Once On This Island's final performance

[Miserent]

Posted: 1/6/19 at 11:28am

So, so sad to see this gorgeous production close.  I was incredibly lucky to have seen it five times, and gladly would've gone five times more.  If anyone on the boards is attending the last show, post your reports here!  I can only imagine how energized and emotional today's performances will be.  

[Scoot3]

Posted: 1/6/19 at 2:19pm

Excited and sad to be there tonight. One of the most stunning stagings of a show Ive ever seen.

[sondheim94]

Posted: 1/6/19 at 3:38pm

I'll be there tonight. Very sad and very excited.

[Miserent]

Posted: 1/6/19 at 3:43pm

I look forward to hearing your reports! So bummed that I didnt spring for a cheap seat to tonight's show when the closing was first announced. Here's hoping for some kind of bootleg...

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 1/6/19 at 5:31pm

Miserent said: "... Here's hoping for some kind of bootleg..."

I have the opposite wish.

Here's hoping for NO bootleg.

[haterobics]

Posted: 1/6/19 at 6:40pm

BalconyClub said: "I have the opposite wish.

Here's hoping for NO bootleg."

You wish is NOT granted.

[sondheim94]

Posted: 1/6/19 at 10:47pm

Wow wow wow. Let it be said that this was my first closing night on Broadway ever. But wow. 

 

So first of all I was seated next to Lillias White. Let it also be said that the girl across the aisle from me (maybe 13? 15?) was singing the entire time. Oy.

 

The show started fairly late. Almost every single actor got entrance applause during the preshow. The electricity in the room was... incredible. Also spotted Lilla Crawford, Norm Lewis, Michael Arden, Andy Mientus.

 

--We Dance - Huge standing ovation. Full audience.
--One Small Girl - entrance applause for Hailey
--Waiting for Life - huge applause for all the big notes. Enormous standing ovation after
--Rain - partial standing ovation
--Pray - another partial standing O. Alex Newell was GIVINGGGG During the end
--Forever Yours - An odd partial standing O
--Ti Moune - full Standing ovation for Kenita + Phillip. They held this for awhile. Very emotional. This whole scene was hugely emotional
--Mam Will Provide - no opt ups or variances but Alex was absolutely incredible. The longest standing ovation of the night by far. Also during the play off SHE DEATH DROPPED. the audience went wild
-- Waiting for Life (reprise) - more huge applause
-- Some Say - Little TiMoune got applause for her solo. It was lovely.
-- The Human Heart - a parital standing ovation. I still say Lea is the most boring Erzulie sorrynotsorry
-- Some Girls - another partial standing O???
-- Ti Moune's Dance - applause every time someone else entered the dance. A full standing ovation after
-- more applause through the rest of the show. The audience was just so supportive and THERE.

 

The curtain call was awkward. All the crew and Michael Arden and Norm Lewis and others came onstage and it lasted a very long time with no one wanting to leave. It was exciting and a celebration but they seemed to have no plan. I left after it was clear there would be no curtain call speech but still wildly exciting and happy and sad. What an incredible night in the theatre.

[Wick3]

Posted: 1/6/19 at 10:53pm

What an amazing evening! Everyone gave a standing ovation after each number. Lynn Ahrens was sitting two rows in front of me and I saw her give a standing ovation to Hailey, Alex, Lea, and other cast members! Such an amazing evening! I stood up for everyone!

Also... at the very end, Alex Newell and other cast members invited everyone to come down to the staging area and take some sand home!!! Yes the SAND! I couldn't believe it. This was the 5th time I watched this show but the first time ever getting to stand on the sandy stage! They even provided ZIPLOC bags! SOOOO COOOL! I'm so so so glad I was able to go this evening. :)

Cynthia Erivo was in the audience too. :)

Updated On: 1/6/19 at 10:53 PM

[Timothy Davis]

Posted: 1/6/19 at 11:01pm

Todrick Hall was with Cynthia Erivo, Patina Miller was there as well. They were also very gracious in taking photos and signing by the front doors after the show. Everyone from the cast signed and even some past cast members.

And of course......Mama Will Provide blew the roof off the house. Alexs voice was ready for this performance.

[sondheim94]

Posted: 1/6/19 at 11:06pm

Hailey's "Waiting for Life" was ... Just so .. emotional. SHE was so emotional. She had to float a few notes rather than belt them. It was gorgeous. If you need to hear it I wish someone recorded........

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 1/6/19 at 11:16pm

Here is the ovation for Mama will Provide (from Ken Davenport's IG). Alex was robbed from that Tony nom + win!

https://twitter.com/prombills/status/1082095332090171397

Sounds like a fitting night for a beautiful show. Sorry I couldn't be there.

[natashalost]

Posted: 1/7/19 at 7:55am

Ken Davenport posted a ton of videos from the show last night on his instagram story if anyones interested.

He also apparently let people take sand home from the show.

[binau]

Posted: 1/7/19 at 8:24am

We will never, ever see a better production of this show.

[andrewftw]

Posted: 1/7/19 at 12:20pm

Here is Preshow (parcial), Mama Will Provide applause, Ti Moune's Dance applause and curtain call!

[EthelMae]

Posted: 1/7/19 at 2:11pm

Thank you, thank you, thank you andrewftw! I saw this production several times (went to the closing performance of the original!) but didn't make it yesterday so seeing this clip was great. This show brought me and obviously others, pure joy.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 1/7/19 at 3:56pm

I was at the closing night party.  The goat was delicious.

Updated On: 1/7/19 at 03:56 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 1/7/19 at 4:12pm

JSquared2 said: "I was at the closing night party. The lamb was delicious."

Psst. It was a goat.

[stoptheworld38]

Posted: 1/7/19 at 5:26pm

I fully can't believe this show has closed. I got to see it in August (300th performance!) and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life <3 I can't even imagine what it would've been like to be there last night. It's one of my biggest dreams to meet Hailey (I saw it during the 2 months that she was out) but Loren was incredible. I cried a lot when I saw it and I cried last night watching the boot from home. I thought it was so cool they invited people to take sand home - I wish I had been one of them even though I would've been a sobbing mess the entire time... Racial and ethnic diversity/representation has been a big interest of mine for a few years and that is one of the reasons I'm so glad this show existed - hopefully it's a step in the right direction to making people of all backgrounds feel accepted and celebrated, both on and off the stage.

[Wick3]

Posted: 1/7/19 at 9:19pm

qolbinau said: "We will never, ever see a better production of this show."

I agree 100% (at least during my lifetime.)  Michael Arden's direction and vision of this production was a dream that thankfully became reality. From the Caribbean-style dancing to the candlelit chandeliers (which really provided a romantic old-school feel ambience) to Lea's angelic ballad to Alex's energetic vocals (both Lea's and Alex's solos always gave me goosebumps), I really felt like I was on that island for 90 minutes of my life! Heck I even felt the wind gusts during the storm.

I'll miss this production very much..... but I am glad I got to see and experience it 5 times. :)

[LLW2]

Posted: 1/7/19 at 9:37pm

Just wanted to add that this is one of my favorite shows as well. It took my breath away from the moment I stepped into the theater and took my seat next to Agwe’s watery home. I loved every minute of it.

Updated On: 1/8/19 at 09:37 PM

[antonijan]

Posted: 1/7/19 at 10:59pm

Here's a leg boot

Updated On: 1/7/19 at 10:59 PM

[Miserent]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 1:00am

Hey sondheim94...check your PM's, doll :)

[Miserent]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 8:08pm

So after looking at multiple posts on social media, I noticed that Darlesia Cearcy hasn't posted anything about the show closing, nor have I seen her in any of the cast members' photos from that entire day, including the after party...I guess her leaving the show wasn't very amicable after all, which is such a shame. Her Erzulie was my favorite.