Once On This Island

Cast

CHARACTER                                                                                                          ACTOR
Ti Moune/Erzulie.............................................................................................................................FACIA LEE*
(Facia performs as Ti Moune on April 12th, 14th, 16th, 21st, 23rd, 28th and 30th.)
Ti Moune/Erzulie..........................................................................................................JHONIKA WRIGHT*
(Jhonika performs as Ti Moune on April 13th, 15th, 20th, 22nd, 27th and 29th.)
Agwe............................................................................................................................................ELISHA BLACK
Papa Ge...........................................................................................................................BARON L. CLAY, JR.
Asaka...............................................................................................................................BRIETTA GOODMAN*
Tonton Julian....................................................................................................ANTHONY MCCUTCHEN
Mama Euralie...........................................................................................................................LETTY RICHEY**
Daniel..................................................................................................................K’NIQUE EICHELBERGER*
Andrea Deveraux/Storyteller............................................................................ARIANA SNOWDEN
Armand Beauxhomme/Storyteller/US Tonton Julian.................................CLYDE MOSER
Little Ti Moune...................................................................................................................GIANNA GAVINS
(Gianna performs as Little Ti Moune on April 12th, 14th, 16th, 21st, 23rd, 28th and 30th.)
Little Ti Moune.....................................................................................................BROOKLYN WILLIAMS
(Brooklyn performs as Little Ti Moune on April 13th, 15th, 20th, 22nd, 27th and 29th.)
Storyteller/US Mama Euralie.........................................................................MICHELLE BURGESS
Storyteller......................................................................................................................JAH’MAR COAKLEY**
Storyteller..........................................................................................................................JORDAN LEEANN
Storyteller/US Andrea..........................................................................................................IMANI LLOYD
Storyteller/US Armand..................................................................................................JASON MARION
Storyteller/US Erzulie.............................................................................................LATANYA MUELLER
Storyteller......................................................................................................................KAITLYN PINCKNEY
Storyteller......................................................................................................................RONNIE WALKER II
Storyteller/US Daniel........................................................................................FREDERICK WEBB JR
 
* Member, Charleston Stage Resident Acting Company
** Member, Charleston Stage Acting Ensemble
"US" Indicates Understudy Role

Cast Biographies

 
ELISHA BLACK (Agwe)
This is Elisha’s first show with Charleston Stage. He has had a passion for performing ever since he was a child. He began performing in high school productions such as Shrek the Musical playing the role of Donkey which led to him performing in shows around the city during his junior and senior year. He gives many thanks to Charleston Youth Company and West Ashley High School Drama Studio for nurturing his love of the arts. He’d like to thank his family, friends, and current and past coworkers for always encouraging him to reach for the stars. And lastly, he thanks his new Charleston Stage family.

MICHELLE BURGESS (Storyteller/US Mama Euralie)
Michelle is a native of Columbia, South Carolina and currently a Teaching Artist at Meeting Street School@Brentwood. She received a B.A. in Music from Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina and Vocal Arts Certificates from North Carolina School of the Arts Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Artist Diploma from Peabody Conservatory Baltimore, Maryland. Through an educational outreach Opera young artist program, she discovered a love and passion for teaching. Michelle has 23 years of teaching experience in public and private schools. She taught elementary music education, early childhood music and movement in Orange County Public Schools in Orlando Florida and applied voice, piano, and k-12 instruction and curriculum at the Maitland Conservatory in Huntsville, Alabama. Michelle has performed throughout the Southeast with Odom Opera Porgy and Bess, (Serena,Maria) Orlando Lyric Opera (chorus) and Disney (Festival of the Lion King) Arena Entertainment, (Lead Vocalist) RED Mountain Theatre Porgy and Bess (chorus, understudy Maria) in Birmingham, Alabama, Independent Musical Productions, Ragtime, (Harlem) Shrek the Musical (Dragon), Annie (Miss Hannigan) and Fantasy Childrens Playhouse Akeelah and the Bee (Miss Willie), HCCA Seussical the Musical (Sour Kangaroo) in Huntsville, Alabama. She is excited to join the Once On This Island family in her debut performance with Charleston Stage.

BARON L. CLAY, JR. (Pape Ge)
Baron is so excited to be in his first production with Charleston Stage. Baron was last seen in his cabaret show with Charleston Playhouse and 80's Cabaret, Hair, and Spelling Bee with Footlight Players. Outside of the theater he is a floral wrangler at Roadside Blooms, Photographer, and has a loving husband and two children. He thanks them all for being so supportive and understanding.

JAH'MAR COAKLEY (Storyteller)
Jah'Mar is a Charleston native, graduating from the College of Charleston with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Arts Management. His first show with Charleston Stage was in 2018 as a member of the ensemble for Mamma Mia! He has since then been seen in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Footloose, Bright Star, and many more! Outside of performing with Charleston Stage, Jah'Mar's artistic background includes choreographing and directing for children's theater productions throughout the Charleston Area.

K'NIQUE EICHELBERGER (Daniel)
K’nique is originally from Columbia, South Carolina but moved to Brevard, North Carolina where he earned a B.A. in Music and Theatre. He is so excited to be returning to the company for a second year. He had his choreography debut over the summer with James and the Giant Peach. He also choreographed A Christmas Carol. His recent credits include: Charlotte's Web (Wilbur), JFK and Inga Binga (Freddy), A Christmas Carol (Young Ebenezer Scrooge/The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come), The Play That Goes Wrong (Perkins), Kinky Boots (Lola), The Last Five Years (Jamie), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey II), Into The Woods (Jack), A Streetcar Named Desire (Stanley) and more. He is very thankful for his friends and family who have supported him throughout the years. K’nique is so excited to change lives through creating art at Charleston Stage! Stay tuned on Instagram @nique_tg3

GIANNA GAVINS (Little Ti Moune)
(Gianna performs as Little Ti Moune on April 12th, 14th, 16th, 21st, 23rd, 28th and 30th.)
Gianna "Gigi" is a wonderful 10-year-old who is full of talent and imagination! She attends South Carolina Connections Academy and is in the 4th grade gifted and talented class. Gianna has been a member of the Charleston Stage since 2021, and previously debuted in her first Dock Street Theatre performance as Emma Hopkins in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Born in Charleston, she has been showcasing her love for entertainment and has been dancing, singing, and acting from a very young age. Her light shines when she enters the room and her natural ability to entertain automatically is recognized. She has been singing in a small group for the last two years and recently began singing solos to a multi-generational and diverse audience to their delight. Gianna loves and enjoys all of these amazing gifts and is excited about her future in many more venues and working with many great entertainers of all ages.

BRIETTA GOODMAN (Asaka)
Brietta (she/her/hers) is ecstatic to be a part of this beautiful show with such talented artists. She is beyond thrilled to share and tell such a moving and wonderful story! She was last seen as Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web, The Ghost of Xmas Present/Mrs. Tabor in A Christmas Carol, and the Flapper Ancestor in The Addams Family! Originally from Horn Lake, Mississippi, she received a A.A. in Theatre from Northwest Mississippi Community College and graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a B.A. in Theatre with credits including: Cathy Haitt in The Last Five Years, Bunny in Detroit '67, and Lucy Grant in Bright Star. She is so grateful for this process and this wonderful cast! Stay Connected: https://briettagoodman99.wixsite.com/actor-performer

FACIA LEE (Ti Moune/Erzulie)
(Facia performs as Ti Moune on April 12th, 14th, 16th, 21st, 23rd, 28th and 30th.)
Facia is thrilled to be part of her seventh production here at Charleston Stage! She has been performing since she was about 6 years old. Her favorite credits include Macduff in The Scottish Play, and Sandra/The Witch in Big Fish. She graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach with her B.A. in Theatre with Concentration in Music. Fafa would like to thank her loving family, friends, teachers, and Father for all of their support.

JORDAN LEEANN (Storyteller)
Jordan is a 22-year-old Charleston native who found her passion of the arts at the early age of 4 dancing in studios, later singing in choirs, and acting in the theater. Jordan loves the stage and hopes to follow her dreams and further her performing arts career.

IMANI LLOYD (Storyteller/US Andrea)
Imani is an operations coordinator by day and a storytelling performer by night! This is excitingly her first show with Charleston Stage! Outside of working her magic at the Queen Street Playhouse’s bar and grooving as dance captain, Imani has been seen in the What If? Production of Hair, a member of the Head Over Heels musical ensemble, Jo in The Legend of Georgia McBride, and a cast member of A Very Merry Footlight Holiday Special! When she’s not onstage, she enjoys working behind the scenes as a Choreographer and Stage Manager!

JASON MARION (Storyteller/US Armand)
Jason is a native of Beaufort, South Carolina. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Otterbein College in Westerville, OH, postgraduate work in Educational Technology from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA and Advanced Fine Arts teacher certification from the South Carolina Department of Education. Additionally, Jason’s training includes the Sea Island School for the Arts, South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts, and North Carolina School of the Arts. His education and training benefitted him the experience of being a drama educator with the Beaufort County School District until 2010. Jason’s stage and film credits include Rent with Bay Street Theatre (Savannah, GA) and Flowertown Playhouse (Summerville, SC), Bug with Bay Street Theatre (Savannah, GA), A Christmas Carol with the Footlight Players (Charleston, SC), The Exonerated with Misspent Youth Productions/ARTworks (Beaufort, SC), The Pillowman with Palmetto Theater Xperiment/ARTworks (Beaufort, SC), Showtune with Beaufort Performing Arts, Inc (Beaufort, SC), Jack and the Beanstalk with Project Educational Theatre (Kenner, LA), After the Invasion of Giant Termites with Swift Warning Productions (Columbus, OH), and Tales from the Land of Gullah with Matrix Media/ASE, LLC (Beaufort, SC). Currently, Jason spends his spare time creating several original characters including the more popular drag persona, Symone N. O'Bishop!!

ANTHONY MCCUTCHEN (Tonton Julian)
Anthony is very grateful to Charleston Stage for the opportunity to return to the stage. Anthony is a native of Nesmith, SC and has served for many years as a worship leader for the Charleston Church of Christ. He holds a Masters Degree in Education and has taught elementary school for nearly 11 years. Anthony debuted at the Dock Street Theatre in the 2001 Moja Arts Festival production of Dreamgirls. He has performed in multiple musical and dramatic productions including Tambourines to Glory and Eubie. He was most recently seen in the 2016 Charleston Stage production of The Seat of Justice. Anthony would like to thank his amazing wife, Michele, for continually inspiring him to dream. He would also like to thank his daughter Alexis and son AJ for their support as well.

CLYDE MOSER (Armand Beauxhomme/Storyteller/US Tonton Julian)
Clyde is a Charleston based-actor, dancer, vocalist, and educator. He is over the moon to make his debut performance with Charleston Stage. Clyde is a graduate of the College of Charleston with a B.A. in Theatre Performance and is currently finishing his Master's in Teaching Theatre. He could have been seen in multiple shows at Queen Street Playhouse such as Horse in The Full Monty and A Merry Footlight Holiday Special. His credits also include, The Addams Family, Spring Awakening, A Chorus Line, and the New York Summer Play Festival. Clyde is a Social Justice Advocate for Black and LGBTQ+ visibility and equality. He couldn’t be more honored to tell such a beautiful story.

LATANYA MUELLER (Storyteller/US Erzulie)
Latanya is overjoyed to be a part of her first production with Charleston Stage. She fell in love with the arts when she began dance at age six, quickly discovering her passion for all things theatre and arts-related. After earning her B.F.A. in Theatre while performing professionally in the Baltimore/D.C. metro area, she moved to Charleston where she transferred her passion for the stage into the classroom through teaching theatre arts at West Ashley High School. She has taken the stage with many other companies in town during her years in Charleston, most recently in Evita with Bare Stage Company at South of Broadway. She also works for Charleston Playhouse, a local musical theatre 501c3, and hopes someday to found her own organization that supports unity and collaboration between Charleston’s theatre companies (because we are stronger together!). She is a trained musician, textile artist, published poet, and the mother of two rascally little boys who are the center of her heart.

KAITLYN PINCKNEY (Storyteller)
Kaitlyn is a twelfth grader at Charleston School of the Arts, majoring in dance. Kaitlyn loves to dance and has been training in Ballet, Tap, and Modern styles for ten years. Despite recently discovering an interest in theatre, she is excited to perform alongside her new friends at Charleston Stage! She is grateful for the opportunity, and would like to thank friends, family, and teachers who've helped her get to where she is today, as well as those who have supported her along the way!

LETTY RICHEY (Mama Euralie)
Letty was born and raised for the 1st half of her life in Southern California, but has come to call beautiful Charleston, SC, home for the last 25+ years. She holds a B.S. Degree from Southern Wesleyan University and a M.S. from Charleston Southern University. She has previously appeared on stage at the Dock Street in many wonderful Charleston Stage productions and has been blessed to perform as both ensemble and a principle cast member. Letty credits her introduction to the Charleston Theatre community to the invite she received to be a part of the ensemble cast of the 2012 performance of Porgy and Bess, performed for the first time ever at the Historic Dock Street Theatre, though written in Charleston depicting a well-known local Charleston Rainbow Row Native. Some of her hobbies and interests include traveling, watching movies, laughing, enjoying life and spending time with her Handsome Husband, Anthony, their blended family of 5 to include Charleston native & WAHS 2015 Alum, daughter Zariah, extended family, close friends, and her growing theatre family. Letty most recently appeared in the Ensemble of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, as Voice Six: Mrs. Alexandria/Posh Woman in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and as Professor Williard and Ensemble in Our Town.

ARIANA SNOWDEN (Andrea Deveraux/Storyteller)
Ariana is so excited to be making her debut with Charleston Stage! Originally from Chesapeake, Virginia, Ariana transplanted to Charleston and is currently a 1st Grade teacher and serves at Seacoast Church on the worship team. Ariana trained with the Gainesville Theater Alliance and is a graduate of Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia with her Bachelors in Fine Arts in Musical Theater. You may have previously seen Ariana over at Queen Street Playhouse in productions such as The Fully Monty as Vicki Nichols, A Very Merry Footlight Holiday Special, and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder as Lady Eugenia D’Ysquith. Ariana is grateful to be telling this gift of a story with this incredible cast and prays that it leaves you forever changed! To God be all the glory.

RONNIE WALKER II (Storyteller)
Ronnie is thrilled to be back at Charleston Stage for the production of Once On This Island. Ronnie hails from Atlanta, Georgia where he received his B.F.A. in Acting and a minor in Dance from Columbus State University. You may recognize him from Kinky Boots at Charleston Stage where he played an "Angel". His other recent credits include, Evil Dead the Musical (Moose); Lucky Stiff (MC/Ensemble); Romeo and Juliet in R+J Theory (Nurse); and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Ensemble). Ronnie is extremely grateful for this opportunity to tell this beautiful story with such an amazing cast! Keep updated with Ronnie on Instagram: @ronw2_

FREDERICK WEBB JR. (Storyteller/US Daniel)
Frederick is thrilled to “tell the story” at Charleston Stage! Regional credits: Casa Mañana (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Arkansas Repertory Theatre (Into the Woods, Chicago, Guys and Dolls), Revival Theatre Company (The Color Purple), The Link Theatre Company (Ragtime), and Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre (The Music Man). He would like to thank his family and friends for their continuous love and support. TGBTG! #JUMP IG: @fivefourfred and @frederickwebbjr

BROOKLYN WILLIAMS (Little Ti Moune)
(Brooklyn performs as Little Ti Moune on April 13th, 15th, 20th, 22nd, 27th and 29th.)
Brooklyn is a 3rd grade student at Howe Hall Arts Infused Magnet School in Goose Creek. She has danced her whole life but gives credit to her favorite teacher Mrs. Rogers for helping her discover her love for theater. She found that she could do all 3 of her favorite things: dance, sing, and act! She is part of a theater afterschool club, AIMS Players. She has been in several recitals and shows, her most recent show she played an orphan in Annie’s “Maybe.” During her free time, Brooklyn loves watching musicals, drawing, and going to the beach and pool. Brooklyn’s ultimate goal is to someday be the President of the United States but for now, she is excited to see where theater will take her!

JHONIKA WRIGHT (Ti Moune/Erzulie)
(Jhonika performs as Ti Moune on April 13th, 15th, 20th, 22nd, 27th and 29th.)
Jhonika is thrilled to be joining Charleston Stage as a Resident Actor! Originally from Maryland, she spent most of her life in Arkansas where she graduated from Ouachita Baptist University and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. Her favorite roles include: Wendla (Spring Awakening), Cairo (We Are the Tigers), Woman 1 (Songs for a New World), Grizabella (Cats), and Yertle the Turtle (Seussical the Musical). Sending all the love to her incredible family and friends for their endless support, “This one is for you!” To keep up with all things Jhonika, you can visit her Instagram: @jhonikaaaa

Content Guide

We are always excited to see families at the theatre, but we know that patrons may want information on more specific content when deciding if a show is appropriate for their families. Below is a content guide outlining things you may want to know about Once On This Island.

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Trailer