Once on the Island
Book and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Based on the novel My Love, My Love; or, The Peasant Girl by Rosa Guy
Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
On a Caribbean island divided by wealth and social class, a young peasant girl named Ti Moune rescues Daniel, a wealthy young man from the other side of the island, and falls deeply in love with him. Unknown to Ti Moune, the island's powerful gods have made her part of a wager to discover which force is stronger—love or death.
Guided by faith, courage, and an extraordinary belief in love, Ti Moune journeys beyond the world she has always known in pursuit of Daniel. Told through vibrant music, dance, and storytelling, Once on This Island is a moving tale about love, sacrifice, prejudice, community, and the stories we pass from one generation to the next.
Details
Author Bio
Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty are an acclaimed musical-theatre writing team whose collaborations include Ragtime, Anastasia, Seussical, Lucky Stiff, and Once on This Island. Ahrens writes book and lyrics, while Flaherty composes the music. Their work has earned Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Olivier Awards, along with Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Grammy nominations. They received the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement and were inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in 2015.
Duration
90 minutes (1.5 hours)
Time Period/Setting
A fictional Caribbean island in the French Antilles, where the story unfolds between two communities divided by class and social status. The production uses the tradition of communal storytelling, with the ensemble bringing the island, its people, and its gods to life.
Genre/Subgenre
Musical / Caribbean-Inspired Folktale / Drama / Romance
The musical blends theatrical storytelling with a Calypso-influenced score and draws inspiration from The Little Mermaid through Rosa Guy's novel My Love, My Love.
Audience Guidance/Rating
JAMS Rating: PG — Parental Guidance Suggested
Recommended for families, teens, and older children. The musical explores mature emotional and social themes, including death, grief, class prejudice, discrimination based on skin tone and social status, romantic relationships, sacrifice, and abandonment. Some moments may be emotionally intense for younger children. Other professional productions have similarly presented the show with a PG rating because of its themes and some adult content.