Once on This Island, Jr

Home , Dessa Rose (musical), Lucky Stiff, Once on This Island, The Glorious Ones

Nov. 6-9, 2014 Old Town Playhouse Main Stage Educational Materials

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, JR.

Meet the Show’s Authors LYNN AHRENS (book and lyrics) is a lyricist, librettist and author. She is the recipi- ent of the Tony Award, the Emmy, London’s Olivier Award, Drama Desk, Outer Crit- ics Circle Award and a Gold Record. She has been nominated for two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, three Grammys and four Emmys. For Broadway, she wrote lyrics for Ragtime, My Favorite Year, Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life, and both book and lyrics for Once On This Island, Seussical and A Christmas Carol (Madison Square Garden). Off-Broadway: Lyrics for A Man of No Importance and book and lyrics for Dessa Rose and The Glorious One (all produced by Lincoln Center Theatre), and Lucky Stiff (Playwrights Horizons). Feature film: Lyrics for Anastasia (Twentieth Century Fox), Camp, After the Storm and others. Television: Mainstay songwriter and singer for the renowned animated series, Schoolhouse Rock; musical teleplay, A Christmas Carol (Hallmark Entertainment/NBC); she has created, written and produced many network shows for young audiences. Publishing: Her short stories and essays have appeared nationally and have been nominated for Best American Essays and the Pushcart Anthology. She serves on the Dramatists Guild Council of America and co-chairs the Dramatists Guild Fellows Program for emerging writers. 2008 marked her twenty-fifth year of collaboration with composer Stephen Flaherty.

STEPHEN FLAHERTY (music) writes music for theatre, film, recordings and the concert stage. He is perhaps best known as the composer of the Broadway musicals Ragtime (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Awards, two Grammy nominations), Seussical (Grammy and Drama Desk nominations), Once On This Island (Tony nomination, Olivier Award for London’s Best Musical) and also contributed music to Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life (original songs) and Neil Simon’s Proposals (incidental music). He has also written four musicals which have been produced at Lincoln Center Theatre: The Glorious Ones (Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nominations), Dessa Rose (Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nominations), A Man of No Importance (Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, Drama Desk nomination) and My Favorite Year. Other theater scores include Lucky Stiff and Loving Repeating: A Musical of Gertrude Stein (Chicago’s Jefferson Award for Best New Musical). Film credits include Anastasia (Academy Award nominations for Best Score and Best Song, two Golden Globe nominations and a gold record for its sountrack), Bartok the Magnificent (original score and songs) and the documentary After The Storm. Concert work includes commissions from the Boston Pops, Carnegie Hall and the Guggenheim Museum. Mr. Flaherty serves on the Dramatists Guild Council, where he co-chairs the Dramatists Guild Fellows Program for emerging writers with Lynn Ahrens, his longtime writing partner.

The Educational Materials for Once On This Island, Jr. are provided through a generous grant from the Worthington Family Foundation. We thank them for their support. Illustrations by Matt McCormick WWW.OTPYOUNGCOMPANY.COM Nov. 6-9, 2014 Old Town Playhouse Main Stage Educational Materials

GLOSSARY OF THEATRE TERMS

Act: 1) The process of performing as a character. 2) A main section of a play. Actor: A person who performs as a character in a play or musical. Academy Award: [The Oscars] is Antagonist: The opponent to the protagonist (or hero) of the story. An antagonist may a set of awards given for excel- sometimes be called the “villain.” lence in motion picture arts. This Audience: The people who gather to watch the performance. The audience sits in the award was first given in May 1929. house. Emmy - an award given for excel- Auditions: Tryouts held for actors who want to perform in a show. Actors auditioning lence in television program arts. for a musical may be asked to sing and read a particular character’s lines from a scene Golden Globe Award : special as well as learn a short dance sequence. awards that are presented to the Author: A writer of a play or musical, which is also known as a playwright. A musi- best in TV and Cinema as chosen cal’s authors include the book writer, the composer and the lyricist. by the members of the Hollywood Backstage: The area out of view of the audience that include the wings and dressing Foreign Press Association. They rooms as well as the lounge area or “green room.” have been presented every year Blocking: The actors’ movement in a play or musical, not including the choreography. since 1944. The director usually assigns blocking during rehearsals. Grammy: a recording industry Body Mics: Portable mics that are strapped to the actors’ bodies. Also called lavaliers. award. Book: The script of a musical, also called the libretto. Jefferson Award: Chicago-based Break a leg: A wish of “good luck” in the theatre, which comes from a superstition award for excellence in theatre. that saying “good luck” is actually bad luck! Olivier Award: London-based Broadway: The theatre district in New York City that is home to 40 professional thea- award for excellence in theatre. tres and one of the world’s great capitals of live theatre. Tony Award: Broadway theatre Cast: 1) noun The performers in a show, “We have a great cast.” 2) verb The act of award for excellence. the selection of an actor for a play, “I hope I get cast in the next play.”

Character: A human (or animal) represented in a play. Each actor plays a character, even if that character doesn’t have a name in the script. An actor may play many characters in the same play. Choreographer: A person who creates and teaches the dance numbers in a musical. Choreography: The dances in a musical, often used to help tell the story. Chorus: 1) The ensemble; all the cast members other than the principal leads. 2) A refrain in a song. Climax: The height of the dramatic action in a play. Company: All of the people who make a show happen: actors, musicians, creative team, crew, producers, etc. Composer: A person who writes music for a musical. Costume: A garment worn by an actor during a play. Crew: A team of people who move scenery, operate lights and sound, handle props or work backstage during a production. Curtain Call: The entrance of the company at the end of the show to bow and acknowledge the audience’s applause. Designers: The people who create the sets, costumes, lighting and sound for a production. Dialogue: A conversation between two or more characters. Diction: The articulation, or clearness of speech, while delivering one’s lines. Also known as “enunciation.” Director: A person who provides the artistic vision, coordinates the creative elements and stages the play. Dress Rehearsal: A run-through of the show that includes costumes, props and technical elements.

Ensemble: 1) A group of people who work together to create a show. 2) The chorus, or members of the cast other than the leads. Entrance: When a character steps onto the stage from the wings or other offstage area. Exit: When a character leaves the stage.

WWW.OTPYOUNGCOMPANY.COM

Illustrations by Matt McCormick Nov. 6-9, 2014 Old Town Playhouse Main Stage Educational Materials

GLOSSARY OF THEATRE TERMS

Follow Spot: Large, movable light at the back of the house that follows an actor as he or she crosses the stage. Also called a spotlight. Front of House: Any part of the theatre that is open to the audience, including the box office, lobby, restrooms and concession area. Improvisation: When an actor performs something not written in a script. Intermission: A break between acts when the audience gets a snack or uses the re- stroom while the company changes the set and costumes. In European theatres this break is called “the Interval.” Libretto: The script of a musical. Also called the book. License: Permission, or the rights, to produce a play in exchange for a fee which co- vers script copies and royalties for the authors. Light Board: A computerized board that controls all of the theatrical lights for a show. Lines: The dialogue spoken by the actors. Lyricist: A person who writes the lyrics of a musical. The lyricist works with a composer to create songs. Lyrics: The words of a song. Matinee: A performance of a show held during the day. Mic: Short for “microphone,” a device that electronically amplifies the voices of the actors. A mic may be placed on the floor, hung from the ceiling or attached to an actor’s body. Monologue: A large block of lines spoken by a single character. When spoken alone onstage or directly to an audience, a monologue (called “soliloquy”) reveals the inner thoughts of a character. Illustrations by Matt McCormick

Music Director: A person who is in charge of teaching the songs to the cast and orchestra and maintaining the quality of the performed score. Musical: A play with songs that are used to tell a story. Offstage: Any area out of view of the audience. Onstage: Anything on the stage and within view of the audience is said to be onstage. Pantomime: To act something out without words. Performance: 1) A single showing of a production. 2) An actor’s interpretation of a character in front of an audience. Play: A type of dramatic writing meant to be performed live on a stage. A musical is one kind of play. Plot: The chain of events that occur during the play. Principal: An actor who performs a main character in a play. Producer: The person in charge of a production who oversees budget, calendar, marketing and the hiring of the creative team, cast and crew. Production: This term refers to everything about a show onstage and off, every given night of the run. A production includes the performing and technical aspects of the show, which means that each group that presents a show will have a unique production. Program: A booklet that lists the entire company of a production and may Include other information about the play. Prop: Anything an actor holds or carries during a performance. Short for “property.” Proscenium: A type of theatre in which a Types of Stages large frame, or arch, divides the stage from Arena: The audience is seated on all four sides of the performance the house. space. Also called “in the round.” Protagonist: The main character or hero of a Proscenium: The audience is seated on one side, facing the stage. The story. arch or frame around the stage is called the proscenium arch. Stadium: The audience is seated on two opposite sides of the performance space. WWW.OTPYOUNGCOMPANY.COM Thrust: The audience is seated on three sides of the performance space in a U-shape. The stage itself can be shallow or very deep. Nov. 6-9, 2014 Old Town Playhouse Main Stage Educational Materials

GLOSSARY OF THEATRE TERMS

Raked Stage: A stage that is raised slightly upstage so it slants towards the audience. Rehearsal: A meeting during which the cast learns and practices the show. Rights: Permission to perform a show that is obtained through a license and payment Theatre versus Theater: of a fee called royalties. The word “theatre” can also be Role: The character that an actor plays. spelled “theater” and is defined Scene: A section of a play in one particular location and time. in two ways. The first defini- Script: 1) The written words that make up a show, including dialogue, stage directions tion is the art of producing and lyrics. 2) The book that contains those words. plays and musicals for a live Score: All musical elements of a show, including songs and underscoring. audience. The second defini- Set: The entire physical environment onstage, which may include backdrops, flats, tion is the building or place in furniture, props and projections. which a show is performed Set Change: A change in scenery, often between scenes or acts. including stage, backstage and Set Designer: A person who creates the scenery. house. Often the word is Setting: The location, environment and time period of a play. spelled with an “er” when it Sound Board: An electronic board or computer that controls the mics, sound cues and describes a cinema or movie any other audio in a production. Also called a sound console. theater. For the purposes of Stage: The area where the actors perform in a theatre. this glossary, we are using the Stage Business: Small actions performed by actors that make a play more realistic and “re” spelling throughout to believable. refer to both the practice of Stage Directions: Words in the script that describe the actions for the characters that theatrical activity and the phys- are not part of the dialogue. ical building in which it takes Stage Left: The left side of the stage, from the actor’s perspective. place. Stage Manager: A person responsible for keeping all rehearsals and performances organized and on schedule, and for calling sound and light cues during the show.

Stage Right: The right side of the stage, from the actor’s perspective. Strike: 1) To remove a prop or set piece from the stage. 2) To clean up the stage and theatre after closing. Tableau: A frozen imae made p of actors, usually showing a specific mood or idea. Technical Director: A person who coordinates the construction and painting of the sets, the hanging of the lights and the setup of the sound system. Technical Rehearsal: A rehearsal when the crew begins adding sets, lights, sound etc., to the show once the performers know the lines, songs and blocking. Also called “tech.” Theatrical Lights: Lights that hang from the ceiling of a theatre or on poles, or “booms” above or on the side of the stage. These lights illuminate the actors and convey time of day and specific moods. Underscore: Music that plays under dialogue or during a scene change. Understudy: An actor who learns a character other than his own and is able to play that character if the other actor is sick. Upstage: The part of the stage furthest from the audience. Usher: A person who shows the audience to their seats and hands out programs. Warm-up: Exercises at the beginning of a rehearsal or before a performance that prepare actors’ voices and bodies. Wings: The area to the side of the stage just out of the audience’s view.

Actor versus Acter/Actress: The gender neutral spelling of the word “Actor” indi- cates a shift in the industry as well as in soci- ety in general. We no longer use “Acter” to refer to a male performer but the generic “Actor.” Many female performers regard it as old-fashioned to be called “Actress.”

WWW.OTPYOUNGCOMPANY.COM

Illustrations by Matt MCormick CURRICULUM CORNER Use the exercises and activities below to Huddled together in a infuse and reinforce your students’ work . storm, a group of peasant Storytellers soothe a frightened SCIENCE little girl with a story. They tell Analyzing the Antilles An activity to research earthquakes and share this research of an island divided by class, in a PowerPoint presentation. Once On This Island, Jr. takes where the peasants pray to their place on the Jewel of the Antilles, which is another name for Haiti. On January 12, 2010, a catastrophic earthquake oc- gods for help while the Grands curred in Haiti. Have your students research how earthquakes happen and create a PowerPoint presentation to Hommes live with their fine share their research. Encourage them to organize their clothes, cars and extravagant presentations into the causes of earthquakes, the most common places for earthquakes to occur, the way earth- parties. On this island lives quakes are measured, the damage that earthquakes cause, and information about some of the most devastating earth- Ti Moune. quakes that have happened. Also, students should include safety tips to help people if they are ever in an earthquake.

LANGUAGE ARTS Pourquoi? Use this exercise to practice different storytelling techniques. Once On This Island, Jr. is a pourquoi tale. A pourquoi tale, also called an origin story, explains why something in nature pourquoi tales, the characters are usually simple exists, using fantasy details instead of scientific details. and represent a major quality, just like the Many early cultures used pourquoi tales to explain the natu- Gods do in Once On This Island, Jr. Their stories ral events they didn’t understand—like why zebras have should not be scientific, but rather creative and stripes and why lightning strikes. Once On This Island, Jr. metaphorical. explains the origin of a particular tree. Have your students create their own pourquoi tales. Strat by posing some more THEATRE GAMES pourquoi questions. Why is the sky blue? How do birds fly? Count to Ten Why do the stars only shine at night? Remind them that in Use this exercise to develop group cooperation and non-verbal communication. 1. Have students sit in a circle. Explain that they are going to count to ten. 2. Set the limitations: Only one person may say a number at a time. If more than one person says the same number simultaneously, the circle will need to start over at one. 3. Allow the students to try to count to ten. Generally, the first attempt will be unsuc- cessful. 4. Encourage the students to look each other in the eye and make it clear that they are about to “make an entrance” with a number. They should take deep breaths and focus on the energy in the circle. 5. For more of a challenge, have students count to a higher number or say the alphabet. For a real challenge, have the students close their eyes. This will force them to listen and feel Illustrations by Matt McCormick the energy of the group without visual cues.

Nov. 6-9, 2014 Once On This Island, Jr. Nov. 6-9, 2014 Once On This Island, Jr. Curriculum Corner

SOCIAL STUDIES Funny Money Use this exercise to have conversations about different socio-economic classes. In Once On This Island, Jr., the island is split into two economic classes: the Grands Hommes and the Peasants. Have your students discuss the differences between the rich and the poor in Once On This Island, Jr. Use the following questions to facilitate the discussion:  Other than money, what is the difference between the Grands Hommes and the Peasants?  Are there still tensions between the rich and the poor in our day-to-day life?  There is no middle class in Once On This Island, Jr. How would a middle class Benefits Associated With The Study of Arts change the relationships between the rich Higher reading and language skills and the poor? Improved math and social skills  Why would Daniel and Andrea’s parents Developed thinking skills promise them to each other? What does Motivation to learn that have to do with the economics of the island?  Would you rather be a Peasant or a Grand ART Homme? Why? Character Portraits Mapping the Musical Use this activity to utilize art as a means to explore character. Once On An activity to examine the script by creating a This Island, Jr. is filled with many rich and vivid characters. Have each map of the locations of major events. student choose a character to analyze. Then, have your students Throughout Once On This Island, Jr. the char- sketch, paint or sculpt a portrait of their chosen characters as they im- acters experience many important events all agine them. Encourage your students to be non-literal and create a over the island of Haiti. Have your students portrait that is thoughtful and filled with imagery. These portraits can create a physical map by listening to the per- make an excellent display and discussion platform. formance closely, alert for clues about the land features of the island. Then they should DISCUSSION mark places on the island where important Some Questions for discussion and debate following the performance. events take place, such as the tree where  Does Once On This Island Jr. have a happy ending? Little Ti Moune is found or where Daniel has  Is Daniel a good guy or a bad guy? Why? his accident. Encourage your students to use  What is the lesson in Once On This Island Jr.? symbols and color to make their maps engag-  Are societies still separated into the rich and the poor? ing and understandable. Include these maps  Would Ti Moune still have met Daniel if the Island Gods hadn’t in a classroom display. interceded?  What are the similarities to The Little Mermaid or even Romeo and Juliet? What are the differences?

“More studies are finding what we already know in our hearts—the arts DO make a positive impact on our youth! INDIVIDUALLY. SOCIALLY. ACADEMICALLY.” “Independent studies show increased years of enrollment in arts courses are positively correlated with higher SAT verbal and math scores.” Nov. 6-9, 2014 Once On This Island, Jr. Plot synopsis & Vocabulary

Once On This Island, Jr. Plot Synopsis Huddled together in a storm, a group of Ancestor: A person whom we are descended from and typically peasant Storytellers soothe a frightened Little referring to those who are no longer living. Girl with a story (Prologue/We Dance). They Arrogant: Having too much pride and treating others with unde- served inferiority. tell of an island divided by class, where the Beauxhommes: A French term that literally translates to peasants pray to the gods for help while the “beautiful man.” Grands Hommes live with their fine clothes, Eucalyptus: Tall trees with leaves that produce oil commonly cars and extravagant parties. On this island used for medicinal purposes and heavy wood used as timber. live Ti Moune (One Small Girl). Grands Hommes: A French term that literally translates to A terrible storm floods the island and Little “great man.” Ti Moune is swept up. Agwe, God of Water, Jewel of the Antilles: A description of Haiti, the Caribbean is- saves her and sets her in a tree where she is land, in the 1800’s, when the colony was at its most prosperous. discovered by Mama Euralie and Tonton Jul- Plantain: A type of green banana, usually fried. It is a food sta- ian who decide to adopt her. They tell her ple of island cultures. that she was saved by the gods for something special. As a young woman, Ti Moune sees a stranger, Daniel Beauxhomme, drive by in a Putting on Airs: To act snobbish or superior to those white car and she prays to the gods for a around you. different life (Waiting For Life). Superstition: A widely held belief or idea not based in The Gods above ponder Ti Moune’s prayer reason. (And the Gods Heard Her Prayer). That night, Tempest: A very strong windstorm. Agwe creates a rain storm that causes Daniel’s car to crash (Rain), and Ti Moune finds and rescues him (Discovering Daniel). Word of the Ti Moune finds Daniel at the Hotel Beauxhomme and tells him that accident spreads through the village, and eve- she was sent by the gods to save him from the crash and make him ryone but Ti Moune wants to turn a blind eye well. He does not believe in her “peasant superstitions,” but allows her to Daniel (Pray). Tonton Julian heads off to to stay. Erzulie, Goddess of Love, watches over the young couple (The notify Daniels’s family, and Ti Moune stays by Human Heart) and their love grows. Gossip spreads through the hotel the boy’s side, nursing his wounds. of the peasant girl who is healing Daniel (Pray - Reprise). Papa Ge, Demon of Death, comes to claim A ball is held (The Ball) at which Andrea, Daniel’s betrothed, asks Ti Daniel for death, but Ti Moune exchanges her Moune to dance for everyone (Ti Moune’s Dance). As the crowd clears, life for his (Forever Yours). However, no bar- Andrea explains that she and Daniel are to be wed (Andrea Sequence). gain with the gods can stop the Beaux- Daniel explains that they were promised to each other as children, but hommes from reclaiming their son. Ti Moune Ti Moune is heartbroken. Papa Ge returns to remind her of their bar- decides she must go after him. Mama and gain (Promises/Forever Yours - Reprise). He offers Ti Moune the oppor- Tonton try to talk her out of going, but her tunity to trade Daniel’s life for her own. Ti Moune nearly follows love and desire are too strong (Ti Moune). through with killing Daniel, but she cannot do it. She is cast out of the She sets off with her parents’ blessing, helped hotel, but remains at the gates, hoping to be let back in (Wedding Se- along by Asaka, Mother of the Earth (Mama quence). During the wedding celebration Ti Moune is discovered at the Will Provide). gates. When Daniel chooses his bride over Ti Moune, her life ends. Ti Moune is mourned (A Part of Us), but her story does not end. She is transformed by the gods into a tree that cracks the walls of the hotel, “so that its gates could never close again.” This tree brings together all the people of the island. They celebrate the life of Ti Moune (Why We Tell The Story).

“When students have the opportunity to engage in a dramatic The Educational Materials for Once On This Island, Jr. are provided enactment of a story, their overall understanding of the story through a generous grant from the improved...Drama can also be an effective method to develop Worthington Family Foundation. Original illustrations by Matt the quality of a child’s narrative writing.” McCormick. Nov. 6-9, 2014 Once On This Island, Jr. Curriculum Corner

Math Haitian Statistics Use this exercise to understand the statistics of populations in Haiti. Once On This Island, Jr. takes place on the island of Haiti. The population of Haiti, as of 2008, was 9,035,536. Give your students this information and ask them to explore the following questions.  About 80% of the Haitian population lives in poverty. How many Haitian citizens is that?  Two-thirds of all Haitians work in agriculture. How many Haitian citizens are not involved in farm work for a living?  The average Haitian makes about $1,300 each year and lives for about 61 years. If the average Haitian works from the time they are 18 years old, how much money will the average Haitian make in a lifetime?  The population of the U.S. is about 307,006,550. Thirty-five million of those people live below the poverty line. What percent of U.S. citizens are considered to be living in poverty?

“Being part of the Old Town Playhouse Young Company has changed my life!”

148 E. 8th Street Traverse City, MI 49684