The significance of telling your own story isn’t lost on theatre troupe founder Jean-Remy Monnay, as he watches his cast and crew rehearse for their upcoming production of "Once on This Island."

"It is important to me," said Monnay. "It is important for the local stage, because theater is an imitation of life. But, you got to show it."

Monnay is from Haiti and created Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate N.Y. in 2010.

For his first show, the challenge of finding enough non-white actors to fill six roles led him to search everywhere from schools to supermarkets.

"I wanted to give opportunities to to all those kids who couldn't play Annie because they're not white," said Monnay.

Now, 30 diverse actors and crew members fill his stage.


What You Need To Know

  • The Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate NY was created in 2010 

  • They've grown immensely since they started

  • Their production of Once on This Island will run February 6-16

"I'm of Haitian descent and the themes and setting of this musical are very much based in Haiti without saying so," said actor D. Colin. "It's important to for me to be able to see and be in a production that shows representation that way."

"I've done this show before but with a much different cast," said actor Justin Nadal. "It's great to do this show in this environment with so many diverse actors and such a great African-American community who have lived these experiences."

Fifteen years after the theatre troupe's beginning, it as a residency at Capital Repertory Theatre and has put on more than 50 productions.

Some members say they are for advocating for more opportunities like this one.

"I think it is the nature of theater to hire people you know and that just kind of is part of the game, but I think as far as people of color and also women go, it's a harder pull," said stage manager Rose Biggerstaff.

Hettie Barnhill, a former Broadway performer, is the director of the production.

"We have this beautiful story at a time that is still very much important to talk about how people use difference to separate and to define what is important," said Barnhill.

As the cast perfects their performance ahead of its debut this week, Monnay knows it will continue to evolve — just as he hopes the work off stage will, too.

"We're here, but we still have a long way to go," said Monnay. "So I'm going to keep fighting until everybody's given opportunities."

Performances run February 6-16 at The Rep MainStage.