How did we get here?

As you may know, we are currently in Bermuda assisting in an exciting production of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND with TROIKA Bermuda. We have been asked this question frequently - how did you arrive at an opportunity like this? While the process itself was pretty simple, I believe we have been preparing for it for some time. 

But here's our ONCE ON THIS ISLAND journey!

We began our love affair with Once On This Island in 2003 when Steve and I both participated in a production. Originally he was the assistant director and I wasn't cast (boo hoo, I know)! As the show progressed, some cast opportunities came up and he ended up playing the role of Papa Ge and I played Andrea. For me, I have such fond memories of that production. Performing that music, learning that choreography and going on such an emotional journey every night remains a highlight of my performance experiences.

Steve Huntsman as Papa Ge, Celeste Lero as Ti Moune
Once On This Island - Signature Productions 2003 Dir by Leslie Fotheringham

Sandra Huntsman as Andrea, Rique Rose as Daniel
Once On This Island - Signature Productions 2003 Dir by Leslie Fotheringham

Fast forward to 2009. Steve was now in the directors seat for a new production of Once On This Island at a new venue - the beautiful outdoor theatre at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park! This was a very exciting opportunity as what a perfect show to play outdoors! It also presented some challenges as Once On This Island can easily be an intimate production and generally plays well as such. Adapting the simple story to play to a football field was a challenge Steve tackled with vigor!

He built the show upon the existing concept that this is a small community of people who come together during a frightening storm and to calm the fears of a small child, as well as their own, they share the story of Ti Moune.  He envisioned the props in the show that help to tell the story as being organically made/resourced by the storytellers who use such props and costume pieces to tell the story. So the gates to the hotel are fashioned out of bamboo, grass becomes a voluptuous skirt for the goddess Asaka, baskets become everything from a pregnant belly to the frogs of the forest! As far as costuming went, he was inspired by the rich silhouettes and colors of the Elizabethan area, imagining the storytellers clothing was passed down through generations.

Here's a look at some of costume design! My wonderful costume construction partner Valinda and I really enjoyed making these beauties come to life.

We already discussed the set design in my previous post!

The production in 2009 was a huge success! It even swept every technical "award" that the Las Vegas Review Journal's critic gives out for that year - Outstanding Set, Costumes, Lighting and Choreography! We were very proud of this piece. The cast was fantastic - each perfectly suited to their roles and every member of the cast stretched above and beyond themselves to create dynamic, enthralling characters that the audience could relate to. We had a WONDERFUL team of creators - lighting, props, sound, stage crew! And again, we grew to love the show even more.

Here are more images of the 2009 production of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND - Directed by Steve Huntman, Set & Costume Design by Steve Huntsman, Produced by Signature Producitons and Super Summer Theatre and Spring Mountain Ranch State Park.

Since that time, we have been fortunate to rent out the costumes to several high schools who are producing the show! We expanded the costumes to include additional ensemble costumes as well.

We were contacted about a year ago by TROIKA Bermuda in reference to our costume rental. As we began to discuss with them the possibility and logistics of an overseas rental, they mentioned that they had brought in guest directors in the past. Steve asked if they would consider bringing him in to direct the show! In an interview, here's what Shoa Bean, one of the founders of TROIKA Bermuda and a producer on this project said in a newspaper interview regarding Steve:

"Said Troika co-founder Shoa Bean: 'With his experience as a director [particularly musicals], as a set and costume designer and also a performer, we felt it necessary to have someone of this calibre work on our first musical.We were also very impressed with the quality of his previous work and felt that it was definitely in line with what Troika aims to do with our productions."  http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20120613/ISLAND04/706139993

After months of negotiating and planning, it became a reality! Steve flew out to Bermuda for a week and a half in June to cast the show. He returned home for 2 weeks where we finished building and gathering props and sprucing up and adding new costumes. Then we packed everything up - including our 4 children - and made the flights to beautiful Bermuda! It has been a wonderful experience so far - working with some very talented young actors and getting to know a new culture! Oh, and we have definitely worked in plenty of beach time. :)

Well before we became Huntsman Entertainment, theatre has been our passion. We have always, always striven to be a part of truly high quality productions and create wonderful opportunities for all theatre lovers - whether onstage, backstage, creative or in the audience. What a pleasure it has been to have our passion and endless pursuit of quality recognized to the extent of bringing us a wonderful opportunity!

I'll keep you updated as the production moves forward...today they are loading the set into the theatre! Very exciting.