Once

ONCE

December 7 – 10, 2022

Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre

Once

Book by Enda Walsh
Music & Lyrics by Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová
Based on the motion picture written and directed by John Carney
Orchestrations by Martin Lowe
Directed by Shamus (CFA’23)

On the streets of Dublin, an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant are drawn together by their shared love of music. Over the course of one fateful week, an unexpected friendship and collaboration quickly evolves into a powerful but complicated love story, underscored by emotionally charged music.

Once is a play about people who are stuck. Stuck in the past, stuck in fear, and stuck in self-doubt. This show dares us to take a leap of faith and step into the lives we dream of.
-Shamus, Director of Once

Once was directed by third-year Master of Fine Arts (MFA) directing student Shamus (CFA’23). The show is also Shamus’ thesis production. “As theatre artists we must always ask the questions, ‘Why this play? Why now?’ Once is a play about people who are stuck. Stuck in the past, stuck in fear, and stuck in self-doubt. This show dares us to take a leap of faith and step into the lives we dream of,” says Shamus.

“As many of our company members finish school this year, myself included, it’s our hope that our show galvanizes people into taking the steps they want to take in life without fear of not achieving a big audacious goal. It’s a story of a small group of people who connect for five days and are forever changed. Some of us will never see each other again after we leave BU, and that’s okay. May we all enter our next phases of life open to major impact from short-term relationships, small interactions, and a willingness to take on the bravery and faith we see from others.”