'Once on This Island' at Springfield Muni

[July 20, 2012]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Springfield Municipal Opera, The Muni, will present "Once on This Island" July 20-22 and 25-29 at its outdoor amphitheater, 815 East Lake Drive in Springfield. Curtain time for each show is 8:30 p.m.

"Once on This Island" is a captivating legend of romance between a peasant girl and a rich city boy whom she saves from death. This calypso-flavored retelling of "The Little Mermaid" opens on a Caribbean island where villagers comfort a little girl with the story of the orphan Ti Moune, destined to love too much for the human heart to bear. Staged with minimal props, sets and costumes, "Once on This Island" delivers melody, love and joy in tropical abundance. This lovely folk tale will captivate all ages and is told through tribal-like dancing and beautiful music from the creators of "Ragtime" and "Dessa Rose."

The production is sponsored by Friends of The Muni.

Reserved seating tickets are $14, with a special $12 price for seniors and military personnel, and are available by calling 217-793-MUNI. General admission tickets for lawn seating are available at the box office before each show at $10 for adults, $8 for students, $6 for children 3-12 and free admission for ages 2 and under. The first Wednesday night performance of each show's run is designated as "Family Night" and children under 12 are admitted at half-price with the purchase of a paid general admission ticket.

Muni patrons on July 27 are also invited to support the Central Illinois Community Blood Center by donating blood. The CICBC bloodmobile will be at the lakeside amphitheater from 6 to 8 p.m. Patrons who would like to participate in the blood drive but are unable to attend on July 27 have another opportunity, with Muni's "Adopt-A-Day" at the blood center on July 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All presenting donors will be entered to win a pair of tickets to the final Muni show of the season. Walk-ins are welcome, or call 866-GIVE-BLD (1-866-448-3253) to schedule an appointment.

The Muni will close its 2012 season with Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" Aug. 10-12 and 15-19.

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The Springfield Municipal Opera is a not-for-profit theatrical organization that has become a Springfield tradition, providing the best of Broadway to enthusiastic audiences for more than 60 years. Entertaining 30,000-plus each year at its outdoor lakeside amphitheater, The Muni is one of the largest all-volunteer community theater organizations in the nation. For more information on The Muni, visit www.themuni.org.

[Text from file received from The Muni]