The show, directed by Ola Ince and set to open at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, will be led by the previously announced Gabrielle Brooks and Stephenson Ardern-Sodje in the lead roles of Ti Moune and Daniel, respectively.
Brooks, who received WhatsOnStage and Olivier Award nominations for her role in Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, and Ardern-Sodje, who appeared in the London production of Hamilton, will be joined by an ensemble including Courtney-Mae Briggs as Andrea, Jonathon Grant as Armand and understudy Agwe, Emilie Louise Israel as Erzulie, Chris Jarman as Tonton, Anelisa Lamola as Asaka, Natasha Magigi as Mama Euralie, Ashley Samuels as Agwe, and Lejaun Sheppard as Papa Ge.
The production will also feature a company including Bernadette Bangura, Hanna Dimtsu, Nay-Nay, Cassandra Lee, Cherece Richards, Mikel Sylvanus, and Marco Titus. The role of Young Ti Moune will be shared by Janai Bartlett, Lexi Kowlessar, Nesisa Mhindu, Kirsten Muzvuru, Nielle Springer, and Olivia St Louis.
Once On This Island, which has a book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty, is based on the novel My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy. The show tells the story of Ti Moune, a fearless peasant girl who falls in love with a wealthy boy from the other side of the island. Set in the Caribbean, the musical explores themes of love, class, and fate.
The original West End production of Once On This Island won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 1995, and the most recent Broadway revival won the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival in 2018.
Joining Ince on the creative team are Annemette Verspeak as voice and text director, Ingrid Mackinnon as season associate – intimacy support, Phil Bateman as musical supervisor, Niamh Gaffney as associate sound designer, Jessica Hung Han Yun as lighting designer, Niquelle LaTouche as associate choreographer, Nick Lidster as sound designer, Georgia Lowe as set designer, Lindsay McAllister as associate director, Philip d’Orléans as fight director, Chris Poon as musical director, Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy as choreographer, Melissa Simon-Hartman as costume designer, and Jacob Sparrow as casting director.
The show opens at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre later this month, with details below.