Welcome to Piedmont Hills High School and thank you for joining us today.

I am excited to bring this little-known musical,  ONCE ON THIS ISLAND to our Berryessa community. When I listened to the songs from the Broadway album, met the characters through the music, heard their stories, went on the journey with them, and re-read the script, I knew this was the show to bring to our stage this spring. 

Nominated for eight Tony Awards and winner of the Olivier Award,  ONCE ON THIS ISLAND begins with storytellers trying to calm the fears of a little girl during a storm. Using the style of a Greek chorus or a collection of Haitian villagers, the little girl (and the audience) is told the story of a peasant girl named Ti Moune. We watch as Ti Moune grows and eventually wants to break away from her village and experience the bigger world. We witness the choices she makes and the consequences of those decisions. 

The musical is based both on the Hans Christian Anderson version of The Little Mermaid, and the novel My Love, My Love, by Haitian writer Rosa Guy. With a joyful Caribbean score full of powerful ballads and soaring dance numbers, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND is a tribute to the extent of just how far the human spirit can reach by being pushed and tested. 

It reveals to us the hero within, who sets off on a journey to break away from what's familiar and comfortable, and risks travelling through unchartered territory, in order to follow one's dream. It reminds us of the need for love and companionship to guide us along our way. 

It's a story about how fear can cripple a group of people into creating walls of hatred and injustice, when all it takes is an open mind and a willingness to tolerate  differences to see the world open up in new, rich ways. It's a testament to the power of sacrifice... for those that we love and for what we believe. 

Ti Moune reminds us that our circumstances don't dictate the size of our heart, the reach of our dreams, the power of our beliefs, or the impact one person can have on the lives of others. By re-telling and re-living Ti Moune's experiences to the little girl and the villagers, she becomes one of those legendary figures whose lives become models of inspiration, examples of courage, and symbols of change. 

And then there's the heart, the "human heart" that the goddess of Love Erzulie sings about. From the beginning of this production, the cast members brought with them a joyfulness that made rehearsals refreshing, silly, and full of life. From our first read through of gasps and sighs, to our lack of knowledge about Haiti with its heartbreaking history and its stories of resilience, from the challenging tribal moves at dance workshops or syncopated vocals, to the unified sound and look you'll see and hear today, we have enjoyed our time on this island.  We hope you will too.

Thank you for joining us, and for your support of theatre in our high schools. See you on stage,

Anna M. Woods

Director/Theatre Teacher