EvAngELInE
“Do you believe in a woman’s devotion?”
A Modern retelling of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic poem
through an Album, Live Musical & Education
The Evangeline story is a love story; but more importantly, it is the story of our Acadian people as captured in the epic poem published in 1847 by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The poem depicts the historical journey of the Deportation of the Acadians (le grand derangement) through the tale of Evangeline and Gabriel, two young lovers engaged to be wed. Longfellow’s epic story takes us through their personal struggles of their forced separation and their longing to be reunited. With this modern retelling, we intend to shine light on the indomitable spirit of Cajun women, and indeed the entire Acadian clan as a people. It is our hope that America will once again fall in love with Evangeline, so that her message—the power of a woman’s devotion, the rich memory of the Acadian people, and the vindication of hope— will resonate again in the hearts of those who hear it.
Angel Publishing is a Louisiana based 501c3 non-profit organization. 100% of net profits will support community initiatives in Louisiana.
Album
Six-time Grammy Award winning, Tony Daigle will produce the album, which will be the soundtrack for the musical. The best of Acadiana’s musical and vocal talent will make up the original songs.
Performance
Hosted in the heart of Acadiana, Evangeline will be live on local stages. The vocalists from the album will also reveal their acting talent on stage to bring this legendary story back to life.
re- Presentation
Already there is interest to make this musical into a film. However, another primary intention of the project is to allow other stages to reproduce the musical (i.e. high schools, performing arts centers, etc.) and utilize the play as an effort to educate the next generation for Cajun Louisiana!
The History
Le Grande Derangement
The Expulsion of the Acadians
In 1755, the ancestors of the Cajun people were torn from their peaceful home in the villages of Acadie. The British were afraid that the pacifist Acadians would side with the French in the French Indian War. In order to prevent this, they were given an ultimatum: either give their allegiance to the British crown and the Anglican religion (and leave their Catholic faith) or be deported from their home. Over 80% chose deportation than to leave their faith. Several of the deportees settled in South Louisiana in what is now called Acadiana. Read more Le Grande Derangement
The Poem
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie
This is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks,
Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight,
Stand like Druids of eld, with voices sad and prophetic,
Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their bosoms.
Loud from its rocky caverns, the deep-voiced neighboring ocean
Speaks, and in accents disconsolate answers the wail of the forest…
To read more click here
The Legend
The Heroine of Acadie
Who is Evangeline?
Evangeline Thruway | Evangeline Maid Bread | Evangeline State Bank | Evangeline Downs
It is impossible to drive 10 minutes through Acadiana and not see the name Evangeline.
But who is this Cajun princess?
Have we lost touch with the woman who embodies our people?
It seems that if we don’t know who Evangeline is, then we don’t know our story, our history.
Let’s resurrect this Angelic Maiden, so that we can rediscover what it means to be truly Cajun!