You probably saw the TikTok clips. Or maybe a snippet on Instagram where the glass slipper looks a little different against a backdrop of turquoise water and palm trees. People are searching like crazy for the cast of Cinderella in the Caribbean because it feels like one of those projects that just makes sense for the modern era. But here is the thing: there is a lot of confusion about what this actually is. Is it a Disney movie? A Broadway tour? A local theater production that went viral?
Honestly, the term "Cinderella in the Caribbean" usually refers to the 1992 musical production Once on This Island or, more specifically, the niche but beloved televised versions and stage adaptations that reimagine the European folk tale through a West Indian lens. It is a vibrant, rhythmic, and deeply emotional take on the "star-crossed lovers" trope.
When people ask about the cast, they are usually looking for the stars of the most famous iterations—like the 1990 Broadway original or the 2017 revival—or they are curious about a specific Caribbean-set film like Cinderella (the 2021 version starring Camila Cabello) which, while not set in the Caribbean, had a heavy Latin and tropical influence in its aesthetic and music.
The Core Players: Who Truly Brings the Story to Life
If we are talking about the definitive "Caribbean Cinderella" story, we are talking about Once on This Island. It is based on the novel My Love, My Love; or, The Peasant Girl by Rosa Guy. The cast doesn't just play humans; they play gods.
In the 2017 Broadway revival, which is the version most younger fans are referencing when they look for the cast of Cinderella in the Caribbean, the breakout star was Hailey Kilgore. She played Ti Moune. Her performance was electric. She was just 18 when she got the role. Think about that for a second. Leading a massive production at an age when most people are just trying to figure out how to do laundry.
She was joined by some heavy hitters. Alex Newell, who you might know from Glee, played Asaka, Mother of the Earth. If you haven't heard Alex hit those high notes in "Mama Will Provide," you are genuinely missing out on a core human experience. Then you had Lea Salonga—literally Disney royalty (the voice of Mulan and Jasmine)—playing Erzulie, the Goddess of Love.
The gods are the engine of the plot.
Merle Dandridge played Papa Ge, the Demon of Death. She brought this terrifying, sleek energy to the role that made the stakes feel real.
Quentin Earl Darrington played Agwé, God of Water.
The love interest, Daniel, was played by Isaac Powell.
It’s a stacked lineup. But the magic of a Caribbean-inspired Cinderella story isn't just about the names on the playbill. It is about the ensemble. In this specific production, the ensemble acts as the "Storytellers." They are constantly on stage, moving sand, creating rain effects, and mimicking the sounds of the island. It’s immersive.
Why the 2021 Movie Gets Mixed Up in This
There is a bit of a "Mandela Effect" happening here. Many fans search for the cast of Cinderella in the Caribbean expecting to find Camila Cabello or Billy Porter.
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While the 2021 Amazon Prime Cinderella isn't technically set in the Caribbean, its production design leaned heavily into a colorful, diverse, and somewhat "tropical" aesthetic in certain scenes. Camila Cabello, being Cuban-American, brought a specific flair to the character that felt fresh to audiences tired of the stale, pale, British-accented versions of the past.
In that version, the cast included:
- Camila Cabello as Ella
- Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Robert
- Idina Menzel as the Stepmother (Vivian)
- Billy Porter as the Fab G (the gender-neutral Fairy Godparent)
- Pierce Brosnan as King Rowan
It is easy to see why the two get conflated. Both represent a departure from the 1950s Disney mold. Both emphasize music, rhythm, and a more vibrant color palette than the traditional "grey castle in the woods" vibe.
The Impact of Local Caribbean Productions
We can't ignore the actual Caribbean. Throughout the islands—from Jamaica to Trinidad—there have been countless pantomimes and local theater versions of Cinderella.
In Jamaica, the LTM National Pantomime is a legendary institution. They frequently take classic fairy tales and "Jamaicanize" them. These productions feature local stars like Oliver Samuels, often called the King of Jamaican Comedy. While these don't always get international IMDB pages, they are arguably the true cast of Cinderella in the Caribbean. They use Patois. They use Reggae and Dancehall. They turn the carriage into a "jingy-bang" or a decorated bus.
This matters because the "cast" in these contexts isn't just actors; they are cultural ambassadors. They take a story about a girl losing a shoe and turn it into a story about classism, colonialism, and the resilience of the Caribbean spirit.
Breaking Down the Roles
To understand the cast of Cinderella in the Caribbean (specifically the Once on This Island archetype), you have to look at the hierarchy of the characters. It isn't just "Good vs. Evil."
The "Cinderella" figure (Ti Moune) is a peasant.
The "Prince" figure (Daniel) is a "Grand Homme"—a descendant of the French colonizers and the native population.
The conflict isn't just a mean stepmother. It’s a literal wall. A gate that separates the rich from the poor.
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When Hailey Kilgore or LaChanze (who played the role in 1990) takes the stage, they aren't just looking for a husband. They are trying to break a curse that has plagued the island for generations.
The Visuals and Technical Cast
You can't talk about the cast without mentioning the people who made them look the part. For the 2017 revival, the costume designer Clint Ramos was a genius. He used found objects.
The "cast" essentially wore trash. But beautiful trash.
Asaka’s dress was made of tablecloths and plastic.
Papa Ge wore a tattered suit that looked like it had been pulled from a shipwreck.
This "cast" of objects and textiles is what gave the show its Caribbean grit. It wasn't a sanitized, Disney-fied version of the islands. It felt like a place where people lived, worked, and survived hurricanes.
What People Often Get Wrong About the Casting
A common misconception is that any "diverse" Cinderella is the "Caribbean" one.
The 1997 Brandy version (the absolute GOAT for many millennials) is often lumped into this category. While it featured a diverse cast including Whitney Houston and Bernadette Peters, it was set in a stylized, color-blind kingdom, not the Caribbean.
However, that 1997 film paved the way. Without Brandy, we probably don't get the 2017 Once on This Island revival or the 2021 Cabello film. It proved that the "cast of Cinderella" didn't have to look like a porcelain doll.
Identifying the Modern Viral Clips
If you are looking for the cast of Cinderella in the Caribbean because of a specific TikTok or Reel, you are likely seeing footage from a high-end cruise ship production.
Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean frequently run Broadway-caliber shows. DCL, in particular, has a rotating cast of incredible performers who do "Cinderella" and "Disney Dreams." These actors are often young, up-and-coming Broadway stars.
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The "cast" here changes every 6 to 9 months as contracts rotate. If you saw a specific performer who blew your mind on a ship, your best bet is to check the ship's specific tag on Instagram. Performers like GiaNina Leblanc (from Dance Moms) have appeared in major cruise theater roles, bringing a massive following to these sea-bound productions.
The Future of the Caribbean Cinderella
Is there a new movie coming?
As of now, there isn't a major Hollywood "Cinderella in the Caribbean" film in production for 2026, but the rumors of a Once on This Island movie adaptation have been swirling for years. Disney+ was reportedly developing a film version with Marc Platt producing.
If that happens, the casting will be a massive cultural event. People are already fan-casting stars like Halle Bailey (following her success in The Little Mermaid) or Coco Jones.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Researchers
If you are trying to track down a specific performer or learn more about this sub-genre of musical theater, don't just search generic terms.
- Check the Playbill Vault: Search for "Once on This Island" to see every actor who has ever played these Caribbean-inspired roles on Broadway.
- Search "LTM National Pantomime": If you want the authentic Jamaican flavor, look for their archives. They have been doing these "Caribbean-ized" fairy tales for over 70 years.
- Look for "Cast Recordings": To hear the 2017 cast (the most famous modern one), listen to the New Broadway Cast Recording. It features Hailey Kilgore and Alex Newell.
- Follow the "Cruise Life" Community: If the cast you saw was on a boat, search for the ship name (e.g., "Disney Wish Cast") on social media. Performers almost always post their "closing night" photos with the full cast list.
The cast of Cinderella in the Caribbean is a broad term that covers a lot of ground. Whether you are looking for the Broadway legends who brought Ti Moune to life or the local islanders who turned a European story into a Caribbean anthem, the common thread is a rejection of the "damsel in distress" trope. These casts represent a Cinderella who is active, rhythmic, and deeply connected to her culture.
Instead of waiting for a carriage, this Cinderella usually builds her own path—often through the sand and the storm.
To dig deeper into the specific performers who have redefined these roles, you should start by listening to the 2017 Broadway cast recording of Once on This Island to understand the vocal range required for a Caribbean reimagining. From there, explore the works of playwright Lynn Ahrens and composer Stephen Flaherty, who are the architects behind the most famous Caribbean-set version of this story. For those interested in the film side, keep an eye on official Disney+ production announcements, as the "Once on This Island" movie remains one of the most anticipated projects in their development pipeline.