Lea Salonga in Once on This Island

Lea Salonga returns to Once on This Island

Tony Award winner Lea Salonga rejoins the Tony Award-winning "Best Revival of a Musical" for its final Broadway performances at Circle in the Square.

Tom Millward
Tom Millward

Bringing back The Human Heart, Tony Award winner Lea Salonga returns to the role of Erzulie, Goddess of Love, in the Tony Award-winning "Best Revival of a Musical" Once on This Island at the Circle in the Square Theatre tonight and will remain with the production through to its final performance on January 6, 2019. As previously reportedDestiny's Child member and Grammy Award winner Michelle T. Williams departed the production earlier this month "on doctor's orders" and understudy Cassondra James had been covering the role in the interim period.

The principal cast of Once on This Island also currently includes Tony Award nominee Hailey Kilgore (as Ti Moune), "Glee" star Alex Newell (as Asaka), Tamyra Gray (as Papa Ge), Quentin Earl Darrington (as Agwe), Isaac Powell (as Daniel), Kenita R. Miller (as Mama Euralie), Boise Holmes (as Tonton Julian), and David Jennings (as Armand).

Once on This Island began previews at the Circle in the Square on November 9, 2017, ahead of an official opening on December 3.

The musical features music by Tony Award winner Stephen Flaherty and a book & lyrics by Tony Award winner Lynn Ahrens.

Synopsis: "Once on This Island is the extraordinary story of a fearless young dreamer named Ti Moune. After a massive storm rages through her village, a ray of hope appears through a young man from the wealthy side of the island. An unexpected romance blossoms. But when their different cultures threaten to keep them apart, Ti Moune—guided by the island gods—sets out on a journey to stay beside the man who has captured her heart. The musical transforms the reality of post-storm Haiti into a fantastical world bursting with Caribbean rhythms and dance."

Directed by Tony Award nominee Michael Arden, this new production features choreography by Camille A. Brown, music supervision by Chris Fenwick, music direction by Alvin Hough, Jr., new orchestrations by the musical's original orchestrator Michael Starobin, vocal designs by AnnMarie Milazzo, scenic design by Dane Laffrey, costume design by Clint Ramos, lighting design by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer and sound design by Peter Hylenski.

Once on This Island is produced on Broadway by Ken Davenport and Hunter Arnold.

Once on This Island premiered off-Broadway at Playwright's Horizons in 1990 and transferred to Broadway in October of the same year. The Broadway production ran for a total of 469 performances and received an impressive total of eight Tony Award nominations including "Best Musical". Its West End premiere was staged in 1994 and ultimately won the Olivier Award for "Best New Musical" at the 1995 ceremony.

Once on This Island Tickets are available now for performances through to January 6, 2019.

(Photo by Joan Marcus)

Originally published on

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