe]]'''
| colspan="2" align="center" |Milton Craig Nealy
| align="center" |Trevor Michael Georges
| align="center" |[[Quentin Earl Darrington]]
|align="center"| Jahmaul Bakare
|-
!'''[[Erzulie]]'''
| colspan="2" align="center" |Andrea Frierson-Toney
| align="center" |[[P. P. Arnold]]
| align="center" |[[Lea Salonga]]
|align="center"| Cassondra Kellam
|-
!'''[[Guédé|Papa Ge]]'''
| colspan="2" align="center" |Eric Riley
| align="center" |[[Clive Rowe]]
| align="center" |[[Merle Dandridge]]
|align="center"| [[Tamyra Gray]]
|-
!Mama Euralie
| colspan="2" align="center" |Sheila Gibbs
| align="center" |Shezwae Powell
| align="center" |Kenita R. Miller
|align="center"| Danielle Lee Greaves
|-
!Tonton Julian
| colspan="2" align="center" |[[Ellis Williams]]
| align="center" |Johnny Worthy
|colspan="2" align="center" |[[Phillip Boykin]]
|-
!Andrea Deveraux
| colspan="2" align="center" |Nikki Rene
| align="center" |[[Suzanne Packer]]
| align="center" |Alysha Deslorieux
|align="center"| Briana Brooks
|-
! align="center" |Armand Beauxhomme
| colspan="2" align="center" |Gerry McIntyre
| align="center" |Mark Vincent
| align="center" |David Jennings
|align="center"| George L. Brown
|-
!Little Ti Moune
| colspan="2" align="center" |Afi Bijou
| align="center" |Monique Mason{{ref|1|1}}
| align="center" |Emerson Davis <br /> Mia Williamson
| align="center" | Mimi Crossland <br /> Mariama Diop 
|}
{{refbegin|}}
#{{note|1}}Elizabeth Kerr originated the role but Mason replaced her during the Birmingham Repertory run and subsequently transferred to the West End.
{{refend}}

=== Notable replacements ===
'''Broadway (1990-1991)'''
* '''Asaka:''' [[Lillias White]]
* '''Tonton Julian:''' [[James Stovall]]

'''Broadway revival (2017-2019)'''
*'''Agwe:''' [[Norm Lewis]]<ref name="norm">Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/article/norm-lewis-and-tamyra-gray-join-cast-of-broadways-once-on-this-island-january-8# "Norm Lewis and Tamyra Gray Join Cast of Broadway’s 'Once on This Island' January 8"] Playbill, January 8, 2018</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/quentin-earl-darrington-returns-to-broadways-once-on-this-island-march-16|title=Quentin Earl Darrington Returns to Broadway's Once On This Island March 16|last=Hetrick|first=Adam|date=2018-03-16|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2018-05-08}}</ref>
*'''Papa Ge:''' [[Tamyra Gray]]<ref name="norm" /><ref name="merle">{{cite web |last1=Hetrick |first1=Adam |title=Merle Dandridge Returns to Broadway's Once on This Island |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/merle-dandridge-returns-to-broadways-once-on-this-island |website=Playbill |access-date=19 June 2018}}</ref>
*'''Ti Moune:''' [[Loren Lott]]<ref name="replacement">{{Cite magazine |title=Loren Lott to Step Into ''Once On This Island'' as Hailey Kilgore Recovers From Injury |date=2018-07-16 |magazine=[[Playbill|PLAYBILL]] |url=https://playbill.com/article/loren-lott-to-step-into-once-on-this-island-as-hailey-kilgore-recovers-from-injury |last=Clement |first=Olivia |access-date=2024-06-04 |issn=0551-0678 |quote=''Once On This Island'' original company member [[Loren Lott]] will take over the role of Ti Moune in the Tony-winning Broadway revival, while the show's original star, [[Hailey Kilgore]], recovers from a foot injury.}}</ref>
*'''Erzulie:''' [[Michelle Williams (singer)|Michelle Williams]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/193823/destinys-childs-michelle-williams-to-join-the-cast-of-tony-winning-once-on-this-island/|title=Destiny's&nbsp;Child's&nbsp;Michelle&nbsp;Williams&nbsp;to&nbsp;Join&nbsp;the&nbsp;Cast&nbsp;of&nbsp;Tony-Winning&nbsp;Once&nbsp;On&nbsp;This&nbsp;Island|work=Broadway.com|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en}}</ref>

==Musical numbers==
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center;font-size:100%;"
|+
|-
! rowspan=2 | Title !! rowspan=2 | Cast
! colspan=3 | Recordings
|-
! Broadway (1990)<ref>{{discogs master |7198657 |Once On This Island (1990 Broadway Cast Recording) |type=album}}</ref>
! London (1994){{efn|Includes bonus remix track of "The Human Heart", performed by P. P. Arnold (Erzulie).}}<ref>{{discogs master |2999276 |Once On This Island (1994 London Cast Recording) |type=album}}</ref>
! Broadway revival (2017)<ref>{{discogs master |12014126 |Once On This Island (2017 New Broadway Cast Recording) |type=album}}</ref>
|-
| "We Dance" || Storytellers
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "One Small Girl" || Mama Euralie, Tonton Julian, Little Ti Moune, and Storytellers
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "Waiting for Life" || Ti Moune and Storytellers
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "And the Gods Heard Her Prayer" || Asaka, Agwe, Erzulie, and Papa Ge
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "Rain" || Agwe and Storytellers
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "Discovering Daniel" || Ti Moune and Storytellers
| {{na}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "Pray" || Ti Moune, Mama Euralie, Tonton Julian, Guard and Storytellers
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "Forever Yours" || Ti Moune, Daniel and Papa Ge
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "The Sad Tale of the Beauxhommes" || Armand and Storytellers
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "Ti Moune" || Ti Moune, Mama Euralie, Tonton Julian
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "Mama Will Provide" || Asaka and Storytellers
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "Waiting for Life" (Reprise)"{{efn|Included in production, but not recordings.}} || Ti Moune
| {{na}} || {{na}} || {{na}}
|-
| "Some Say" || Storytellers
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "The Human Heart" || Erzulie and Storytellers
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "Pray" (Reprise){{efn |name=Gossip}} || Storytellers
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{na}}
|-
| "Gossip"{{efn |name=Gossip |"Gossip" replaces "Pray" (Reprise) for the Broadway revival (2017).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/once-on-this-island-514926#Songs |title=Once on This Island (2017): Songs |publisher=Internet Broadway Database |access-date=July 23, 2019}}</ref>}}{{efn|name=notOB |Not included in the original Broadway production.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/once-on-this-island-4617#Songs |title=Once on This Island (1990): Songs |publisher=Internet Broadway Database |access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref>}} || Storytellers
| {{na}} || {{na}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "Some Girls" || Daniel
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "The Ball" || Andrea, Daniel, Ti Moune, and Storytellers
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "Ti Moune's Dance" || Erzulie, Asaka, Agwe, Papa Ge, and Storytellers
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "When We Are Wed" || Andrea, Daniel and Ti Moune
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "Promises" || Papa Ge, Ti Moune, and Storytellers
| {{na}} || {{ya}} || {{na}}
|-
| "Forever Yours" (Reprise) || Papa Ge, Ti Moune, Erzulie, and Storytellers
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "Wedding Sequence" || Papa Ge, Ti Moune, and Storytellers
| {{na}} || {{ya}} || {{na}}
|-
| "A Part of Us" || Mama Euralie, Tonton Julian, Little Ti Moune, and Storytellers
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|-
| "Why We Tell the Story" || Storytellers
| {{ya}} || {{ya}} || {{ya}}
|}

;Notes
{{notelist|25em}}

Cut songs include "Come Down From the Tree" and "When Daniel Marries".<ref>[http://www.ahrensandflaherty.com/discography.pdf "Discography, see p. 5, ''Lost in Boston'' series"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904044721/http://www.ahrensandflaherty.com/discography.pdf |date=2012-09-04 }} ahrensandflaherty.com, accessed July 21, 2012</ref><ref>Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/features/article/76804-PLAYBILL-ON-LINES-BRIEF-ENCOUNTER-with-Lynn-Ahrens "Playbill On-Line's Brief Encounter with Lynn Ahrens"], Playbill.com, April 30, 2002</ref> "Come Down From the Tree", was a song for Mama Euralie; it is included in several recordings, including its first recording on Bruce Kimmel's Lost in Boston CD, where it was sung by Lillias White - it was also included on [[Audra McDonald]]'s ''[[How Glory Goes]]''.<ref>[http://www.nonesuch.com/albums/how-glory-goes ''How Glory Goes''], nonesuch.com, accessed July 21, 2012</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
===Original Broadway production===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;"
|-
! style="width:5%;"| Year
! style="width:20%;"| Award
! style="width:45%;"| Category
! style="width:20%;"| Nominee
! style="width:10%;"| Result
|-
| rowspan="10" style="text-align:center;"| 1991
| rowspan="8"| [[Tony Award]]
| colspan="2"| [[Tony Award for Best Musical|Best Musical]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical|Best Book of a Musical]]
| [[Lynn Ahrens]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]]
| [[Stephen Flaherty]] and [[Lynn Ahrens]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical|Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical]]
| [[LaChanze]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical|Best Direction of a Musical]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Graciela Daniele]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Choreography|Best Choreography]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]
| [[Judy Dearing]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Lighting Design|Best Lighting Design]]
| Allen Lee Hughes
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award]]
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical|Outstanding Actress in a Musical]]
| rowspan="2"| [[LaChanze]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| colspan="2"| [[Theatre World Award]]
| {{won}}
|}

===Original London production===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;"
|-
! style="width:5%;"| Year
! style="width:20%;"| Award
! style="width:45%;"| Category
! style="width:20%;"| Nominee
! style="width:10%;"| Result
|-
| rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;"| 1995
| rowspan="4"| [[Laurence Olivier Award]]
| colspan="2"| [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical|Best New Musical]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical|Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical]]
| [[Sharon D. Clarke]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director of a Musical|Best Director of a Musical]]
| [[David Toguri]] and Gwenda Hughes
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer|Best Theatre Choreographer]]
| [[David Toguri]]
| {{nom}}
|}

===2017 Broadway revival===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:95%;"
|-
! style="width:5%;"| Year
! style="width:20%;"| Award
! style="width:45%;"| Category
! style="width:20%;"| Nominee
! style="width:10%;"| Result
|-
| rowspan="16" |2018
| rowspan="8" |[[Tony Award]]s<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/2018-tony-award-nominations-check-here-for-live-updates|title=2018 Tony Award Nominations: SpongeBob SquarePants and Mean Girls Lead the Pack|date=2018-05-01|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2018-05-01}}</ref>
| colspan="2" |[[Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical|Best Revival of a Musical]]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical|Best Actress in a Musical]]
|[[Hailey Kilgore]]
|{{nominated}}
|-
|[[Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical|Best Direction of a Musical]]
|[[Michael Arden]]
|{{nominated}}
|-
|[[Tony Award for Best Scenic Design in a Musical|Best Scenic Design in a Musical]]
|[[Dane Laffrey]]
|{{nominated}}
|-
|[[Tony Award for Best Costume Design in a Musical|Best Costume Design in a Musical]]
|[[Clint Ramos]]
|{{nominated}}
|-
|[[Tony Award for Best Lighting Design in a Musical|Best Lighting Design in a Musical]]
|[[Jules Fisher]] and [[Peggy Eisenhauer]]
|{{nominated}}
|-
|[[Tony Award for Best Sound Design|Best Sound Design]]
|Peter Hylenski
|{{nominated}}
|-
|[[Tony Award for Best Orchestrations|Best Orchestrations]]
|AnnMarie Millazo and [[Michael Starobin]]
|{{nominated}}
|-
| rowspan="7" |[[Drama Desk Award]]s<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-CAROUSEL-SPONGEBOB-SQUAREPANTS-Lead-the-Pack-with-Drama-Desk-Awards-Nominations-The-Full-List-20180426|title=Breaking: CAROUSEL, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS Lead the Pack with Drama Desk Awards Nominations; The Full List!|date=2018-04-26|work=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=2018-04-26|language=en}}</ref>
| colspan="2" |[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical|Outstanding Revival of a Musical]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical|Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical]]
|Kenita R. Miller
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography|Outstanding Choreography]]
|Camille A. Brown
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations|Outstanding Orchestrations]]
|AnnMarie Milazzo and Michael Starobin (John Bertles and Bash the Trash, found instrument design)
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical|Outstanding Set Design for a Musical]]
|[[Dane Laffrey]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical|Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical]]
|Clint Ramos
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical|Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical]]
|[[Jules Fisher]] and [[Peggy Eisenhauer]]
|{{won}}
|-
| colspan="2" |[[Theatre World Award]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Noma-Dumezweni-Harry-Hadden-Paton-and-More-to-Receive-Theatre-World-Awards-20180508|title=Noma Dumezweni, Harry Hadden-Paton, and More to Receive Theatre World Awards|date=2018-05-08|work=BroadwayWorld.com|access-date=2018-05-08|language=en}}</ref>
|[[Hailey Kilgore]]
|{{won|Honoree}}
|-
| 2019
| [[Grammy Awards]]
| colspan="2" |[[Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album|Best Musical Theater Album]]
|{{nom}}
|}

==Film adaptation==
On July 30, 2020, it was announced that [[Walt Disney Pictures]] and producer [[Marc Platt (producer)|Marc Platt]] bought the film rights to adapt ''Once on This Island'' into a feature film for the [[Disney+]] streaming service. Playwright [[Jocelyn Bioh]] will pen the script and [[Wanuri Kahiu]] will direct.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kit|first=Borys|date=July 30, 2020|title=Disney+ Tackling Adaptation of Broadway Musical 'Once On This Island' (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/disney-tackling-adaptation-broadway-musical-once-island-1305121|access-date=July 30, 2020|website=Hollywood Reporter}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ahrensandflaherty.com Ahrens and Flaherty official website]
* {{ibdb show|6767}}
* [https://www.playbill.com/production/once-on-this-island-booth-theatre-vault-0000001681 Once on This Island] at the [[Playbill Vault]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071020234044/http://www.lortel.org//lla_archive/index.cfm?search_by=show&id=1806 Internet Off-Broadway Database listing]
* [http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_o/once_on_this_island.htm Synopsis and production information at guidetomusicaltheatre]
* [http://www.mtishows.com/show_detail.asp?showid=000135 ''Once on This Island''] at the Music Theatre International website

{{Romeo and Juliet}}
{{Ahrens/Flaherty}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards for ''Once on This Island''
| list =
{{OlivierAward Musical 1976–2000}}
{{TonyAward MusicalRevival}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Off-Broadway musicals]]
[[Category:1990 musicals]]
[[Category:African-American musicals]]
[[Category:All-Black cast Broadway shows]]
[[Category:Broadway musicals]]
[[Category:Laurence Olivier Award–winning musicals]]
[[Category:Musicals based on novels]]
[[Category:Musicals by Lynn Ahrens]]
[[Category:Musicals by Stephen Flaherty]]
[[Category:Musicals set in the West Indies]]
[[Category:Musicals set on islands]]
[[Category:One-act musicals]]
[[Category:Sung-through musicals]]
[[Category:Tony Award–winning musicals]]
[[Category:West End musicals]]