Carver HS, Aldine HS Earn a Total of 12 Tommy Tune Nominations for Musical Productions of ‘Once on This Island’

The two campuses are among the 45 in the Houston area that entered the 2016-2017 competition.

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[dropcap color=”#888″ type=”square”]T[/dropcap]heater students at Carver High School and Aldine High School have a lot to be proud of. The two campuses’ productions of Once on This Island earned a total of 12 Tommy Tune Award nominations.

The two Aldine ISD campuses are among the 45 Houston area high schools competing in the 15th Annual Tommy Tune Awards. This is Carver HS’ 10th year to take part in the competition. This is the fourth time Carver HS receives a Best Overall Production (Musical) nomination.

The Tommy Tune Awards recognize and reward excellence in high school musical theatre created by students and educators in the greater Houston metropolitan area.

After evaluating the participating Houston-area high school productions during the 2016-2017 school year, a team of 30 Houston-based theatre professionals nominated participants in various award categories. An additional committee considered potential scholarship recipients.

Tommy Tune Award Nominations

Carver HS, Once on This Island

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Best Overall Production (Musical)[/li] [li]Best Direction [/li][/ul]

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Best Choreography[/li][li]Best Musical Direction [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Best Orchestra[/li] [li]Best Costume Design [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Best Ensemble/Chorus[/li] [li]Best Actress — Jazmyne Charles as Ti Moune [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Best Supporting Actor — Ri’Chard Jordan as Tonton Julian[/li]

[li]Best Supporting Actress — Kai Womack as Mama Euralie [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Best Featured Performer — Elysa Aguilar as Erzulie[/li][/ul]

Aldine HS, Once on This Island

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Best Leading Actress — Kayla Johnson as Ti Moune[/li][/ul]

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Both campuses fell under the spell of this rousing Calypso-flavored tale of one small girl who finds love in a world of prejudice.

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Once on This Island is a one-act musical with a book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty. The story is based on the 1985 novel My Love, My Love or The Peasant Girl by Rosa Guy. It is set in the French Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. The show includes elements of the Romeo and Juliet. There are also elements of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Little Mermaid.

The musical premiered on Broadway in 1990. It received eight Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical and Best Score.

The musical follows Ti Moune, a peasant girl, rescues a wealthy boy Daniel from the other side of the island. She falls in love with Daniel. Unbeknownst to Ti Moune, the pompous gods who preside over the island make a bet with one another. Which is stronger, love or death? The stakes being Ti Moune’s life. When she pursues Daniel, who has returned to his people, Ti Moune is shunned because of her lowly status. Her determination and capacity to love, though, is not enough to win Daniel’s heart. Ti Moune pays the ultimate price. But the gods turn Ti Moune into a tree. It grows so strong and so tall, it breaks the wall that separates the societies. In the end, Ti Moune’s love ultimately unites them.

The [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Carver HS production is no small event. More than 90 students comprise the cast and crew. The production has students from Carver HS, Drew Academy, Houston Academy and Bethune Academy. Several familiar faces are also taking part. Carver alumni Denzel Taylor, Ivan Geters and Elias Flores form part of the production team. Theater patron Mark Williams who wanted to help also stepped in to assist. Roshunda Jones is proud of everyone taking part. Jones is Carver’s theater director.

Carver Hs’ Kai Womack and Bethune Academy’s Alyssa Colvin in “Once on This Island.”

“The cast and crew who have been working since October to bring this story to life,” said Jones. “I‘m so proud of the journey the company has taken! Earning 11 Tommy Tune nominations is the icing on the cake. It validates everyone‘s dedication and commitment. I am grateful to everyone for making this an incredible show.”

Carver HS “Once on This Island” Production Team

Director: Roshunda Jones @ Carver HS
Technical Director/Choreographer: Jabari Collins @ Carver HS
Choreographers: Carver HS Dance Director/Choreographer Sarita Salinas & Carver HS Alumnus Denzel Taylor
Musical Director: Mark Williams, Theater Volunteer
Orchestra: Drew Academy Choir Director Courtnay Holiday, Carver HS Alumnus Ivan Geters & Current Carver HS Orchestra Student Sade Franklin
Sound Designer: Carver HS Alumnus Elias Flores
Vocal Coach: Kelli Estes with American Festival for the Arts

Costume Designer: Linda Fleming, Carver HS Theater Volunteer
Production Videographer/Photographer: Kristin Wilson @ Eisenhower Ninth Grade School
Publicity Team: Eric Lakey, Carver HS Theater Volunteer

Stay Tuned

The Tommy Tune Awards will be held April 18 at the Hobby Center and will be featured on ABC-Channel 13 in May or June.

Radio personality Sarah Pepper will host this year’s ceremony, and producers say there will even be some surprise guests.

Each school that received Overall Production nomination will perform a scene from their musical for the awards ceremony. The Best Actor and Best Actress nominees will also perform a melody with all the other nominees in that category.

Additionally, two students will be selected to perform in the closing number of the awards ceremony.

Congratulations on the nominations and break a leg at the Tommy Tune Awards!