Once On This Island returns to the stage this September

9 Works Theatrical’s upcoming musical production will take you on an exciting voyage.

Words Sophia Pangandian
Photos Aliyah Segundo
August 26, 2024

For a limited time, 9 Works Theatrical will be staging the Broadway musical Once On This Island at the RCBC Plaza, Makati City from September 6 to 29.

Bringing the sea breeze to the stage, Once On This Island breathes life to a story filled with love, loss, and resilience. Set on an island in the French Antilles, where villages are ruled by powerful gods and wealthy grand hommes (great men), who never assimilate with the peasantry, the gods bring together Ti Moune, a young peasant girl, and a grand homme, Daniel Beauxhomme, whom she falls in love with. Ti Moune’s journey tackles themes of faith, class struggle, and the strength of the human spirit.

The production is currently in the midst of rehearsals. Art+ sat down with Once On This Island executive producer Santi Santamaria, director Robbie Guevara, and members of the cast, who are united in their enthusiasm for the musical.

Santi Santamaria shared that staging Once On This Island was a unanimous and easy decision for the team. Robbie Guevara added that the company is looking to deliver new material or revive the classics.

With their market focused on Zillenials, Guevara knew that piquing the audiences’ interest with powerful storytelling is key. Emphasizing the impact of the narrative, he said it’s “very relatable. Regardless of what generation they belong in, I think this would really touch people’s hearts.”

Aware of how responsive Zillenials are to existing societal concerns, scenographer Mio Infante noted that while the story is set in the Carribbean, Filipino audiences will not feel alienated. The root issues center on themes of race and inequality, as the Carribbeans was colonized by the West–which is bound to resonate with the Filipinos’ own colonial history.

The cast of seasoned and young actors feel privileged to be part of the production. Garett Bolden, who will be playing Agwe, god of Water, shared that this is his first encounter with the musical. “It’s really amazing; it grows on me every day we rehearse.”

Veteran actress Shiela Valderrama-Martinez, who will portray Erzulie, goddess of Love, is excited to join the cast. “You have your responsibility to share the message of the story of the show that you’re doing. And you get to work on your talents, so it’s a combination of all these things why we want to do this.”

Jef Flores, who will portray Daniel Beauxhomme, shared that Once On This Island made him fall in love with musicals. In fact, it was the first musical he would be a part of, at the age of 14. “I am crossing my fingers that I could live up to the potential of the show, and that it can be just as magical, so that people can fall in love with theater the way I do.”

Krystal Kane, who will be playing Andrea Deveraux, Daniel’s fiancee, sees the cast’s varied life experiences as a boon. “We’re at different parts of our lives, and we all connect in this one space in time, and it’s just so wonderful.”

Shanaia Gomez, who will alternate with Krystal in the role of Andrea, realized that what they do is play, not work. “We’re just having fun, enjoying each other’s company, and the numbers.”

Catch Once On This Island for a limited run from September 6 to 29, 2024, at the RCBC Plaza in Ayala Avenue, Makati City. Tickets can be purchased at Ticket2Me or bit.ly/OnceOnThisIslandMNL