UK Theatre to Close Season With Tony Nominated Musical — 'Once on This Island'

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 10, 2017) — The University of Kentucky Department of Theatre and Dance will close the 2016-17 season with performances of the Laurence Olivier Award-winning musical "Once on This Island." The production will run April 20-23, in the Guignol Theatre.

Based on Rosa Guy's novel "My Love, My Love," the musical by Lynn and Stephen Flaherty follows Ti Moune as she falls in love with a rich boy from the other side of the island after saving him from certain death. The island's arrogant gods place bets on the romance as it tries to survive a cultural divide. This Caribbean-style adaption of "The Little Mermaid" tells the legend of a capacity to love that transcends human life and social constructs.

"Once on This Island" will captivate Guignol audiences 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, April 20-22, as well as 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 22 and 23. Tickets to the production are $20 for general admission and $15 for UK students with a valid school ID through the Singletary Center box office. To purchase tickets, contact the box office at 859-257-4929, visit online at www.scfatickets.com or purchase in person during operating hours. A processing fee will be applied to transaction upon purchase.

After the final performance on April 23, "A Conversation with the Artists" post-show discussion with the cast will be presented for audience members who would like to learn more about the show and the staging.

The UK Department of Theatre and Dance at UK College of Fine Arts has played an active role in the performance scene in Central Kentucky for more than 100 years. Students in the program get hands-on training and one-on-one mentorship from the renowned professional theatre faculty. The liberal arts focus of their bachelor's degree program is coupled with ongoing career counseling to ensure a successful transition from campus to professional life.