Pictured, from left, are Kaylee LaFollette, Damon Pyle, Andrea Dunnuck, Kylee Masterson, Emma Tucker, Kiara Taylor and Allison Mahler rehearsing for the musical. (Photo Provided)

AKRON — The theatre department at Tippecanoe Valley High School has been hard at work preparing for the spring musical, “Once On This Island.”

Show times are 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23. An additional show time is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday, March 23. All tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door, or by contacting Director Mark Williamson at (574) 598-2100.

The musical follows Ti Moune, (Kylee Masterson) a peasant girl, as she rescues a wealthy boy from the other side of the island, Daniel (Mateo Salazar), 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. Will her love be enough to overcome the odds?

The biggest challenge of producing this musical has been the weather.

“We missed 10 rehearsals because of school cancellations due to weather,” said Williamson. “The cast’s dedication and hard work is evident in the fact that one cannot tell we even missed one day.”

The students have been preparing for the musical since December when auditions took place. Rehearsals began daily in January as students dedicated themselves to the musical.

Other cast members include Asaka, Mother of the Earth (Andrea Dunnuck), Agwe, Goddess of Water (Kaylee Lafollette), Erzulie, Goddess of Love (Corrine Kimble),  Papa Ge, Demon of Death (Quintin Allen), Mama Euralie (Grace Smythe), Tonton Julian (Aaron Dunnuck),  Andrea (Gwen Ortiz), Armand (Nikolas Vera), Little Ti Moune (Lorna Apt) and Little Girl (Kaitlyn Eastgate).

The chorus includes Hunter Prater, Damon Pyle, Emma Tucker, Allison Mahler, Kaydence Shepherd, Dakota Kimble, Kiara Taylor, Aubrie Tate, Hestina Kim and Payton Fincher.

Katharina Williamson is the assistant director and Sarah Hoff is also assistant director and choreographer. Kathy Kolbe is the accompanist and Logan Wallis is tech crew.