PACT's Once On This Island Only This Weekend!!!
July 16, 2010
Where can you get Romeo and Juliet and The Little Mermaid all rolled into one? At the South Jackson Civic Center, of course.
According to Coleen Saunders, "Our upcoming play Once On This Island is a mixture of both. Set in the French Antilles in the Caribbean, it is the story of a peasant girl who dreams of finding her true love — just like Ariel and Juliet. "
Blossom Merryman and Vicki Qualls, costume designers, are bringing much of the Caribbean color and legends to the stage. Colorful clothing and props will be stylized to represent the culture of that area of the world. Look for frogs, mosquitoes, mangos, suns, stars, moons.
And, not only does the clothing bring about the feel of the Caribbean, the set will be astonishing. The cast will enter on a rope bridge and climb a giant tree—the Tree of Life.
"This set is one of the most unique ones that we have used on this stage," said Mike Sneed, set advisor for both the Community Playhouse and South Jackson. "We are pulling out all our stops on this one. We may even throw in a waterfall."
A large cast will bring this play to the stage.
"We have veterans of our stage, as well as some veterans from Motlow and other regional art groups. But, what is really wonderful is that we have many newcomers. Their experience could help the Civic Center endure as an arts facility for many years to come. Nurturing the up and coming artists in our area is the prime mission of our Performing Arts for Children and Teen program. And, this play has the potential of doing just that by teaming veteran mentors with newcomers," according to Coleen Saunders, advisor to PACT.
Cast members include: Keana Cobarde, Lindsey Cauble, Wesley Feemster, Chamberlin Little, Katelyn Pacheco, Isaac Cunningham, Devin Chapman, John Luc, Jonathan Byers, Katherine Smith, Meg Holder, Morgan McFarlane, Faith McKinney, Sarah Hall, Katie Blackman, Kenny Alika Keawekane, Will Fletcher, Dakka Partin, Richard Chilton, Adeline Smith, Katie Alexander, Jon Mallory, Julie Edwards, James Stinson, Vicki Cunningham, Wesley Smith, Morgan Fitzgerald, Connie Dodson, Erin Fitzgerald, Kati Collins, Mallory Morris, Heather Dweck, Jacqueline Sullenger, Michael Maupins, Kaitlyn Burnette, Demetrius Seay, Stephanie Fraley, Hannah Luthi, Taylor Feemster, Christine King, and Alex Ivins.
Once On This Island will be presented by PACT of the South Jackson Civic Association on July 16 at 7:30, July 17 at 2:30 and 7:30 and July 18 at 2:30 at the South Jackson Civic Center. This play is presented by special arrangement with Music Theatre International, New York.
PHOTOS: © 2010, Russel Mobley/MTA.
