The Renaissance Theatre will hold auditions for the Mansfield Youth (MY) Theatre production of Once On This Island on Sunday, January 6 from 4:00 PM until 6:30 PM and on Monday, January 7 from 6:00 until 8:30 PM in the ballroom at the Renaissance Theatre, 138 Park Avenue West in downtown Mansfield. Those auditioning must be between the ages 12 and 18 during the 2018-19 school year however, there is one female role and one male role for which those who are 9 years of age and older may audition. Dauphne Maloney will direct the production, with Brian K. Nabors as musical director.
Anyone auditioning should be prepared to sing a 16-32 measure excerpt from a song of their choice and bring sheet music in the proper key. An accompanist will be provided. Individuals planning to audition should plan to come for one of the audition time blocks; and no audition appointment is needed. Those auditioning should bring a list of schedule conflicts between the dates of auditions and the performances of Once On This Island. Performance dates are March 21 through 24, 2019. All performances will be held on stage at the Renaissance Theatre 166 location.
Once on This Island is based upon the 1985 novel My Love, My Love; or, The Peasant Girl by Rosa Guy, and is set in the French Antilles. The show includes elements of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet story, as well as elements Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Little Mermaid. The story is that of a peasant girl on a tropical island, who uses the power of love to bring together people of different social classes.
Ti Moune, a peasant girl, rescues a wealthy boy, with whom she falls in love, from the other side of the island. Unbeknownst to Ti Moune, the pompous gods who preside over the island make a bet with one another over the strength of love. When Ti Moune pursues Daniel, who has returned to his people, she is shunned because of her lowly status. Her determination and capacity to love is not enough to win Daniel’s heart, and Ti Moune pays the ultimate price. The gods turn Ti Moune into a beautiful tree that grows so strong and tall, it breaks the wall that separates the societies and ultimately unites them.
With a magical and energetic score, which includes such songs as, “We Dance,” and Mama Will Provide,” the show embodies a strong, emotional story which delivers a universal message to young and old alike.
Written by the Tony Award-winning songwriting team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Once on This Island is a highly original and theatrical Caribbean adaptation of the popular fairy tale, The Little Mermaid. During its original Broadway run, it garnered eight Tony nominations in1991, including Best Musical, Book and Score. In 1995, the original London production was nominated for four Laurence Olivier Awards; winning an Olivier Award for Best New Musical. The first Broadway revival of Once on This Island opened on December 3, 2017 at the Circle in the Square Theatre. Nominated for eight 2017 Tony Awards, including Best Direction and Best Orchestrations, the revival won the Tony for Best Revival of a musical.
Mansfield Youth Theatre is presented as a part of the Mechanics Bank Education Series.
Source, Photo: Renaissance Performing Arts Association
