From Reading Community Players
Pictured above: Jaylyn Muriel, Aubrey Moyer, and Adrianna Giffin dance and sing in Once on This Island, Jr. Photo courtesy of Debbi Silas
Reading Community Players will stage Once on This Island Jr., the youth‑adapted, Calypso‑infused musical that tells the story of Ti Moune, a brave peasant girl whose love and courage challenge the island’s divisions. The junior edition preserves the heart of the original while tailoring the material and running time for younger performers and family audiences. Performances are on Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, at Oley Valley High School.
Once on This Island Jr. is an accessible, one‑act adaptation of the Tony‑nominated Broadway musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Set on an unnamed island in the French Antilles, the story is framed as a tale told around a fire by island storytellers and follows Ti Moune as she rescues and falls in love with Daniel, a boy from the island’s wealthier side. The plot explores themes of love, class, faith, and the power of storytelling, and asks whether love can truly conquer death.
The Jr. edition keeps the show’s Caribbean rhythms, colorful storytelling, and ensemble movement, while streamlining some numbers for a shorter performance ideal for school casts. Creative movement and choreography play a central role: performers portraying elements of the island — trees, animals, storms — and the four gods (Asaka, Agwe, Erzulie, and Papa Ge) guiding Ti Moune’s journey.
Director Debbi Silas had directed this show once before. She stated, “In 2019, my son and I were directing a production that never got performed due to COVID. I needed to bring this story to life.”
Silas spoke about the special script for Once on This Island Jr., “This is a story of a simpler time. A story of magic, choices, commitment, community, sacrifices, and love. It shares a message that love and understanding can change the world.”
Silas was also complimentary about the performers, “This cast has brought vitality and energy to this heart-warming fable. We hope you lose yourself as the mysteries and miracles befall us through the years.”
The production features local youth and adult performers from the Reading area, offering opportunities for emerging talent to perform principal and ensemble roles. Minimal but colorful sets and costumes emphasize imagination and movement, allowing the story and performers to remain the focus.
Performances are at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 26, and at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, with a 3 p.m. Saturday matinee. Contact the Reading Community Players box office at rcptheatre@gmail.com for further information. Tickets are $20.00 for adults or $15.00 for students and seniors and can be purchased online at RCPstage.ludus.com. Flex passes for the 2026 season are also available with big savings. The performance venue is Oley Valley High School, 17 Jefferson St., Oley.
About Reading Community Players
Reading Community Players is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing quality theatre and arts education to communities. To learn more about the organization and its offerings, visit readingcommplayers.com. For questions, contact the RCP President at 610-507-3436 or email RCPtheatre@gmail.com.
