Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, Ontario, Monday, December 9... Acting Up Stage Company, Toronto’s premiere not-for-profit musical theatre, continues their blockbuster 10th Anniversary Season with an entirely new production of Ahrens and Flaherty’s Once On This Island. Reuniting some of the key players from Caroline, or Change, including Dora Award winner Arlene Duncan, this entirely new production in partnership with Obsidian Theatre Company promises to wow audiences once again with another one of Acting Up Stage’s signature intimate musical productions.
Set deep in the heart of the French Antilles, Once On This Island is a love story for all ages. When the dark skinned Ti Moune falls in love with Daniel, a lighter-skinned upper-class man, the gods send her on a journey which tests the power of love against the fear of death. Adapted from the world-renowned 1985 novel, My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy, Once On This Island examines Shadeism and its contemporary applications in the present day Caribbean by seamlessly melding a Tony nominated, Caribbean infused score, dazzling choreography and stunning theatrical staging.
“I am thrilled to present, once again, a contemporary musical which examines current issues in global race relations in association with Obsidian Theatre Company, our partners on the Dora Award winning Caroline, or Change,” says Artistic Director Mitchell Marcus. “We are honoured to be an official participant in TD’s ”Then & Now Series” for Black History Month, and to have the chance to illuminate the very important issue of Shadeism by reinterpreting Once On This Island in a truly thought-provoking and intimate way. I have no doubt that new and returning audiences of all ages will be mesmerized and touched by this Olivier award winning musical.”
In creating this entirely new production, Acting Up Stage Company transforms the Daniels Spectrum into an intimate thrust stage, and returns the musical to its Caribbean roots by revisiting traditional music and dance styles. “I’m planning on making this production much truer to the Caribbean experience than the Broadway production was,” says Director Nigel Shawn Williams. “It’s coming from a more human experience. The choreography has an Afro-Caribbean feel and lives very low to the ground. We want the story to touch people in a completely new way so that they will leave the theatre joyous and heartbroken.” Music director Lily Ling echoes this sentiment in reflecting on her new orchestral arrangements: “Our goal is to update the sound for a 21st century audience. Musically speaking, the piece effortlessly combines sounds from the Caribbean tradition with the pop aesthetics of the early 90's. It is a welcoming challenge to approach the piece from a more grounded place where the orchestration is earthy and guttural.”
Once On This Island is directed by Nigel Shawn Williams (Co-Artistic Director Factory Theatre, Dora Award nominee Brothel #9), music directed by Lily Ling (Soulpepper’s The Fantasticks; Angelwalk’s I Love You, Because) and choreographed by Marc Kimelman (Acting Up Stage’s A New Brain, Ross Petty’s The Little Mermaid).
Starring are: Charles Azulay (CATS; National Tour Les Miserables), Jewelle Blackman (Acting Up Stage’s Caroline or Change; Stratford’s Tommy) , Arlene Duncan (Dora award winner Acting Up Stage’s Caroline, or Change; Little Mosque on the Prairie), Daren A. Herbert (Dora award nominee Acting Up Stage’s Parade; Dancap’s The Toxic Avenger), Alana Hibbert (Acting Up Stage’s Caroline, or Change; Shaw’s Ragtime), Kaya Joubert Johnson (Acting Up Stage’s Caroline, or Change), Nicola Lawrence (Shaw’s Ragtime), Tom Pickett (Showboat, Arts Club’s Dreamgirls), Sabryn Rock (Dora award nominee Acting Up Stage’s Caroline, or Change, Stratford’s The Three Musketeers), Chris Sams (Drayton’s The Songs of Sinatra) and Jivaro Smith (The Lion King, Shaw’s Ragtime).
Set design is by Michael Gianfrancesco (Acting Up Stage’s Caroline, or Change; Stratford’s Taking Shakespeare), lighting design by Bonnie Beecher (Soulpepper’s Parfumerie, Awake and Sing), costume design by Alex Amini (Acting Up Stage’s Caroline, or Change and The Light in the Piazza) and sound design by Michael Laird (YPT’s Cinderella, Mirvish’s God of Carnage).
Once On This Island begins on January 21, 2014 and runs through February 9 at the Daniels Spectrum, Ada Slaight Hall. Previews are on January 21, 22 and 23 at 8 p.m. Opening is on January 24 at 8 p.m. Performances run Tuesday to Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
About the Company
Since 2004, Acting Up Stage Company (Mitchell Marcus, Artistic Director) has brought stellar Canadian casts to productions of contemporary and provocative musicals. The company has been heralded with rave reviews, sold-out performances,32 Dora Award nominations, 6 Dora Awards and 8 Toronto Theatre Critics’ Awards for its productions, including Falsettos, Caroline, or Change, Do You Want What I HaveGot? A Craigslist Cantata, Ride The Cyclone, Parade, The Light In The Piazza and Elegies: A Song Cycle
Once On This Island
January 24 – February 9, 2014 (Previews January 21, 22 and 23)
Daniels Spectrum, Ada Slaight Hall 585 Dundas Street East
Tickets: $35 - $50, students and arts workers receive $10 off.
On Sale Now by Phone at 1-800-838-3006 And online at www.actingupstage.com
Photo: Chris Sams and Jewelle Blackman.
2013-12-09
Toronto: Acting Up Stage presents "Once on This Island" January 21-February 9, 2014