Once on This Island cast:

Little Ti Moune: Libby McBride

Storytellers: Molly Keene-Dreyer, Shelbi Wassick, Jenny Wood, Alyssa Carroll

Mama Euralie: Anne Atkinson

Tonton Julian: Tim Dupre

Ti Moune: Rosalyn Moisan

Daniel Beauxhomme: Jamie McBride

Daniel’s Son: Avery Sevee

Gatekeeper: James Gallant

Daniel’s Father: Logan Burns

Andrea: Molly Olsen

Papa Ge: Calvin Moisan

Asaka: Jill Stauble

Agwe: Maggie Topel

Erzulie: Jess Wood

Gossipers/Villagers: Anthony DeRice, Kendra Richards, Serena Cobleigh, Hannah Adams, Tatiana Morrell, Clare Kenny.

Peasants/Storytellers: Jessica Merrill, Rachael Dalton

Grande Homme/Villagers: Courtney Merrill, Kiara Tringali, Natalie Ross, Kelley Wassick

Windham Center Stage Theater presents its spring 2007 children/teen production of Once on This Island Junior, an engaging, Caribbean flavored musical set on an unnamed island in the French Antilles.

The show is a twist on the traditional “Little Mermaid” tale, and tells the story of Ti Moune, a poor peasant girl who falls in love with Daniel, an upper-class boy whose life she saves.

Central to the story are four gods that the peasants believe rule their lives. The gods of Love (Erzulie), Earth (Asaka), Water (Agwe), and Death (Papa Ge) cause the lives of the young lovers to intersect, and send Ti Moune on the fateful journey that tests the strength of her love.

Director Diane Hancock, who runs Windham’s School Age Child Care program, has longed to do “Once on This Island” since she helped direct it several years ago at a summer camp in Yarmouth. She was drawn to the musical because of its lively and exciting music and interesting story line. Hancock is thrilled to work with the youth of the community in this venue and says the cast is so full of energy and enthusiasm she has her work cut out just keeping up with them.

“Once on This Island” will be performed at the North Windham Union Church, 723 Roosevelt Trail, Friday, May 11 and 18 at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, May 12, 13, 19, 20 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 seniors/students $10 adults $5 preschool. Tickets are available at the door or by calling 893-2098 or visiting www.windhamtheater.org.

Led by Jill Stauble of Gray, actors in Windham Center Stage Theater’s upcoming production of Once on This Island Junior, march off the stage at a rehearsal held earlier this week. Courtesy photo