After the Storm Foundation Mailing List Signup





"The musical 'Once on this Island' is about community, perseverance and the resilience of the human spirit against overwhelming odds. The mission of 'After the Storm' echoes the show's themes as it attempts to help the children of New Orleans reclaim and rebuild through the healing power of theater and music."

Stephen Flaherty
Tony Award nominated composer
of Once on this Island

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, a group of award-winning artists including James Lecesne (Oscar-winning short film Trevor), Hilla Medalia (To Die in Jerusalem) and executive producers John, Ed and Mark Priddy (Priddy Brothers) have reached out to help. Here's what they’ve set in motion:

  • Once on this Island - a wildly popular Musical staged in early 2007 in New Orleans, and starring the city’s own young people.
  • After the Storm - a feature-length documentary Film that captures the story of the musical from audition to performance and includes the young actors sharing their life stories.
  • After the Storm Foundation - a 501C3 non-profit Foundation established to collect and channel donated funds back into the New Orleans community, and to underwrite projects and organizations devoted to the community’s youth. The documentary film will also be used as a springboard to launch a nationwide program to encourage high school drama clubs and community theaters everywhere to raise money for already existing relief organizations in New Orleans that are working with children and the arts.

Photos by Donn Young