Peopled by characters introduced by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his 1847 epic poem of the same name, it tells the tale of Evangeline Bellefontaine and Gabriel Lajeunesse, born on the same mid-18th century day in the Acadian village of Grand-Pré in Nova Scotia.

Evangeline's search for her fiancé takes her on a long journey from the New England seacoast to the Louisiana bayous, where she settles in St. Martin and faithfully waits for the arrival of her beloved.

Years later she joins local priest Father Felician to assist him in his ministrations to the still-homeless Acadians roaming along the Atlantic seabord, a fateful move that unexpectedly brings her closer to her destiny.

Unable to commit himself at the time, he recommended Taranto work with mutual friend Danny Tiberghein, who taught at the same school and had a theatrical background.

The first full-scale production of the show, directed by Paige Parsons-Gagliano (then Parsons-Wax), was mounted at Louisiana State University in 1999.

The latter was taped by Louisiana Public Broadcasting and, in October 2000, aired on PBS stations throughout the United States and Canada.

Paige Gagliano directed and Paul Taranto was musical director before retiring from his long-held position as the school's band teacher.

Christine Chrest again acted as choreographer and the school's choir teacher Carter Smith featured as Father Felician.

The priest, Father Felician, announces that two children were born the same morning: Gabriel Lajeunesse and Evangeline Bellefontaine, both delivered by midwife Madame Hebert.