MTI musical · Full-length
Once on This IslandScript, Piano/Vocal Score & show details
- Full-length · 2 acts
- Small–Medium cast (up to 20), flexible
- Roles: 4 women · 4 men · 4 any-gender + ensemble
- PG
The printed Once on This Island script comes with your MTI license. The digital version is a separate add-on for your whole cast and crew. See pricing
Once on This Island synopsis
Book by Lynn Ahrens · Music by Stephen Flaherty · Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
From the Tony Award-winning songwriting team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Seussical, Ragtime), comes the Olivier Award-winning Once on This Island. This highly original and theatrical Caribbean adaptation of the popular fairy tale, The Little Mermaid, garnered eight Tony nominations for its Broadway run, including Best Musical, Book and Score.
Ti Moune, a peasant girl, rescues a wealthy boy from the other side of the island, Daniel, with whom she falls in love. Unbeknownst to Ti Moune, the pompous gods who preside over the island make a bet with one another over 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, and Ti Moune pays the ultimate price; but the gods turn Ti Moune into a tree that grows so strong and so tall, it breaks the wall that separates the societies and ultimately unites them.
Once on This Island's small band, minimal set requirements and flexibly sized cast make it a producer and director's dream. It possesses such a strong, emotional backbone that it can stand tall, from the grandest to most modest of scales.
Full synopsis
The peasants appear to describe their world, ruled by powerful gods and dictated by wealthy "grands hommes," who never assimilate with their kind ("Prologue / We Dance").
The peasants begin to tell the audience the tale of a young peasant girl who fell in love with a grand homme, named Ti Moune ("One Small Girl"). According to the story, Ti Moune was magically saved from a flood by the gods when she was a child. This is to be her fateful destiny.
Ti Moune, who has turned into a beautiful woman, appears in the fields. She is hard at work but also busy, dreaming of the future and what promises she will seek in her life ("Waiting for Life"). Later, the gods of Earth, Water, Love and Death convene. After hearing Ti Moune's lament, they decide to allow Ti Moune to have her wish, and meet the grand homme ("And the Gods Heard Her Prayer").
The gods have each agreed to play a part in her journey and wager to see which will win: love or death. Agwe, the God of Water, begins by creating a terrible monsoon on the island, which causes a young grand homme named Daniel to crash his car on a slick road ("Rain"). Fortunately, Ti Moune is there to discover and rescue him. Although her parents object, Ti Moune decides to care for him.
While her father, Tonton Julian, goes off in search of Daniel's family, Ti Moune's mother, Mama Euralie, observes Ti Moune's immediate and deep love for this boy. Elsewhere, Tonton Julian discovers Daniel's family, who happen to live behind the guarded gates of a fine hotel on the other side of the island. Meanwhile, the peasants fear Ti Moune's folly will bring the wrath of the gods down upon them ("Pray"). As they pray, a terrible storm is rising.
Inside her hut, Ti Moune continues to care for Daniel and eventually pledges her love to him ("Forever Yours"). Suddenly, Papa Ge, the sly Demon of Death, arrives to claim Daniel. Ti Moune promises to give up her own life and soul if Papa Ge will only spare Daniel. He gleefully agrees to her bargain. As a brief aside, the Storytellers reappear to give a history lesson of Daniel's clan, the Beauxhommes ("The Sad Tale of the Beauxhommes"). In the pantomime, it is revealed that Daniel hails from a cursed family.
Tonton Julian arrives with Daniel's family, and they carry him off in a stretcher. Ti Moune insists on following Daniel. Although her parents plead with her to remain with them, they eventually allow her to leave with their blessing ("Ti Moune").
Ti Moune's journey begins as the storytellers enter, dressed as colorful birds, trees, frogs and breezes. They introduce Asaka, the formidable Mother of the Earth, who promises Ti Moune that she will provide her with guidance and protection ("Mama Will Provide"). As Ti Moune ventures on, the storytellers describe her long, adventurous journey to Daniel ("Some Say").
Finally at the Hotel Beauxhomme, Ti Moune enters Daniel's room, where he lies in bed, still feverish from his injuries. She convinces him that she has come to heal him, and he agrees to let her stay the night. As Ti Moune lies down beside him, the Goddess of Love, Erzulie, appears to preside over them ("The Human Heart"). As Daniel and Ti Moune fall deeply in love, gossip spreads throughout the island about the unlikely love between royalty and poor ("Pray – Reprise").
On a starlit evening, Ti Moune tells Daniel of her dreams for their future. He unexpectedly replies with doubt and uncertainty, explaining that there will be girls you love and girls you marry, but these two kinds are not the same ("Some Girls").
At the Hotel Beauxhomme, a ball is held, where the grand hommes eagerly await a glimpse of Ti Moune. She arrives, dressed beautifully but simply. Daniel introduces Ti Moune to Andrea Devereaux, a young beautiful and elegant girl. At Andrea's request, Ti Moune dances; enchanting everyone at the ball ("The Ball"). As Ti Moune celebrates her triumphant performance, Andrea then asks her to perform at her wedding with Daniel. It is then revealed that Daniel was promised to Andrea as a child many years ago. Ti Moune, in complete shock, is bluntly told by Daniel that he could never marry her.
Now desolate and alone, Ti Moune hears critical voices from the past echoing in her head. Papa Ge appears and reminds her of her promise. He is willing to negotiate, however: instead of surrendering her own soul, she can choose to have her life back by killing Daniel. Reminding her of Daniel's betrayal, he gives her a knife.
Daniel is exposed by the Storytellers. Ti Moune, with a knife in her hand, begins to charge at Daniel when Erzulie appears to remind her of the human heart. Ti Moune throws the knife down, choosing her love for Daniel over her desire to live ("Promises / Forever Yours – Reprise"). Love has defeated death. For her actions, Ti Moune is thrown out of the Hotel Beauxhomme. She waits for two weeks at the gate without food or sleep until Daniel and Andrea pass by her after their wedding, tossing coins to the peasants. She calls out to Daniel. He pauses by her side for a moment before moving on. She curls up in despair and, as she dies, from her hand falls Daniel's coin. Mama Euralie mourns the loss of her beloved daughter ("Part of Us").
The Storytellers appear to tell us of Ti Moune's ending. Asaka lays her to rest in the earth and Ti Moune is resurrected as a beautiful tree, one which will shelter peasants for years to come. Ti Moune will watch over Daniel and his family, and her spirit has set them free to finally love one another ("Why We Tell the Story").
Synopsis courtesy of Music Theatre International (MTI).
Once on This Island characters & vocal ranges
The Once on This Island musical has 11 named roles plus an ensemble, for a small to medium cast (up to 20), and the cast size is flexible. Many roles can be cast across gender. ‘Written as’ reflects how MTI lists each role.
| Character | Written as | Vocal range | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Ti Moune | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Mama Euralie | Female | B4–Gb3 | Ti Moune's adoptive mother. She is fearful of social status and greatly protective of her family. |
| Tonton Julian | Male | E4–A2 | Ti Moune's adoptive father. Filled with courage that is fueled by the love for his wife and daughter. |
| Ti Moune | Female | E5–G3 | Our story's protagonist. A peasant girl who has been adopted, she is a dark skinned island girl with much curiosity and energy. Earnest and romantic about all creatures. Falls tragically in love with Daniel. |
| Daniel | Male | F#4–C#3 | A youthful man from the wealthy part of the island. He is pale skinned and inherently bound to fulfill the expectations of his higher social class. Struggles with his feelings for Ti Moune. |
| Armand | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Andrea | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Papa Ge | Male | G4–C3 | The Demon of Death. He is proud and sly. His menacing ways are often a cause of distress, as he is in control of life and death. |
| Asaka | Female | E5–A3 | The Mother of Earth. She is very caring and nurturing. Her motherly disposition make her well-suited to provide inhabitants with anything they need. |
| Agwe | Male | E4–B2 | The God of Water. He is strong, clever, and compassionate. Enjoys playing with the rain and ocean. |
| Erzulie | Female | C#5–A3 | The Goddess of Love, beautiful and elegant with a strong belief in the power of love. She has a sympathetic heart. |
| Ensemble | Not listed | Not listed | Gossipers; Peasants; Storytellers |
Once on This Island song list
- We Dance
- One Small Girl
- Waiting For Life
- And The Gods Heard Her Prayer
- Pray
- Forever Yours
- The Sad Tale Of The Beauxhommes
- Ti Moune
- Mama Will Provide
- Some Say
- The Human Heart
- Some Girls
- The Ball
- A Part Of Us
- Why We Tell The Story
How to get the Once on This Island script & Piano/Vocal Score
The printed materials come with your MTI license. The digital version is an add-on that gives your whole cast and crew immediate access. See what that looks like
Who licenses your show?
It’s me
Add Digital Scripts & Piano/Vocal Scores for your whole cast and crew.
See pricing & how to add itIt’s someone else
Send them this page so they can add it when they license Once on This Island.
Delivered through ProductionPro, MTI’s exclusive digital delivery partner. Looking for a free Once on This Island script PDF? The script comes with your MTI license, so it isn’t available on its own.
What is a digital script?
Your Once on This Island script and Piano/Vocal Score, digitally, alongside your printed copies
Immediate access for your whole cast and crew.
Works on any device. Easy for everyone.
Laptops, tablets and phones your cast and crew already have, and simple enough for every cast member to pick up.
“We check that box every time — the script’s there the moment we license.”
And when you’re ready, there’s more included
Give a note once. It’s on everyone’s script, right beside their own notes.
- Shared notesShare notes with the team. Keep private ones to yourself.
- Lines, assigned onceEvery actor finds their own lines and harmonies.
- Rehearse at homeAdd rehearsal tracks and choreography videos, linked to each scene.
Curious how it would work for your show? Hear from directors who’ve used it.
