Once on this island

Book & Music: Lynn Ahrens
Composer: Stephen Flaherty

Directed for Northwestern University
Arts Alliance Fall 2023

  • Producer: Natalie Evans

    Set Designer: Sam Webster

    Lighting Designer: Alex Branka

    Assistant Lighting Designers: Rachel Olkin & Rafi Barocas

    Costume Designer: Laila-Simone Robsinson

    Sound Designer: Ryan Lien

    Sound Engineer: Shannon Powers

    Technical Director: Juan Barrera Lopez

  • Director: Nathan Hiykel

    Music Director: Sophie Morvillo

    Co-Choreographers: Aniya Rio & Emma McElwee 

    Stage Manager: Anushka Argawala 

    Fight & Intimacy Director: Grace Wagner

    Dramaturg: Nini Bagundo 

    Assistant Director: Ferdinand Moscat

    Assistant Music Director: Khoi Le

    Assistant Stage Managers: Grace Morley & Ella Poon

  • Ti Moune: Morgan Barber

    Daniel: Aiden McCoy

    Erzulie: Sofi Pascua

    Asaka: Angelena Browne

    Agwe: Nick Vela

    Papa Ge: Alondra Rios

    Tonton Julian: Oluwaseun Ayeni

    Mama Euralie: Constance Harris

    Andra Deveraux: Kaitlyn fields

    Storyteller: Brynae Hall

    Storyteller: Kamali Lopez Kuno

    Storyteller & Little Ti Moune: Michaiah Ligon

    Storyteller: Orville Amankwah

About the musical

Ti Moune, a peasant girl, rescues a wealthy boy from the other side of the island, Daniel, with whom she falls in love. Unbeknownst to Ti Moune, the pompous gods who preside over the island make a bet with one another over which is stronger, love or death, the stakes being Ti Moune's life. When she pursues Daniel, who has returned to his people, Ti Moune is shunned because of her lowly status. Her determination and capacity to love, though, is not enough to win Daniel's heart, and Ti Moune pays the ultimate price; but the gods turn Ti Moune into a tree that grows so strong and so tall, it breaks the wall that separates the societies and ultimately unites them.

“our lives become the stories that we weave”

Photo Credits: photosbyseeger