Once on This Island to Welcome Volunteers Onstage for Tony Performance

During their Tony performance this Sunday at Radio City Music Hall, the cast of Once on This Island will welcome 130 special guests to take up onstage seating surrounding a set that includes a sand-filled beach, water, goats, and chickens. The performance will replicate the in-the-round set that currently fills Broadway's Circle in the Square Theatre. The onstage audience members will include volunteers and staffers from three organizations that bring relief to areas impacted by natural disasters: All Hands and Hearts — Smart Response, Americares, and UNIDOS Disaster Relief and Recovery Program.

Once On This Island producer Ken Davenport said, "Once on This Island is about rebuilding a community, not just with hard work and sweat, but with love and hope. On Broadway's biggest night, we wanted to take a moment to honor and celebrate the incredible people who are out there every day, getting their hands dirty, and helping people put their homes and hearts back together. Our performance is dedicated to them, and to everyone else out there who helps a neighbor when they are in need. Because that's what our world needs now more than ever."

All Hands and Hearts — Smart Response is a US-based, 501(c)3 non-profit organization that addresses the immediate and long-term needs of communities impacted by natural disasters by engaging and leveraging volunteers, partner organizations, and local communities. Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that responds to people affected by poverty or disaster with life-changing medicine, medical supplies and health programs. The goal of the UNIDOS Disaster Relief and Recovery Program is to serve the immediate and long-term needs of families and communities in Puerto Rico.

Nominated for nine Tony Awards, Once on This Island is the tale of Ti Moune, a fearless peasant girl who falls in love with a wealthy boy from the other side of the island. When their divided cultures keep them apart, Ti Moune is guided by the powerful island gods, Erzulie, Asaka, Papa Ge, and Agwe, on a remarkable quest to reunite with the man who has captured her heart.

The Tony Awards will air live on CBS on Sunday, June 10 (8pm-11pm ET).