“La Caroline” is a new rock opera, which accounts the founding of a French settlement at Ft. Caroline in Northeast Florida. It chronicles the lives of explorer René de Laudonnière, Timucua Chief Saturiwa and others who were part of this extraordinary period of history. As the 450th anniversary of this intersection of cultures approaches, spectators will learn more about the Timucua people and European settlers through a blend of contemporary original music composition and dance.

 

A cast and crew of Florida State College at Jacksonville students and alumni, as well as UNF students, will perform the preview performance of staged excerpts in front of a hometown audience before taking the performance to Nantes, France. Attendees will also be able to buy an original cast CD. Money collected will be used to fund the incredible journey.

 

In July, the group will spend 10 days in Jacksonville’s Sister City. Nantes is a port city approximately 350 miles southwest of Paris. It twinned with Jacksonville in 1984. During their visit, the cast will perform in one open-air venue and in the Salle Paul Fort Theater.

 

Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Student Life is supporting several of the students in their adventure of a lifetime. The Jacksonville Sister Cities Association and l’Alliance Francaise de Jacksonville also provided funding for the project.

 

 

Thomas Janson

Besanya Santiago

Eva Matthews

Frank Humphrey

Taylor Boice

Adam Bonomo

Steven Pedigo

Ashley Charles

Edwin Rivera

Lindy Whitfield

Drue Williams

Ricardo Lastrapes

 

 

Jeremy Moore

Kristen Carlson

Angie McGill

Kelsey Clifford 

 

Book and lyrics by Jennifer Chase

Music by John Citrone

Music directed by Robin Stine

Directed and choreographed by Roxanna Lewis