06/02/2026
🌴 Sign-ups are now live for Once On This Island Jr! ✨
CASTING STATEMENT:
We are committed to equitable and inclusive casting and enthusiastically welcome, value, and encourage actors of diverse races, ethnicities, body types, abilities, gender identities, and expressions to be part of Once on this Island Jr. For this production, we are excited to invite and welcome as many performers of color as possible in every attempt to be as culturally sensitive to the original material and respectful and representative of our local community.
WHO CAN AUDITION:
Young performers that are able to read independently up to age 18, also including adults with special needs that would like to audition. There will be no double casting, but understudies may be considered based on turnout.
SYNOPSIS: With its poignant story and catchy Caribbean-flavored score, Once on This Island JR. is a highly original theatrical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s popular fairy tale, The Little Mermaid, and the Tony-nominated Broadway musical by the legendary writing team, Ahrens and Flaherty.
Through almost non-stop song and dance, this full-hearted musical tells the story of Ti Moune, a peasant girl who rescues and falls in love with Daniel, a wealthy boy from the other side of her island. When Daniel is returned to his people, the fantastical gods who rule the island, guide Ti Moune on a quest that will test the strength of her love against the powerful forces of prejudice, hatred and even death.
AUDITION DATES: (please pick one 1-hour time slot and arrive at the selected time):
Monday, June 15th, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Tuesday, June 16th, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Thursday, June 18th-Callbacks if needed, 6:00 PM-9:00 PM Note: Not all parts will get a
callback.
Audition Sign Up Link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0844AAAF2BA4FEC25-64398888-once
Audition Form- Must be done prior to auditions:
https://rhodecenter.ludus.com/form.php?form_id=18573
AUDITION PREPARATION:
Auditions will consist of 1 minute of prepared music, a very brief cold read, and theatre games. Callbacks will consist of prepared music and side selections based on characters that are called back.
PRODUCTION DATES:
Please ensure that you can fully commit to the rehearsal period and performance schedule before auditioning.
Dates:
Friday, July 31st @ 7PM
Saturday, August 1st @ 7PM
Sunday, August 2nd @ 2PM
Friday, July 7th @ 7PM
Saturday, August 8th @ 7PM
Sunday, August 9th @ 2PM
REHEARSAL SCHEDULE:
Starting Monday June 22nd
Monday - Friday 6pm-9pm with some weekends based on need.
LOCATION:
Rhode Center for the Arts, 514 56th Street, Kenosha, Wisconsin
DIRECTORS - Chynna Chung & Avery Morris
MUSIC DIRECTOR - Kalyn Harewood
CHOREOGRAPHER - Samuel Landmark
Character Breakdown
Storytellers
The Storytellers are more than narrators, they are the keepers of memory, history, and culture. They will guide the audience through Ti Moune's journey while reminding us that stories have the power to teach, heal, and bring people together. We are looking for performers who can command attention, connect directly with an audience, and embrace the responsibility of carrying the story forward.
Mama Euralie
Mama Euralie represents unconditional love, resilience, and the strength of community. She embodies the idea that families are built through care, sacrifice, and connection rather than blood alone. Mama is one of the emotional anchors of the island community and represents the values that Ti Moune carries throughout her journey. She is loving, practical, funny and earthy.
Tonton Julian
Tonton represents protection, responsibility, and the difficult balance between holding on and letting go. He loves Ti Moune deeply and wants to keep her safe, yet ultimately understands that growth requires courage and independence. His journey reflects the universal experience of supporting someone you love even when it means risking heartbreak. He is strong, practical, and supportive. He is faced with the difficult task of letting Ti Moune chase her dreams, even if it means that he may never see the daughter he loves again.
Little Girl / Little Ti Moune / Peasant Girl
These characters remind us why stories are told in the first place. They represent innocence, curiosity, imagination, and the hope carried by future generations. In our production, these roles emphasize the cyclical nature of storytelling, where one generation learns from those who came before them and eventually becomes responsible for carrying those stories forward. These characters have no solo singing lines, so this is the perfect place to cast a younger performer with good acting skills and a dynamic stage presence.
Ti Moune
Ti Moune is the heart of the story. She represents hope, courage, compassion, and the belief that one person can challenge systems larger than themselves. Throughout the musical she repeatedly chooses love, empathy, and sacrifice in a world divided by class and privilege. We will focus on Ti Moune's resilience and her willingness to see humanity in others despite the barriers society places between them.
Daniel Beauxhomme
Daniel exists at the intersection of love, privilege, and expectation. While he genuinely cares for Ti Moune, he struggles against the social systems and family expectations that have shaped his life. Daniel's journey explores what happens when personal desires collide with societal pressures and inherited traditions.
Daniel's Father
Daniel's Father represents the social hierarchy and traditions that define the island's upper class. He believes deeply in maintaining the existing order and serves as a reminder of how systems of privilege can be perpetuated across generations. Unlike Tonton Julian, Daniel's father is not sympathetic or understanding of his son's wishes.
Andrea
Andrea is often viewed as Ti Moune's opposite and outlandishly snobby, but we want to explore her as someone shaped by the same expectations and social structures that influence Daniel. She represents the pressures of status, tradition, and appearances, making her more than simply an antagonist.
Papa Ge
Papa Ge represents change, uncertainty, and the realities that cannot be avoided. While often viewed as the villain of the story, we are interested in exploring him as a force of balance within the world of the gods. He challenges characters, tests their convictions, and reminds us that growth often comes through struggle and difficult choices.
Asaka
Asaka embodies nourishment, community, abundance, and the connection between people and the earth. She reminds us that survival often depends upon collective care and mutual support. Her energy should feel joyful, generous, and larger than life.
Agwe
Agwe represents the power and unpredictability of nature. The sea can provide life, connection, and opportunity, but it can also create destruction. Agwe's presence reminds us that humanity exists within a larger natural world that commands both respect and humility.
Erzulie
Erzulie represents love in all its forms. She sees beauty and possibility in others and serves as a counterbalance to the harsher realities of the world. In many ways, Erzulie reflects the emotional heart of the story
Choir of Storytellers (Peasants, Villagers, Guests, Grands Hommes)
The ensemble is one of the most important characters in the show. They are the island community. They create the physical world, carry cultural traditions, embody social divisions, celebrate, mourn, tell stories, and ultimately preserve Ti Moune's legacy. Ensemble members will be challenged to become storytellers, movers, musicians, and actors throughout the production.
Gossipers
The Gossipers represent the voice of the community. Sometimes humorous and sometimes insightful, they help shape public opinion and reveal how stories, rumors, and social expectations influence people's lives. They remind us that communities are powerful not only because of what they build, but also because of the stories they choose to tell.
