Loving Lives

It's 1948, it's the dead of winter, and it's time for "Loving Lives," a radio soap opera on its last legs. A pompous romantic lead, an incapacitated announcer, an obnoxious kazoo-tooting child star, and multiple off-the-air seductions all contribute to the hilarious demise of the radio show.

Come and enjoy a wonderful night of entertainment!

March 1, 2, and 3   2012

All performances ~ 7:30 p.m.

Once on this Island. . . . .

Dear Cast, Crew and Production Team of Once on this Island,

Words can not fully express my sincere gratitude for all your time, hard work, energy and commitment you have given in order to insure that Once on this Island is a success.

I marvel at how well you work together, creating wonderful moments and beautiful sounds.

So often, I find that we rush through our daily lives, never really taking the time to appreciate one another and our accomplishments.

Well, the time has come for you all to do just that.

What you have done as a community is spectacular.  

The show is wonderful.  You should all be very proud.....I know I am.

Take the time tonight to enjoy every moment, for you and for your audience.

Transport them in to a world that you have spent so much time creating.

Thank you for being a wonderful group of young people.

It has been a pleasure working with you all.

Lys

One Day and Counting. . . . .

Three Days and Counting......

Four Days and Counting. . . .

5 Days And Counting. . .

Last weekend rehearsal for Once on this Island

Saturday, November 5th
All cast be ready to go at 11:00 a.m.
Full costume......DO NOT SHOW UP AT 11:00 a.m.
If you need extra time to get ready, you may arrive as early at 10:15 a.m.

Sowens and Treise....can you be ready to go at 10:30 a.m. with the crew?  We need to run the "bark".
11:00-1:00 p.m. Total run.  No stops!!!
1:00-1:40 p.m. Lunch (which you need to bring)
1:45-4:00 p.m. Fix specific scenes, dancing, review some vocal sections, talk costumes, make-up, hair.


Sunday, November 6th
11:00 a.m. ALL CAST and CREW be ready to run show in costume.  Crew dressed all in black (including dark sneakers) !!!!
DO NOT BE LATE!!!
11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Run scenes/dances that need extra work.
12:30-12:50 p.m. Lunch (which you need to bring)
1:00-1:50 p.m. Work with pit on: "Tribal Dance" in Pray, Ti Moune's dance in the Ball scene, and Pray "Reprise".

2:00-4:30 p.m. Total Run Through with costumes and Pit!

5:00-6:30 p.m. POT-LUCK dinner sponsored by: The Parents of Once on this Island.  
All are invited.  
Please stay and share a meal together.  Celebrate your accomplishments!!


Looking ahead:


Monday, November 7th.
Sound Check at 5:30 p.m. 
For:
Little Ti Moune
Ti Moune
Tonton Julian
Mama
Erzulie
Papa Ge
Asaka 
Agwe
Armand
Daniel
Andrea


All Cast and Crew be ready to go at 7:00 p.m.
Complete Run-Through 7:30-???
Make-up and hair, Crew in black!

Tuesday-Wednesday
November 7, 8 
Complete Run-Through 7:30-??
All Cast and Crew be ready by 7:00 p.m.
Make-up and hair, Crew in black!


November 9th  Run Through
No make-up or costumes. Crew in fun clothing...no black!!! Street cloths are fine.


November 10-12  SHOW!!!
All Cast and Crew arrive to JHS no later than 5:30 p.m.

All must meet in the music room by 6:45 p.m.
Notes and vocal warm-up to follow.







 

Something to ponder. . . .

Opening: An opportunity affording a chance of success.

Opening Night! One week from today!!!!!!!

Acting is a question of absorbing other people's personalities and adding some of your own experience.

- Paul Newman

Fun Facts about Once on this Island. . . . .

Following their Off-Broadway debut with LUCKY STIFF, a musical farce, Ahrens and Flaherty knew they wanted to tackle something with greater emotional depth. Browsing for ideas, Ahrens stumbled upon the novel My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy in a used bookstore. She responded instantly to the novel's poetic language and to the simple beauty of the story. Her writing partner, composer  Stephen Flaherty, was attracted to the novel's Caribbean setting, which would allow him to create a score that was theatrical, but inflected with the rhythms and sounds of the story's locale. Their long search was over. 

In order to obtain the rights from Guy, the duo agreed to present the author with an outline and four song presentation that revealed their take on the material. It was a nerve-wracking experience, especially as they intended to completely change the novel's ending. Thankfully, Guy loved what she heard, and gave her blessing.

Over the next eight months, Ahrens and Flaherty completed the show, writing mostly chronologically and allowing each musical moment to reveal itself. They presented their work to their colleagues at Playwrights Horizons, who immediately fell in love with the show and committed to producing a four-week workshopAhrens and Flaherty's first and only choice for a director/choreographer was Graciela Daniele, who had a reputation for using dance to tell stories. After hearing the score, Daniele agreed to join the team.

The four-week workshop took place in the fall of 1989. Songs were cut and replaced, the story sharpened and focused, and the designers began to envision the physical look of the mythical island and its inhabitants. Playwrights Horizons announced that there would be a full production of the show in the spring.

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND debuted on April 6th, 1990, and the audience and critical response was rapturous. In The New York Times, Frank Rich raved that the lyrics were "simple, direct, and poignant," and that the audience was likely to leave the theater "ready to dance down the street."

The show was quickly transferred to Broadway's Booth Theater where it opened on October 18, 1990, and ran for over a year. The show garnered eight Tony nominations, including Best Musical, Score, and Book. The Broadway run was followed by a national tour, and in 1993, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND opened in London, where it captured the Olivier Award for Best Musical. Since then, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND has been performed thousands of times across the country and around the world.

On May 12, 2002, twelve years after the Broadway production, almost the entire original cast of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND reunited for a special concert performance of the show benefiting Broadway Cares and The Cantor-Fitzgerald Relief Fund. LaChanze, the original TiMoune, lost her husband on 9/11, and the concert was organized to pay tribute to her and the other victims of the tragedy. The resonances were powerful, in lyrics which urged audience and actors alike to "feel the anger and the sorrow, and forgive." It was a magical, emotional evening when all felt the true power of being "part of the human heart." 

"A rattling good time! A carnival of swirling rhythm. Delightful." -New York Post

"Explodes with music and motion! The best musical of the season!" -Associated Press

"Rousing, musical theatre! Everyone is likely to emerge from the theatre ready to dance down the street!" -The New York Times

Story Telling #2

Story Telling #1

 

Elementary School Sneak preview

Hello Friends,

We have been asked to perform for the Jenkintown Elementary School on November 4th at 2:00 p.m.  We will only perform these excerpts from the show:

1.  We Dance
2.  One Small Girl
3.  Pray
4.  Mama Will Provide
5.  Some Say
6.  We Dance Reprise (who knew we had one)

Please make a note of this date on your calendars. 

Thanks,

Lys

October 29 and October 30

ALL CAST MEMBERS:  11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Bring lunch, smiles and work to do when you are not on stage.

NO TALKING THIS WEEKEND.

No one will be allowed to sit in the auditorium when the show is running.  All cast and crew members must remain in the back stage area.

ONLY GOOD WORK ETHICS AND POSITIVE ATTITUDES from now on.

CREW MEMBERS: 

11:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.  Saturday and Sunday.  

Bring lunch/snacks as well.

Thank you for helping the cast with this show.  You are a vital part of the production community.  We  appreciate your time and energy!

October 25, 29, 30

ALL CAST MEMBERS CALLED OCTOBER 25th  

Rehearsal begins promptly at 7:30 p.m.  

Total run through of the show.

EVERYONE MUST BE OFF BOOK!!!!!!!!!!

OCTOBER 29th

ALL CAST MEMBERS and CREW CALLED

11:00 a.m. STARTING TIME!!!!!

BE PROMPT!!!!

Bring lunch/snacks.

OCTOBER 30th

ALL CAST MEMBERS and CREW CALLED

11:00 a.m. STARTING TIME

Run-through with Pit Orchestra 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Bring lunch/snacks.

Change in time call for Sunday October 23rd.

11:00 a.m.

Papa Ge, Armand, Andrea, Tonton, Mama, Ti Moune, Little Ti Moune, Olivia F., Avery, Olivia M., SOwens, Rory, Ryan, Erzulie, Zach, Asaka, Daniel

1:30 p.m.  ENTIRE CAST 

3:00-4:15 p.m. Mask Making!!!

PICTURE NIGHT. . .October 19th

Back by popular demand...Mr. Ritchie will be taking cast "head shots" and a crew "group" picture for our playbill on Wednesday October 19th.

Please wear a black top and look nice.  

Pictures will start promptly at 7:45 p.m.

EVERYONE needs to get their pictures taken.  You will be in and out...unless you are called for rehearsal.

Remember:  Mask Decorating Day, Sunday October 23rd 3:00-4:15 p.m.  

Bring snacks and smiles to share!!!!

Looking Ahead......

October 22nd

11:00 a.m.  

Bring lunch, snacks, water!

Ti Moune, Little Ti Moune, Daniel, All Gods (except Asaka), Tonton, Mama, Andrea, Armand, Featured Dancers, Zach, Ryan, Avery, Treise, Emilio

All Cast 2:15-4:00 p.m. 
RUN SHOW 

October 23rd 
ALL CAST MEMBERS  
11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Run Show!!!

Mask Decorating Party!!!
3:00-4:30 p.m.

October 18th and 19th Rehearsal Schedule

October 18th:

All cast members required!!!

Memorize Rain and Pray.

Remember to keep smiling and bring tons of energy!

October 19th:

Gods, Featured Dancers, Andrea, 

Mama, Tonton, Ti Moune

GREAT REHEARSAL!!!!!

Hello Fabulous Cast!

Today was terrific.  Stay focused and driven!

All cast members need to be at JHS by 

11:15 a.m.  

Bring lunch.

"The Feather Fund Raiser" begins at 

3:30 p.m.  

$10 for one strand: which includes three feathers (I believe)  

MEMORIZE PRAY!!

October 15th and 16th Rehearsal Scheudle

Here it is folks!
Off book on:

Mama will Provide, Sad Tale, We Dance, Some Say, And The Gods, Pray (yes...even this), One Small Girl.

Saturday October 15th  11:45-1:30 p.m.

Ti Moune, Daniel, Agwe, Mama, Tonton, Erzulie, Sarah Owens, Olivia Federici, 
Rory Moran, Avery Misinkavitch
1:30-4:00 p.m. ENTIRE CAST!!!!!
Please bring your T-Shirt money, any ticket orders to be filled and Ads. 
Bios?  Did I mention Bios?

Hm...............

Sunday October 16th.

11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ENTIRE CAST

3:30-4:30 p.m. Feather Fund Raiser. 

Each feather will cost $10.  That goes for Lys as well.

The costume folks will decide how many feathers each character is to have.

Please bring lunch on Sunday.

Thanks!

Note to Cast:

Dear Friends,

All material listed below must be MEMORIZED by this Tuesday (10/10/11).  Please look ahead to "Pray" as well.  

All cast members required for Tuesday's rehearsal.

Be on time tomorrow night: bring energy, motivation and a good work ethic.


Take Care,


Lys

Forever Yours

Ti Moune

And the Gods Heard Her Prayer

This song must be memorized by Tuesday's rehearsal (10/11/11)

Mama will Provide and Some Say

Please review the words to this song carefully!!!!

One Small Girl

Sad Tale

"We Dance"

Sunday, October 9th Rehearsal Call

12:00-2:00 p.m. 

All Gods, Tonton Julian, Mama Euralie, Little Ti Moune and Ti Moune

2:00-4:00 p.m. 

Entire Cast

All Ads are due October 15th!

Your bios are now  past due!!!!!!

The show opens November 10th!!!!!

Thank you!!!!

Dear Island Cast,

Great work this weekend.  Review and memorize: "Sad Tale", "Some Say",  and "Mama will Provide".

Those who missed rehearsal this weekend, will need to find a member of the cast and learn the material covered over the weekend.

SELL ADS!!!!  BIOS DUE!!!

"Some Say"

Once on this Island T-Shirt Design

Order yours today!

Rehearsal Update: October 1st and 2nd

October 1st:  ALL CAST MEMBERS 12:00-3:00 p.m.  
"Mama will Provide" 3:00-4:00 p.m. (Featured Dancers, Ryan, Zach and Asaka).


October 2nd:  12:00-4:00 p.m.  All Cast Members.
Remember:  Bagel Sunday!


T-Shirt orders MUST be in this Sunday!!!!!
"Feather Fund Raiser: October 16th: 3:30-4:45 p.m.

October 16 "Feather Day"

Here we go Island Cast.  

Our "feather fund raiser" will be on October 16th, starting time 3:30 p.m.  Be prepared to stay until 4:45 p.m.

Only cast/crew members will be able to participate at this time.  In the following week, it is our hope to open up this fund raiser to the student population of  JHS/MS/ES. 

The sad Tale of The Beauxhommes

Once on this Island Rehearsal call: September 27th and 28th

Dear Cast,

Thank you so much for a great weekend filled with hard work and tons of energy.  I appreciate all that you do for the program and for one another.

Tuesday September 27th: ALL CAST members are required.
"We Dance" must be memorized and please review your parts for "The sad Tale of The Beauxhommes"

Wednesday September 28th: NO REHEARSAL!!!!

"One Small Girl"

September 25th Rehearsal

All cast members required from 12:00-3:30 p.m.

 Parent Meeting at 3:30-4:00 p.m.

"We Dance"

Once on this Island

Hello Cast,

Great rehearsal today!  Thank you for your energy and wonderful work ethic.

Please take the time at home to review the choreography we did today.  "We Dance" is now finished.  You may now polish up your moves and vocal parts.  Anyone who was missing today will need to meet with an other cast member to review the choreography before Tuesday night's rehearsal.

See you all tomorrow.

Remember:  "Bagel Sunday".

Once on this Island Reminder

September 24th: All Cast Members called for rehearsal.  Bring lunch and drinks!

September 25th:  All Cast Members called.   Bring lunch and drinks!

Parent meeting at 3:15 p.m. Topics to be discussed:  Fund Raising, Ad Drive and Ticket Sales.

Welcome to "Once on this Island" JHS Fall Musical 2011

"Once on this Island"  November 10, 11, 12  2011.   

All shows begin at 7:30 p.m.  

Doors open promptly  6:45 p.m.

For further information, contact Alyssa Davidson at: davidsona@jenkintown.org