Rayán Arnold (Erzulie, Goddess of Love)

My name is Rayan Alicia Arnold. I am 16 and attend John Ehret High School, home of the Patriots. I have been involved in drama ever since the 6th grade. Since then, I have been in numerous amounts of plays. I enjoy acting as well as singing and dancing. In my future, I plan on continuing my journey of becoming an actress. Not only am I proud of being in this show, I am also content with the production of it all. Everyone has a talent and all you have to do is find it and use it for the best.

Annie Britton (Little Ti Moune)

Hello! My name is Annie M. Britton. I was born in West Palm Beach, Florida. I am now 9 years old.May 27thwas my birthday and Iam now a4th grader, (yeah!). I have two sisters, Ashley and Adonai . We live with my mom (Beverly) who was reared in the Lower Ninth Ward in Louisiana.Wehave apuppy. We moved here from Florida when I was 2. My dadis in Florida,but I consider myself a Louisianian, because I love the seafood and myfamilyis here. I really miss my grandmother's cookingin NewOrleans,but I don't have to miss Grandma because she's visiting us since her home was lost in Katrina.My sisters and I play theviolin. I startedsinging in the church (Holy Faith Temple B.C.). I've won medals in gymnastics, (one overall 2nd, next overall 1st) When I grow up, I want to be a funny actress, because I really love to sing songs and dance a lot on slippery floors.I would also like tobecome anEntomologist, because I like picking up bugs. I am really happy to be inOnce on This Island andto also be alive.The other kids are really a treat to be around. They are very nice. Ican't wait to dothis again.

Eric T. Calhoun, Jr. (Armand I)

I was born in New Orleans where there are a whole bunch of chances for a young musician to develop his talents. I started playing drums at age 4 and have been playing ever since. I played a drum solo in The Satchmo Festival in 2006 and played with Corey Hunt & his Brass Band. I have a job as a percussionist at First Free Mission Baptist Church in Algiers (with pay!), and I sing in the Youth Choir of Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church. I have been playing with Treme Brass Band and The Storyville Stompers. This year I played with Treme Brass Band at French Quarter Fest and Jazz and Heritage Festival. I am a Grand Marshall for The Storyville Stompers. That‘s a lot of fun. I have received a scholarship to Donald Harrison's New School of Jazz. This play has given an opportunity to meet some great people and go to New York City to experience something others only dream about. My dream in life is to get a doctorate as a broadcast journalist and a musician. A big thank you to God, my parents, James, Lesley, Amanda, Gerry & Randy.

Griffin Collins III (Papa Ge, Demon of Death)

I am 18 years old and am a 2007 graduate of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (musical theatre major) and New Orleans Center for Math & Science High School . I have been dancing and acting for 14 years. I was nominated for an Ambi Award for Best Featured Actor in a musical (Cats).In the fall I will be attending Northwestern State University with a major in theatre with a dance and musical theatre performance emphasis.I have done many shows from Cats to Beauty and the Beast to Little Women. This year has been a great one, and I wouldn't have gotten through it without my NOCCA friends in the cast and at school, including my best friend Grant! I would also like to thank my family for always being supportive of me.

DeShawn Dabney (Armand II)

I am a 15 year old sophomore, born on August 23, 1991, who attends O. Perry Walker High School. I participate in several extra curricular activities at school such as the Drama Club, Student Union and track and field. I am also a 4.0 student. I am a part of a teen prevention agency called Youthanasia Foundation Inc. We are currently on a tour right now with Smoke-Out Tour 2006-07. We rewrite popular songs into non-smoking songs to perform all over the city. I enjoy singing, dancing and acting. This is my first musical/theatrical performance, so I'm getting a lot more experience. My dream is to be a successful entertainer. I plan on reaching my goals by staying focused and keeping up my grades and lastly, hard work and determination. I would like to thank my dad, my mom, my grandma, my uncle and my brother.

Joel Callonia Dyson (Ti Moune)

I am a 15 and attend Xaiver University Prepartory High School and NOCCA Riverfront. My mom says that I have been singing ever since I was born. “Folllow your dreams” is what I always tell myself, and my father always tells me, "Always put God first" so give it my all and do just that. A singer/actress is what I want to be when I grow up, so I prepare myself by embarking on new experiences such as this production of Once On This Island to help me. I attend extra activities such as music camps and Tipitanas Internship Foundation for Young Musicians. I love to perform because it touches me to know that I have touched someone else. I take my dreams very seriously because of this; therefore, I stay on top of my academic status at Prep and am on the Presidential Honor Roll. Being able to participate in this production is a wonderful once in a lifetime experience, and I will cherish this for the rest of my life.

Hannah Guillory (Asaka, Mother of the Earth)

I'm 16 and absolutely thrilled to participate in this wonderful production. I attend NOCCA/Riverfront for Musical Theatre. Favorite roles: TiMoune (Ginny Award nominee), Once on this Island; Sour Kangaroo, Seussical the Musical; Meredith Parker, Bat Boy, The Musical; Molly Madison, Rise and Shine; TV/film: Consequences, Lifetime movie; DSTV's School Zone Dallas, co-host; Winner of Hometown Stars singing competition 2005; Various solo singing performances includingAmerican Heart Association's kickoff gala, Los Angeles, CA; Future goals are to attend NYU after completing high school and perform on Broadway. Thanks to my ever supportive Mother (X's and O's), and my friend Janie! The world really is brighter place when I take off my sunglasses!

Grant Hunter (Daniel)

Hi! My name is Grant Hunter, I'm 17 years old (soon to be 18 on June 24!)and I'm thrilled to be a part of the cast of Once On This Island. I graduated this May from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts andJesuit High. My credits include Songs For A New World (Man 1), Bat Boy (Pan),Beauty and the Beast (Dancing Fork), and Chess (Ensemble). In thefall I will continue my studies at New York University 's Tisch School of the Arts at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.I plan on exploring all aspects ofacting, be it musical theatre, straight drama, or film acting, andtruly aspire to make acareer out of the art. The Once On This Island experience has nurtured both artistic and emotional aspects of my training in musical theatre, and I truly thank all of those fabulous New Yorkers in After The Storm who have made such a difference in my life and the lives of others. I would also like to thank all of my NOCCA friends in the cast for being especially helpful through this process, especially my best friend Griffin ! Last, but certainly not least, I give thanks to my mother for always supporting me in my endeavors.

Taylor Marrs (Tonton Julian)

I am a 2007 graduate of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and Northshore High School. I have been a performer for nine years, and I am ecstatic to be able to add this wonderful experience to my resume. Being a part of Once On This Island and the After the Storm Foundation has been one of the most fulfilling adventures of my life. I have most recently be seen in NOCCA's presentation of Jane Eyre the musical and this summer I will be performing in Footloose the musical at Slidell Little Theatre. I am so grateful for this opportunity and would like to thank all those who have made this production possible.

Gabrielle Porter (Mama Euralie - New York)

I am overjoyed to become the newest addition to this wonderful group of New Orleans performers. I will be a sophomore at New York University where I'm studying Musical Theatre in the Tisch School of The Arts' Drama program along with Collaborate Arts Project for the 21 st Century. I was born and raised in New Orleans, LA and of August 2005, have now moved with my family to Alexandria, LA. I have every intention to return to my beloved New Orleans. I have been seen in over 40 shows in New Orleans and performed leading roles including: Dorothy (The Wiz), Flora (Flora, The Red Menace), Rosie (Bye, Bye Birdie), Lola (Damn Yankees!), Rizzo (Grease) and others. I would like to thank God and my family for their unwavering support in everything I do. I would also like to thank the wonderful cast for lovingly welcoming me into their family and allowing the spirit of New Orleans to reach out and touch people everywhere. And a special thanks to Gary Solomon for always keeping an eye out for me. I love him dearly.

Ashley Rose Richard (Andrea)

I'm a 11th grader at NOCCA, where I study musical theater, and Benjamin Franklin, where I just study.I've been performing ever since I was 4 and credit it to my very musical family. I've sung backup for Josh Groban and recently performed at a convention in Anaheim to an audience of 18,000.Like most native New Orleanians, Iwas excited to be back in my home town after evacuating to Houma for almost a year after Katrina. In addition, I am ecstatic that coming home afforded me the great opportunities I've gotten through After the Storm.After high school, I plan to study musical theatre. I would like to dedicate this performance to my constant pillar of support, my mom.

Jasmin Simmons (Assistant to the Director/Assistant Choreographer)

I am a 16 year old Junior at New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School and a level 3 dancer at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). I have been dancing since the age of two. My training consists of ballet, modern, jazz, tap, African, hip-hop and many forms of cultural dance. Later in life, I would like to own my own dance company and school. The school will offer free classes in dance, art, music, acting and many more art forms to underprivileged children, just as NOBA has done for many years. Naturally, both institutions will be located in this glorious city of New Orleans! I plan to be among the many talented artists in my city to help restore the art community in the post-Katrina world.

Jon Stevenson (Agwe, God of Water/Musical Assistant)

I was born December 7, 1989 in New Orleans. I'm a high school graduate of Eleanor McMain Secondary as well as NOCCA riverfront. At McMain, Iwas a part of many clubs and committees and at NOCCA I study Violin. I have studied stringed music with private teachers from the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra as well as the Orleans Parish school system. I have performed a number of classical pieces as well as won many talent shows. I started music alone in school playing the recorder then the trumpet, flute and thenall stringed instruments. My teachers thought I had a great acting ability and encouraged me to get tested for Talented Arts Theatre, where I was accepted and went on to do movies, plays and commercials. As an actor this is my first musical, but not first play. I was the lead character in the popular New Orleans play Why You Wanna Kill Your Brother by Gaynielle Neville. Besides singing and acting, I love to dance, and I think I have a distinct and unique work ethic that you don't find too much in this industry. My passion will help me with everything I want to accomplish and do in this life. I love to do anything that will challenge me and that iswhy I took this show because I knew this was going to be a challenge. Next year, I will either attend Loyola university or Xavier university in New Orleans to nurture my craft and then hope to attend Berklee College of Music. Later in life, I want to become a Singer/dancer, Actor, teacher, Humanitarian, and R&B mogul.

April Stewart (Mama Euralie - New Orleans)

I was born on December 3, 1992. My favorite color is purple. I have a beautiful sense of personality and a great sense of fashion. I have a love for Chris Brown and Bow Wow as well. I go to Xavier Prep School and am the mascot and do it very well. I am a very cool girl in a very wide world.