BASED ON THE FILM BY JOHN CARNEY

MUSIC AND LYRICS BY GLEN HANSARD AND MARKÉTA IRGLOVÁ

BOOK BY ENDA WALSH

DIRECTED BY NATHANIEL SHAW

V I R G I N I A R E P E R T O R Y T H E A T R E

SHOW GUIDE

VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE Once | 2

AUDIENCE EXPECTATIONSGoing 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!

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.

CONTENTS

Plot Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Once Timeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Setting and Relatable

Region Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Notable People

from Dublin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

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

VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE114 W. Broad St. Richmond, Virginia 23220

VIRGINIAREP.ORG (804) 282-2620

©Virginia Repertory Theatre, 2019

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?

VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE Once | 3

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.

PLOT SUMMARY

A scene from the film Once starring Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová

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

VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE Once | 4

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 | 5

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.

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

Dublin

IRELAND

CZECHOSLOVAKIA

VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE Once | 6

NOTABLE PEOPLE FROM DUBLIN

Samuel Beckett

1906 - 1989

Playwright, novelist, director, poet, Nobel laureate

Most famous play, Waiting for Godot

Oscar Wilde

1854 - 1900

Poet, playwright

Most famous play, The Importance of Being Earnest

George Bernard Shaw

1856 - 1950

Playwright, critic, Nobel Prize in Literature

Most famous play, Pygmalion (later adapted

into the movie My Fair Lady)

Martin McDonagh

Born March 26, 1970

Playwright, screenwriter, director

Won Golden Globe Best Screenplay Award for

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

W. B. Yeats

1865 - 1939

Poet, author, Nobel Prize in Literature

Most famous poem, The Second Coming

Bram Stoker

1847 - 1912

Author best known for Dracula

VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE Once | 7

INTERVIEW WITH ONCE DIRECTOR NATHANIEL SHAW

POST-SHOW QUESTIONS & ACTIVITIES

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?

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.

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.

From Virginia Rep’s production of Once

Nathaniel Shaw

VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE Once | 8

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.