“Children of Eden” brings heart, hope and forgiveness

Sebastian Lombardo as Father, center, Kiara Feliciano as Eve, bottom, and Janik Buranosky as Adam, rehearse a scene from “Children of Eden” as other cast members look on at the Ocala Civic Theatre in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The play runs from April 30 to May 17, 2026 at the Ocala Civic Theatre. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2026.

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Posted April 29, 2026 | By Jamie Berube / Photos by Bruce Ackerman

Kiara Feliciano gets to live an entire lifetime on stage, from Eve’s first breath in the garden of Eden, to Mama Noah watching the world renew after the flood.

“It’s not every day you get to play a character on stage from their first breath to their last. That alone is rewarding to know someone that fully,” Feliciano said.

The expansive dual role has allowed her to trace Eve’s full emotional arc, from wide-eyed curiosity and rebellious discovery to the deep love, loss and hard-won wisdom of motherhood. That journey of creation, loss and new beginnings is what “Children of Eden” is all about.

The Ocala Civic Theatre, or The Civic, will close its landmark 75th season with Stephen Schwartz’s uplifting musical “Children of Eden,” which will run April 30 – May 17. Directed by Executive & Artistic Director Greg Thompson, the show transforms the first nine chapters of the Book of Genesis into a vibrant, family-friendly musical that explores creation, rebellion, loss, forgiveness and hope through the stories of Adam and Eve and Noah’s ark.

According to the official Music Theatre International production history, the idea for “Children of Eden” first took root when scenic designer Charles Lisanby approached Stephen Schwartz with a vivid vision: a colorful, pageant-like musical drawn from the Book of Genesis. Intrigued by the chance to explore “second chances and learning from past mistakes,” Schwartz began writing songs in 1986 under the working title “Family Tree” for a youth program. John Caird later shaped the book, transforming the familiar biblical framework into a deeply human story about families across generations.

In the beginning, Father (Sebastian Lombardo) creates the heavens, the earth and his children: Adam (Janik Buranosky) and Eve (Kiara Feliciano). Life in the garden is pure bliss as they joyfully name every creature that roams paradise, until a cunning snake slithers in and tempts Eve with the forbidden fruit. When Adam chooses to stand by her side, Father’s fury casts them out into the harsh wilderness beyond.

Their descendants, including the tragic brothers Cain (Isiah Blount) and Abel (Isaac Jovel), learn the brutal lessons of life outside Eden. Generations later, their descendant Noah (Buranosky) receives the monumental task of building an enormous ark to save a chosen few and two of every creature on earth before a great flood wipes the world clean. A vibrant ensemble of youth and adult storytellers brings the animals of Eden and the ark thrillingly to life with imaginative puppets designed by puppet designer, Clementine.

“I was drawn to ‘Children of Eden’ because it’s ultimately about beginnings and endings — parents and children, faith and the courage to step into the unknown. That makes it a meaningful way to close our 75th season. It reflects where Ocala Civic Theatre is now: honoring a long history while choosing to grow, trust and move forward together into what’s next,” Thompson said.

Thompson has been involved with The Civic for more than 35 years as guest director, choreographer and instructor. He created OCT’s popular Arts For All summer youth program in 1991 and has directed and/or choreographed dozens of productions at the theatre, including “A Tuna Christmas,” “The Crucible,” “Into the Woods,” “Daddy Long Legs,” “Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville,” “The Spitfire Grill,” “Witch,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Newsies,” “Outside Mullingar,” “Hands On a Hardbody,” “Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?,” “Macabaret,” “Night and Day,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Fiddler On the Roof,” “The King and I,” “The Baker’s Wife,” “Cats,” “Enchanted April,” “The Mikado,” “Annie,” “The Sugar Bean Sisters,” “The Pirates of Penzance,” “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” “For Love Or Money,” “The Music Man” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

Buranosky takes on the demanding dual leading roles of Adam and Noah. Buranosky, who also serves as a production technician at The Civic, has previously appeared as Davey in “Newsies” and Ratchett in “Murder on the Orient Express.”

He sees the characters as distinct yet symbolically connected.

“Ever since I watched a separate version of the show, I always saw Adam and Noah as separate people, Adam being more on the emotional side and Noah on the more patient and mature side,” Buranosky said.

“So, when I play the two, my actions as Adam are far more expressive and Noah’s are more calm and controlled,” he continued.

For Adam, he found the character’s childlike wonder intoxicating.

“Especially in the garden, he just appreciates everything he has,” Buranosky said.

“Like I have a line where I’m organizing bugs and I find a cockroach. A normal reaction would be to cringe at it, but I believe Adam loves that cockroach as much as the puppy dog chasing him around,” he continued.

Noah’s tenacity inspired him.

“He built a whole ark, understood what it was for, and raised a family, all while trying to grasp the fact Father was about to flood the entire planet,” he said.

Sebastian Lombardo portrays the complex role of Father. Isiah Blount plays both Cain and Japheth, while Adrienne Hebert portrays Yonah. Isaac Jovel appears in multiple roles, including Abel, Ham and parts of the snake. Wisdom Chiles plays Seth and Shem, Georgina Vitola is Aysha, and Jalis Redmond appears as Aphra.

The large ensemble of storytellers, Merci Serenity Joi Chiles, Cassidy Citron, Ryan Ejaz, Tom Ferreira, Ava Kennedy Gerlach, Lane Leedy, Juliana Lombardo, Liam Ortiz, Genna Paasche, Marcela Secillano, Maiyah Smith, Kiara Torres Vazquez and others, includes many young performers alongside returning Civic actors, bringing energy and heart to the biblical tales.

But the real magic happens when the music lifts off. Music Director Justin Davis highlighted what makes the score stand out.

“Gorgeous vocal writing. His [Schwartz’s] weaving of themes that unite the story so well. Unique instruments and sounds in the pit, which we use live musicians to perform, add to this great score,” Davis said.

The emotional journey of the music mirrors the story’s deepest questions.

“The musical arc goes through so many emotions and fun styles, but ultimately the music lives in the emotions of beauty, growth, change and deep love,” Davis explained.

“In the final song, it asks that question: ‘Was the journey worth the taking?” he continued.

Davis praised the cast’s commitment to Schwartz’s demanding score.

“Performers need to bring every part of their musical toolbox. The ranges, rhythms and harmonies are extremely challenging,” he said. “This cast has really done this, and audiences will hear the result of their hard work and skills.”

He singled out the dense harmonies in “The Mark of Cain,” “Clash” and “The Flood,” noting that the entire ensemble, called storytellers, carries a huge amount of the vocal storytelling.

“This cast has given their heart to each request. The growth of so many actors in the ensemble, having solos, tough harmonies and working to make each note heard. Truly, the selflessness of the cast has been the key,” Davis said.

“I will miss this cast very much. Audiences do not want to miss this show. Especially listen for the moments when the voices sing a cappella,” he continued.

Director of Marketing and Public Relations Melody Murphy said the show is the perfect family-friendly finale for the milestone season.

“It’s always great when we can offer a family-friendly show that appeals to a wide range of ages. We love to get the whole family here together for a special theatre experience when we can: parents, kids, grandparents. This one is for any generation,” she said.

“You see them as real, flawed, curious people trying to make sense of this new world of theirs and find their way in it,” Murphy added. “Also, Stephen Schwartz’s songs from ‘Wicked’ are so popular and it’s great to introduce audiences to one of his lesser-known shows.”

“Family is universal. At its heart, this show is the story of parents and children relating to each other throughout generations. Everyone knows how it feels to make mistakes and big choices that might backfire, and then having to live with the consequences, which sometimes opens up a whole new world of possibility,” she continued.

Lombardo described his approach to the complex role.

“The script very purposely gives Father a more human tone, even going so far as to allow him to make mistakes and learn from others. While it’s tempting to portray him as this grand figure of perfection above humanity, it’s more interesting to see him experience glee, love, betrayal, anger, sadness and inner turmoil. Father’s arc is one of finding the balance between the two,” he said.

Feliciano brings a fresh, deeply human perspective to Eve.

“My version of Eve is curious about everyone and everything. She is also passionate about creating, a trait her Father may have unintentionally passed on onto her,” Feliciano said. “Creations are Eve’s way of connecting with people, whether it’s through her own need to create or from what others create.”

The musical challenges the traditional view of Eve, she offered.

“Eve will be someone people connect to rather than antagonize. I hope they connect to her curiosity and how that can make life so much more interesting. I hope they connect to her need to create and are inspired to go out there and do so,” Feliciano said.

“While I would never wish loss on anyone, I hope they can empathize with her pain and that they feel honored and seen in their own experiences of grieving. And I hope they connect with how fully she loves and that it gives them the courage to love even more. I hope audiences will connect to her mistakes and that her story helps them find a way forward,” Feliciano added.

“Children of Eden” is rated G. There will be one 20-minute intermission. Performances run Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. April 30 – May 17. Tickets are $35-$40 for adults and $17-$20 for ages 18 and younger. Group discounts are available for 10 or more.

Purchase tickets at ocalacivictheatre.com or call the box office at (352) 236-2274, Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–2 p.m.