Directed by Rikki Howie & Khanner Hancock
Music Direction by Levar Betts
Choreography by Stefan Sittig
Produced by Beth Becker
Announcing auditions for Once on This Island this November!
The City of Fairfax Theatre Company will hold auditions for its 2026 spring musical on Saturday November 1 from 5-8PM, and Sunday, November 2 5-10PM at CFTC’s blackbox (11216 Waples Mill Road, Suite 103, Fairfax VA) for actors, singers, and dancers ages 16+. This year’s production is Once on This Island, is a powerful, Caribbean-inspired musical about the unbreakable human spirit and the transformative power of love. Told through dynamic storytelling, vibrant music, and electrifying dance. his is a tale of love and legacy. Of risk and resilience. Of the ways we remember — and are remembered. Music by Stephen Flaherty, book & lyrics by Lynn Ahrens.
Once on This Island will be performed at Katherine Johnson Middle School (KJMS) in Fairfax, VA from February 13-22, 2026. Rehearsals begin Sunday November 9 and will take place at the CFTC blackbox until February and at KJMS for the remainder of the production. Strike will be held on February 22, followed by the cast and crew party.
We are committed to open and inclusive casting of actors of diverse ages, races, ethnicities, gender identities, body types, and abilities. We also encourage you to audition even if you have never been in a play or musical before.
What to Prepare
Please prepare a 32-bar (approx. 1 minute) cut of a song of your choice. We prefer you to bring sheet music with you for our accompanist, but you may also play a karaoke track from your phone, if necessary. Please be prepared to dance/move as well.
Callbacks will be held on November 3rd at 7pm. We will email you by midnight on Sunday Nov 3rd if we would like to see you at callbacks. Even if you are not called back, that does not mean you have not been cast in the show. We will be calling back for specific roles in the production. You will be expected to sing a vocal cut, dance and/or read sides from the show at the callbacks. Callback materials will be emailed in advance. Please be prepared to dance/move as well. If you have auditioned for the production, we will reach out about casting decisions by Wednesday Nov 5 at the latest. The cast list will be emailed and posted on all social media platforms on Sunday, November 9 corresponding with the first rehearsal.
Fill out our audition form here: https://forms.gle/N1nHMAAbc7H6BJzu6
Sign up here for a 30-minute audition block on either Nov 1, Nov. 2 Walk-ins will be accepted but may have to wait until there is an opening to join a group. We recommend arriving at the very beginning of auditions that day if you’re planning to walk in. You can fill out our audition form to bring with you ahead of time, or fill one out on-site. If you plan to fill it out on-site, please be sure to arrive early so you have time to check in and fill it out. Make sure to check our rehearsal calendar to indicate possible conflicts on your audition form. We do make casting decisions based on conflicts and may not be able to accept new, non-emergency conflicts after rehearsals begin on Sunday, November 9th. If you are unable to make one of our three audition dates, please email us at rikkihowie@gmail.com by October 31st 5pm to submit a video audition.
Questions? Contact rikkihowie@gmail.com
Character Breakdown
Casting 16-20
Ti Moune – A peasant girl with a powerful spirit and voice. Soprano. A spirited peasant girl who falls in love with Daniel.
Daniel Beauxhomme –Tenor/Baritone. Wealthy young man torn between love and duty. Charming, conflicted.
Mama Euralie –Mezzo-Soprano. Loving, protective adoptive mother of Ti Moune. Grounded and wise.
Ton Ton Julian –Baritone. Caring, hardworking adoptive father of Ti Moune. Gentle humor.
Asaka – Mother of the Earth. Mezzo-Soprano/Belt. Warm, maternal, larger-than-life presence. Goddess of abundance
Agwe – God of Water. Baritone. Regal, commanding, dramatic. Brings both destruction and renewal.
Erzulie – Goddess of Love. Any gender. Soprano. Graceful, compassionate, elegant. Embodiment of love and beauty.
Papa Ge – Demon of Death. Any gender, Tenor/Baritone. Sinister, sly, and charismatic. Trickster-like presence.
Andrea Deveraux – Soprano/Mezzo-Soprano. Daniel’s well-bred fiancée, elegant, poised, embodying expectations of upper-class society.
Armand Beauxhomme – Baritone. Mixed Heritage. Daniel’s stern, imposing father, representing the ruling class and its prejudice.
Storytellers/Ensemble – All ages. Strong singers and movers. Narrators who shift between roles and bring the island community to life.Vibrant community members who sing, dance, and bring the island to life.