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I have a hunch that one of the highlights of the
area’s summer theater will be the rarely seen musical Once on This Island, which opens Friday, July 20, at New Salem’s Theatre
in the Park. The 1990 Broadway musical is directed by Daniel J. Bonnett, a
Springfield native who now lives in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. This show has become quite a favorite among lovers of
musical theater, especially fans of its creators, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen
Flaherty, whose better-known works include Ragtime, My Favorite Year, and Seussical. Once on This Island, the
age-old story of young lovers dealing with class differences, is set on an
island in the Caribbean. Based on My Love, My
Love, a 1985 novel by Rosa Guy, Once
on This Island tells the story of Ti Moune, a
young orphan living among an island’s peasants. Divine intervention
brings Ti Moune together with Daniel, a young aristocrat from the other
side of the island, whose life Ti Moune saves after a car crash. The show
has elements of The Little Mermaid and Romeo and Juliet. It’s such a beautiful story, with one great song
after another, it’s no wonder that it has a cult following. The original Broadway production ran 469 performances
and starred LaChanze, who went on to play the role of Celie in the musical The Color Purple. Lindsey
Aeriel Grimble plays the role here, and Layne Roate plays Daniel. Grimble,
who recently graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in
New York City, has been seen in many area productions, including Big River and the recent Miss Saigon at the Muni.
Bonnett received his master’s degree in
directing from Roosevelt University in Chicago and has a degree in
vocal-music education from Millikin University. His professional work
includes South Florida productions of Closer
Than Ever, Blood
Brothers, La Cage
aux Folles, and Forever Plaid. He has also performed in The Rocky Horror Show, A Christmas Carol, Angels in America, The Baltimore Waltz, Jeffrey, Steppin’ Out, and Little Shop of Horrors.
Showtime at Theatre in the Park is 8 p.m. (with preshow entertainment
inside the visitors’ center at 7 p.m.). Call 217-632-5440 for
tickets. Once on This Island runs through Sunday, July 29. Among other shows of note: • A performance reading of Yasmina Reza’s
worldwide hit comedy Art, featuring Gus Gordon, Kevin
Purcell, and David Shaw, will be presented by Over the Moon Productions at
2 p.m. Saturday, July 21, at Williamsville State Bank, 3341 Old
Jacksonville Rd. Reservations are not required; a donation of $10 is
suggested. Call
217-523-0315 for information. • The world premiere of a musical is coming: The
Jacksonville Theatre Guild stages David: You and I at the
Sophie Leschin Theatre Aug. 2-5 and 9-12. Writer Ken Bradbury has taken the
familiar Old Testament story of King David and tells it in an entirely new
way. The music and lyrics, by Roger Wainwright of Chatham, cover a wide
variety of styles, including jazz, blues, rock & roll, and gospel.
Bradbury has a way of bringing an audience into his storytelling and
showmanship, and in this musical you will see singing sheep, gangsters, a
witch, a cricket match, a circus, a war, and, of course, lots of song and
dance. Call 217-245-1402 for tickets. • Carly Shank’s production of Grease is a big hit at the Muni Opera, where it runs through July
22. Boasting a cast of high-energy young performers, it is the fun show of
the summer, performed on a big jukebox set. Don’t miss it! For
tickets, call 217-793-6864.
Contact Phil
Funkenbusch at Phil.Funkenbusch@Illinois.gov.
This article appears in Jul 12-18, 2007.
