Word had obviously gotten out to the crowd at Burning Coal’s last performance of Once, a musical theater adaptation of the film by the same name and soundtrack. Long before the doors were opened to the theater, the audience queue snaked out of the high school auditorium where the play was staged. It wasn’t just that it was open seating, it was also because the pre-show was a musical party worthy of the best Pub’s open mic.
This perky pre-show was also a quick taste of the abundant multi-instrumentalist talents that power this production. From mandolin to violin to guitar and more, most of the players were flexing their considerable musical polymath muscles. Like this reviewer, you might have found yourself soon hungering for scene changes when the ensemble regaled yet again with musical interludes. What talent!
Burning Coal Theatre Production Is All About the Music
The melodies of Once are quick to stick. (Music and Lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová)— which you can savor in this YouTube soundtrack.
What succeeds most about the Burning Coal production is the soul brought to the music LIVE. Dave Keats as the male lead especially lends the melodies a well-matched timber and timing.
The story is simple— A lonely man is stuck because his musical career was going nowhere and his love interest left him. An energetic woman takes him in tow and gives him the restart he needs. Along the way there’s a music store, a band, a bank loan, a recording session and recurring jokes about Czech and Irish culture both.
You won’t hear the imprimatur of dialect coaches, see acrobatic Broadway dancing or fancy set and costumes. What you do get are spirited performances with an abundance of soul.
Unfortunately there are no additional performances of Once. Once created hunger for more Burning Coal. You can find out about the upcoming three 2025/2026 Burning Coal performance on their website.
RECOMMENDED
WHEN:
October 9 - 26, 2025
WHERE:
Burning Coal Theatre
224 Polk St.
Raleigh, NC 27604
TICKETS:
For more information and tickets visit the Burning Coal Theatre Company website.
Photos: Kevin Lord
CAST:
Mary Brown
Emma Caterinicchio
Margaret Ellen Christensen
Andrew Crowe*
Seoyoung Hu
David Keats
River Mann
Tripp Nilles
Julie Oliver
Essi Sings
Christopher Wood
CREATIVE TEAM:
Directed by Nathalie Ray
Music Director – Christian Stahr
Stage Manager – Rebecca Peace
Lighting Designer – Chris Popowich
Costume Designer – Julia Rodriquez
Scenic Designer – Christina Lu
Sound Designer – Juan Isler
TD/ME – Barry Jaked
Scenic Charge – Meredith Riggan
Asst. Director – Carry Vaughan
ASMs – Brenda Bailey, Ella Bryant, Julianna Frasca, Abby Patrick, Courtney Pisano, Natasha Tyson
Asst. to the LD – Julianna Babcock
Hair & Wigs – Lynda Clark
About the Author: Amy Munice
Amy Munice is Editor-in-Chief and Co-Publisher of Picture This Post. She covers books, dance, film, theater, music, museums and travel. Prior to founding Picture This Post, Amy was a freelance writer and global PR specialist for decades—writing and ghostwriting thousands of articles and promotional communications on a wide range of technical and not-so-technical topics.
