Character List
BYE BYE BIRDIE
Rose Alvarez Albert Peterson
Kim MacAfee Conrad Birdie
Mrs. MacAfee Mr. MacAfee
Mae Peterson Randolph MacAfee
Gloria Rasputin Hugo Peabody
Mayor’s Wife Mayor
Ursula Mertle Harvey Johnson
Penelope Ann TV Director
Deborah Sue TV Stage Manager
Alice
Suzie
Margie
Nancy
Little Sad Girl
Conrad’s Fan Club Dancers
Conrad’s Little Fan Club
Kim’s Friends
Hugo’s Friends
(Please listen to the Broadway version--it’s the one we will be using. The movie is excellent to watch for characterization, etc., but is not the same as the Broadway version.)
ONCE ON THIS ISLAND
(A full description follows as many people do not know this wonderful show.)
ONCE ON THIS ISLAND is a colorful musical tale of love, loss and redemption performed by a group of Caribbean peasants as they wait out a violent storm. The story they tell is of a young peasant girl who leaves her village and travels across the island in search of love, and in doing so sets the Gods in action against each other and against her. The show is a magical combination of the story, the music, and the dances that the girl, the Gods, and all the other people of the Island dance as they play out the events told. The story is the peasants’ version of what became of her, told by the Gods, the villagers, and a young girl, filtered through their faith and their imaginations. The show is all music, all singing and lots of dancing!
THE CAST
11 Principals, 10+ Supporting roles, Singers & Dancers
The Villagers:
Ti Moune-The story follows Ti Moune (which means orphan in the language of the villagers) from the time she was left in a tree by the great storm that opens the show, through her childhood, and into her life as a young woman. Ti Moune must be able to sing extremely well, and has a lengthy solo dance as well.
Young Ti Moune- When Ti Moune is first found in the tree near the village, she is a young child.
Ton Ton Julian-Ti Moune’s adoptive father, who travels across the Island to find out about Daniel for his daughter. Julian must be a very strong singer and actor as well.
Mama Euralie-Ti Moune’s adoptive mother, who is often frustrated by Ti Moune’s very adolescent behavior. Euralie must be a very strong singer and actress.
The Grand Hommes:
Daniel-The young man who crashes his car near the ocean by Ti Moune’s village. When she rescues him, the two fall in love. Daniel must be a strong singer.
Armand-Daniel’s wealthy father, who has been cursed by the Gods. He must be a strong actor.
Andrea-Daniel’s financé, who stands between Daniel and Ti Moune. She must be a strong singer and actress.
The Gods:
Asaka- The Earth Goddess. She guides Ti Moune on her long journey. She must be a very strong singer & dancer.
Agwe-The Water God. He creates the storm that crashes Daniel’s car and brings him to Ti Moune. He must be a very strong singer and dancer.
Erzulie-The Goddess of Love. She tries to help Ti Moune and Daniel. She must be a very strong singer.
Papa Ge-Demon of Death. He tries to show the other Gods that death is stronger than love. He must be a very strong singer and actor.
The Storytellers:
The storytellers are everywhere. They sing the songs and dance the dances that tell the story of Once on This Island. (as many as 8)
More Characters
Little Girl Gatekeeper The Aristocracy The City People
ONCE ON THIS ISLAND has music that sometimes evokes Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’s Benjamin Calypso, and at other times moves darker and more serious ballads, seeming equally like a modern opera and an enchanting fairy tale. It is a show full of joyous energy that often erupts into dance and is unlike more tranditional musicals in both its sound and its perspective.
(Please listen to the 1990 Broadway version--it’s the one we will be using.)