Applause! CARY YOUTH THEATRE BRINGS THE TOWN'S FIRST MUSICAL TO THE STAGE THIS WEEKEND

CARY, NC –They’ve been performing every fall and spring since 1999, and now Applause! Cary Youth Theatre is lifting the curtain on their first-ever musical, Once On This Island Jr., Friday- Sunday, Nov. 17-19 at the Cary Academy Fine & Performing Arts Center , 1500 N. Harrison Ave. in Cary ; the Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday performance is at 2 p.m.   Advance tickets can still be purchased for $10 (adults) $8 (seniors and students), and $5 (children under the age of 5) at the Herb Young Community Center box office, noon-6 p.m., Monday-Friday or through Ticketmaster at (919) 834-4000 or at www.ticketmaster.com.  Tickets at the door for all are $10.

Once On This Island Jr. is a Caribbean-flavored, multicultural feast for the heart, mind and soul that tells the story of Ti Moune, a peasant girl who rescues and falls in love with Daniel, a young man from a wealthy family.  When Daniel is returned to his people, the gods who rule the island guide Ti Moune on a quest to test the strength of her love against the powerful forces of prejudice, hatred and death. 

“This musical will be one of our biggest and best performances of the year,” said Youth Theatre Coordinator Rachel Green.  “Music and performance lovers will enjoy the catchy story performed by Cary ’s youth ages 8-18 as well as the rhythmic, Caribbean flavored score.”  The show’s musical director is Virginia O’Brien, a drama teacher at West Cary Middle School , and the technical director is Shannon Clark, theatre manager of the Fine Arts auditorium at Cary Academy .

Once On This Island opened on Broadway in 1990 and was nominated for eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Book, Music and Lyrics, and was nominated for Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics Circle.  Once On This Island Jr. is a part of Music Theatre International’s Broadway Junior Collection, which adapts classic and contemporary musicals into 70-minute editions perfect for young performers.  Once On This Island Jr. is a Caribbean adaptation of the popular Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale "The Little Mermaid", written by Lynn Ahrens.    

Applause! productions introduce the world of theatre, performance and production to first-time performers, designers and stagehands, and give more advanced participants a chance to further develop their skills and interests.  The productions also nurture creativity and build confidence in young people.  In addition to two annual mainstage productions, Applause! offers process-oriented theatre classes, camps and workshops staffed by professional actors, designers, directors and teachers.  The goal is to inspire confidence and creativity in young theatre enthusiasts while encouraging the exploration and development of both skill and interest. 

For ticket information and more, call (919) 469-4061 or visit Applause! Cary Youth Theatre at www.townofcary.org.

###