Casting is complete for Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre's upcoming production of the Tony-nominated musical Once on This Island, which will play the London venue May 10-June 10 with an official opening May 17.
Directed by Ola Ince, the cast will be led by Olivier nominee Gabrielle Brooks (Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical) as Ti Moune and Stephenson Ardern-Sodje (Hamilton) as Daniel with Courtney-Mae Briggs as Andrea, Jonathon Grant as Armand, Emilie Louise Israel as Erzulie, Chris Jarman as Tonton, Anelisa Lamola as Asaka, Natasha Magigi as Mama Euralie, Ashley Samuels as Agwe, and Lejaun Sheppard as Papa Ge.
The ensemble will include Bernadette Bangura, Hanna Dimtsu, Nay-Nay, Cassandra Lee, Cherece Richards, Mikel Sylvanus, and Marco Titus. The role of Young Ti Moune will be shared by Janai Bartlett, Lexi Kowlessar, Nesisa Mhindu, Kirsten Muzvuru, Nielle Springer, and Olivia St Louis.
Based on Rosa Guy's novel My Love, My Love, Once on This Island has a book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1990, earning eight Tony nominations, including Best Musical. The original 1995 West End production won the Olivier for Best New Musical, and the most recent Broadway production won the 2018 Tony for Best Revival of a Musical.
Once on This Island unfolds as a group of storytellers—caught in the midst of an unrelenting storm—recount the tale of Ti Moune, a Caribbean island country girl in love with an aristocrat.
The creative team will also include musical director Chris Poon, choreographer Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, musical supervisor Phil Bateman, associate sound designer Niamh Gaffney, lighting designer Jessica Hung Han Yun, associate choreographer Niquelle LaTouche, sound designer Nick Lidster, set designer Georgia Lowe, associate director Lindsay McAllister, fight director Philip d'Orléans, costume designer Melissa Simon-Hartman, casting director Jacob Sparrow, and voice and text director Annemette Verspeak with intimacy support from Ingrid Mackinnon.
For ticket information visit OpenAirTheatre.com.
