Stage to PageWatch This Exclusive Sneak Peek of Broadway’s Once On This IslandQuentin Earl Darrington and Alex Newell brought down the house with their performances at Playbill’s September 27 Pop-Up Series—plus the creative team reveals secrets about what to expect!
By
Ruthie Fierberg
September 28, 2017
Quentin Earl Darrington
Marc J. Franklin
On September 27, members of the cast and creative team—and 200 Broadway fans and members of the industry—of the highly anticipated revival of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens’ Once On This Island gathered for an exclusive preview and panel discussion as part of Playbill’s new Pop-Up Series, presented by Renaissance Hotels.
As guests sipped specialty cocktails (like the tropical rum-infused Ti Moune) and munched on island-themed appetizers, Quentin Earl Darrington—who plays Agwe, God of Water, in the upcoming revival—kicked off the evening with his powerhouse rendition of “Rain.” Darrington and co-star Alex Newell—who plays Asaka, Mother of Earth—then joined Flaherty and director Michael Arden in a panel discussion about what to expect from the production, which involves new arrangements and instruments constructed out of found objects and begins performances November 9 at Circle in the Square Theatre.
“It's a piece about community ... and I think it affected us all who worked on it the first time,” said Flaherty. “I think magic could strike twice.”
To close out the event at the Renaissance Hotel’s R Lounge in Times Square, Newell brought the audience to their feet with “Mama Will Provide.”
Stay tuned for announcements of additional pop-up performances from the casts of upcoming Broadway shows on Playbill.com!
Watch the full performances and panel discussion below:
