“Disney’s The Little Mermaid” opens at The Lewis & Shirley White Theatre at The J on Saturday, July 6, where it will run for 14 performances on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays through July 28.
Tickets are available at TheWhiteTheatre.org.
Following the Sunday, July 21, performance, a special “Under The Sea Party” will be held in the Multi-Activity Center, adjacent to The White Theatre, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Guests can enjoy craft activities, a photo booth, food, and appearances by the show’s performers.
Guy Gardner will direct a cast of veterans and newcomers to The White Theatre stage. Gardner himself is not new to The White Theatre, having directed “Matilda” and “The Addams Family,” both in 2022. He has also performed on the stage in “Kinky Boots,” “Anything Goes” and “Spamalot.”
As director, Gardner and his team are responsible for creating the “under the sea” environment, including the illusion of swimming on stage.
“Swimming in the show has been an artistic choice at so many theaters in so many different ways,” Gardner said. “In this production, I believe the audience will understand when we are truly underwater and when we are above. Actors will move their bodies in certain ways when ‘under the sea,’ and a few of them may swim right in the middle of what we consider ‘thin air.’”
“Disney’s The Little Mermaid” cast is led by Lacy Goettling as mermaid Ariel. This will be Goettling’s debut on The White Theatre stage. Austin Skibbie is making their debut as well, taking on the role of sea villain Ursula.
Goettling and Skibbie are joined by Zane Champie as Prince Eric, who recently starred in The White Theatre’s production of “Kinky Boots” as Charlie Price. Other veterans include Donald Davis as King Triton, Hew McKoy as Sebastian, Louisa Bartlett as Flounder, Meredith Hollan as Flotsam/Ursula understudy, Alex Gumminger as Chef Louis/Scuttle understudy, Kayleen Spear as Andrina/Ariel double, Alana Shields as Aquata, A.J. Valle as Atina and Mandy Dulny as Adella.
Other newcomers to The White Theatre include Chip Buckner as Grimsby, Ellen Welander as Scuttle, Morgan Ball as Jetsam, Theresa Chambers as Arista and Natalia Monteiro as Allana. Tristan Jacobson, Jacob Valle, Tyler Taylor, Miles Wirth, Nathan Anderson and Topher Michael round out the cast as the sailor ensemble.
“The stage production of ‘The Little Mermaid’ has all of the heart and wonder that the original movie did,” Gardner said. “Whether you are remembering it from the past, or discovering it in the present, you will leave with a smile on your face. I think audiences should be ready for a few hours of pure entertainment.”
Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the classic animated film, “Disney's The Little Mermaid” centers on Ariel, King Triton's youngest daughter, who wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea.
With music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater and a book by Doug Wright, the show includes well-known songs like "Under the Sea," "Kiss the Girl" and "Part of Your World."
Throughout the run of the show, guests who bring a food item for the Jewish Family Services Food Pantry will receive a discounted ticket to the show. More information on what items are most needed can be found at jfskc.org/food-pantry.
“Disney’s The Little Mermaid” is generally suitable for all ages and does contain some moments of mild fantasy violence. Full descriptions and performance times for each event are available at TheWhiteTheatre.org.