Kidstage invites you to ‘This Island’
Published 12:01 am Friday, April 15, 2011
Village Theatre Kidstage asks you to put on your tropical shirt and khakis, sit back and enjoy a celebration of life and love during its theatrical tropical getaway story, “Once on This Island, Jr.”
Kidstage went all-out for this production by using a veteran director from Seattle and a speci
alist in Afro-Caribbean dance to bring out the best in the cast of 47 youngsters.
“Once on This Island, Jr.,” which runs Friday through Sunday at the Everett Performing Arts Center, is an original, theatrical, Caribbean adaptation of the popular fairy tale, “The Little Mermaid.”
The story is of Ti Moune, a peasant girl who rescues and falls in love with Daniel, a wealthy boy from the other side of her island.
With help from Ti Moune, Daniel is returned to his people, the fantastical gods who rule the island.
These gods guide Ti Moune on a quest to test the strength of her love against the powerful forces of prejudice, hatred and death, according to press material about the show.
The show boasts nonstop songs and dance and a contemporary Caribbean-flavored score by the Tony Award-winning songwriting team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.
For “Once on This Island, Jr.,” the students worked with dance specialist Chris Daigre of Ewajo Dance Center.
Caribbean dance “is very different from the usual musical theater dance in which they have been training, and therefore a bit of a new challenge,” said Janet Cole Hamilton, Kidstage production manager.
This show is directed by Faith Russell, a Seattle-area theater veteran of 20 years who has worked as a director, actress, teacher and choreographer.
The cast is made up of students ages 9 to 17 from Arlington, Bothell, Edmonds, Everett, Lake Stevens, Lynnwood, Marysville, Monroe, Mukilteo, Snohomish and Stanwood.
This full-scale spring production has scenic design by Robert Aguilar, lighting design by Marc King, costume design by Nancy Horner and sound design by Ross Harney.
“Once on This Island, Jr.” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. today, 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett.
Tickets are $13 and $11. Call 425-257-8600 or go to www.villagetheatre.org.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
