About

TONY AWARD® WINNER!
BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL

“What a delight it is to enter the world of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND!” raves The New York Times. Time Out New York cheers, “After seeing this imaginative and dynamic musical, you may feel once is not enough!”

This is the sweeping theatrical power of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND—the universal tale of Ti Moune (2018 Tony Award nominee Hailey Kilgore), a fearless peasant girl in search of her place in the world, and ready to risk it all for love. Guided by the mighty island gods (played by Darlesia Cearcy, Glee’s Alex Newell, Greenleaf’s Merle Dandridge, and Cats’ Quentin Earl Darrington), Ti Moune sets out on a remarkable journey to reunite with the man who has captured her heart.

The groundbreaking vision of two-time Tony Award nominated director Michael Arden (Spring Awakening revival) and acclaimed choreographer Camille A. Brown (NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live) conjures up “a place where magic is possible and beauty is apparent for all to see!” (The Huffington Post). With a score that bursts with life from Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the Tony Award-winning songwriters of Anastasia and Ragtime, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND is a timeless testament to theater’s unlimited possibilities.

MEET THE GODS

Erzulie

ORIGIN: Traditionally the spirit of love, beauty, jewelry, dancing, luxury and flowers.

TRAITS: Deeply compassionate, her symbol is the heart. As the embodiment of femininity, she is a defender of women and children, and is frequently depicted protectively holding a young child.

Asaka

ORIGIN: The loa of harvest and the patron of agriculture, she is also called Azaka.

TRAITS: Up in the Haitian mountains, the farmers frequently pray to Asaka for good harvest. In ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, she guides our heroine Ti Moune on her journey, and shows her how the land itself can help.

Papa Ge

ORIGIN: Based on Papa Ghede, from the loa family of death.

TRAITS: Sinister and seductive, Papa Ghede is commonly believed to be the corpse of the very first man who died. He stands at the crossroads between the living and the dead, eagerly waiting to carry souls into the afterlife.

Agwe

ORIGIN: The loa of direction, specifically across the oceans.

TRAITS: Often depicted as dashing and handsome, Agwe controls the currents, waves and ocean depths. Sometimes dressed as a naval officer, he guides all sea travelers home.