BASED ON THE FILM BY JOHN CARNEY MUSIC AND LYRICS BY GLEN HANSARD AND MARKÉTA IRGLOVÁ BOOK BY ENDA WALSH DIRECTED BY NATHANIEL SHAW SHOW GUIDE VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE
CONTENTS Plot Summary... 3 Once Timeline... 4 Setting and Relatable Region Facts... 5 Notable People from Dublin... 6 PRE-SHOW IDEAS Use the information in this guide and the web resources as a starting point to get to know Once. Get your brain thinking about what you ll experience. Learn what you can about theatre. How does theatre tell a story? How do scenes work together? How do the technical aspects help? Take a peek at the discussion questions in the guide on page 7. Give yourself an idea of what issues, ideas, and situations the show presents. Get yourself a jump start for the class discussion after the show. Think about what your expectations of the production are: What will you see on stage? What will the story be like? How will the characters interact with each other? How will it begin and end? Interview with the Director.. 7 Post-Show Questions & Activities... 7 About Us... 9 Photos from Virginia Rep s 2019 production of Once by Jay Paul AUDIENCE EXPECTATIONS Going to see a theatrical performance is an incredibly exciting and entertaining experience. In order to enhance that experience, here are some things to keep in mind: Take your seat. Be sure to get to your seat in time to ready yourself for the journey you ll take with this production. Turn off your cell phone. The messages and texts can wait until later get into the world of the show completely! VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE 114 W. Broad St. Richmond, Virginia 23220 VIRGINIAREP.ORG (804) 282-2620 Virginia Repertory Theatre, 2019 Get ready to watch carefully. The wonderful thing about live theatre is that it s happening right there before you! Be sure to soak it all in. Let the actors do the talking. Feel free to laugh at the jokes and be moved by the drama, but save your commentary for the conversation with the class after the show. Show your appreciation. When the show is over, applaud for the actors and wait for the curtain call to be over before leaving your seat. To show them your highest praise, give them a standing ovation. VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE Once 2
PLOT SUMMARY Welcome to Dublin, Ireland. A land of poets, artists, and musicians of all kinds. In a local shop, we are introduced to Guy, a heartbroken singer-songwriter who finds himself at a turning point in his artistic process. After singing a song called Leave he sets his guitar down and seemingly goes to exit, leaving his guitar (and presumably his music career) behind. However, a Czech immigrant (aptly known only as Girl) approaches him and manages to convince him not to give up so quickly. Although Guy attempts to keep his guard up, Girl becomes his close friend and confidant. When she finally gets Guy to share his music, she joins in on the piano and it is revealed that both are not only musically gifted, but also make each other s music better. Despite their differences, Guy and Girl find common ground, a shared language, and genuine love in creating music together. With a cast of incredible actor-musicians who accompany themselves on the soaring, gut-wrenching folk-rock score, Once is an exceptional and uncommon theatrical experience that will move you to laughter, to tears, and to a deep understanding of the particular joy of joining together in song. I don't know you But I want you All the more for that Words fall through me And always fool me And I can't react And games that never amount To more than they're meant Will play themselves out Falling Slowly lyrics from Once, Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová A scene from the film Once starring Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE Once 3
ONCE TIMELINE Once is a part of a genre of musicals that was first a movie. The film Once was an independent movie that people fell in love with due to its natural storytelling and soulful songs. The film premiered in the United States on May 16, 2007. While there was a script, many of the film s scenes were improvised by the actors playing Guy and Girl, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová. The movie was filmed in only 17 days. Despite its small budget and quick filming schedule, Once went on to receive critical acclaim. The film received the Sundance World Cinema Audience Award and Dublin International Film Festival s Audience Award. The film earned an Oscar for Best Song in 2008 for Falling Slowly. On February 28, 2012, Once (the musical) held its first preview on Broadway. Music and lyrics for the production were written by Hansard and Irglová. Once held its official opening on Broadway on March 18, 2012, and ran for a total of 1,168 performances at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in New York City. The production was nominated for eleven Tony Awards and won eight including Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, and Best Direction of a Musical. Once officially closed on Broadway on January 4, 2015. From Virginia Rep s production of Once VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE Once 4
ONCE SETTING AND RELATABLE REGION FACTS SETTING: Dublin, Ireland Dublin is the capital city of the Republic of Ireland. Dublin is an Old Irish Gaelic phrase that translates to Black Pool. This black pool actually existed! It was located by the River Poddle near the Castle Gardens at Dublin Castle. Dublin has a population of 1,273,069 people. The Irish have their own unique brand of sport called Gaelic football. Gaelic football is a combination of soccer and rugby. A wide variety of music has come out of Dublin, from pop ballads to rock music. Some of the famous acts that have formed in Dublin include boybands such as Boyzone and Westlife, rock bands like U2, The Script, and My Bloody Valentine, indie folk band Kodaline, and heavy metal band Thin Lizzy. The city of Dublin covers a land area of 44.5 square miles. Dublin has the youngest population in all of Europe. Approximately 50% of the population is less than 25 years of age. IRELAND Dublin RELATABLE REGION: Czech Republic The Czech Republic is formerly known as Bohemia. Prague is the capital city of The Czech Republic. Prague is the only major city in Europe that wasn t extensively bombed in WWII. For this reason, many of the buildings in the historic center stand as originally built, some dating to the Middle Ages. The Czech Republic has the highest castle-density in the world with more than 2,000 around the country. The largest castle in the world is in Prague and is called the Prague Castle. Dublin, Photo by Diogo Palhais CZECHOSLOVAKIA VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE Once 5
NOTABLE PEOPLE FROM DUBLIN Samuel Beckett 1906-1989 Playwright, novelist, director, poet, Nobel laureate Most famous play, Waiting for Godot Martin McDonagh Born March 26, 1970 Playwright, screenwriter, director Won Golden Globe Best Screenplay Award for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Oscar Wilde 1854-1900 Poet, playwright Most famous play, The Importance of Being Earnest W. B. Yeats 1865-1939 Poet, author, Nobel Prize in Literature Most famous poem, The Second Coming George Bernard Shaw 1856-1950 Playwright, critic, Nobel Prize in Literature Most famous play, Pygmalion (later adapted into the movie My Fair Lady) Bram Stoker 1847-1912 Author best known for Dracula VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE Once 6
INTERVIEW WITH ONCE DIRECTOR NATHANIEL SHAW We are thrilled to have the Artistic Director of Virginia Repertory Theatre directing this wonderful musical. Nathaniel was kind enough to sit down with us and discuss the unique challenges of this production. Q. We ve been lucky enough to have you direct multiple shows including West Side Story, River Ditty, and In the Heights. What is challenging about bringing this particular script to life? A. One challenge lies less in the script, and more in the fact that the actors are the musicians for the show. There is no orchestra. All of the actors play instruments, in many cases more than one, and all of those instruments need amplification. Q. You were the resident choreographer for both the Broadway musical and national tour of Once. With ties to the original production, what are your goals for taking it in your own, unique direction? Nathaniel Shaw A. I want to pay homage to the original production its humility and simplicity in allowing the music and the story to lead but allow our team of artists to develop a new setting, and new interpretations of the characters. Q. What s going to surprise people about this show? A. The brilliant talent of the people on stage. The cast needs to be excellent musicians, great actors, dance while playing their instruments, and tell this gorgeous, simple story. From Virginia Rep s production of Once POST-SHOW QUESTIONS & ACTIVITIES DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. How did the actors playing instruments on stage affect your experience as an audience member? 2. What songs, artists, or musical genres are important to you in your life, and why? 3. How do you feel about the end of this story? Do you think things ended with Guy and Girl the way they should have? ACTIVITIES 1. Create your own playlist. Write down 5-10 of your favorite songs. Why are they important to you? 2. Share your playlist with a small group. Do any of you have the same favorites? If so, are they for the same reasons? 3. Write a song about a turning point in your life. VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE Once 7
ABOUT US Virginia Repertory Theatre is a nonprofit, professional theatre company and the result of the 2012 merger of Barksdale Theatre and Theatre IV. With a budget of $5.5 million, four distinct venues, an educational touring arm, and an annual audience over 530,000, Virginia Rep is the largest professional theatre and one of the largest performing arts organizations in Central Virginia. We are dedicated to the development and production of new plays, and we seek outside producing collaboration to ensure the play has a life beyond its development and production at Virginia Rep. For over 60 years, Virginia Rep has served Virginia s adults, children, families and schools and contributed to the cultural, educational, and economic life of our city and region. Our Signature Season operates under an annual contract with Actors Equity Association. Virginia Rep is a member of TCG and National New Play Network NNPA. MISSION Virginia Repertory Theatre creates professional productions of the great comedies, dramas, and musicals past, present and future. We embrace the art form in its entirety, presenting plays of all genres and national origins, serving an audience of all ages and backgrounds. In keeping with the legacies of Barksdale and Theatre IV, the hallmark of our nonprofit company is community engagement. To that end, we seek national caliber excellence in the arts, education, children s health, and community leadership. VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE Once 8