Dive into an underwater adventure this summer!
Grab your “dinglehoppers” and “snarfblats” as a splash-tacular Broadway musical washes up on stage at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid takes audiences “under the sea” for three weeks from July 18 to Aug. 4. “Twenty-nine years after the original film was released, Disney’s The Little Mermaid continues to capture the hearts of children and parents alike,” said Alex Mustakas, artistic director of Drayton Entertainment.
“Summer is the perfect time for families to escape the heat and enjoy this blockbuster musical together.
“But, parents should act fast – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast sold out in record time last year and Disney’s The Little Mermaid is poised to repeat that high demand for tickets.”
Based on the enchanting 1989 Disney animated film, and one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most popular stories, Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a dazzling and fun-filled romantic adventure for the young, and young at heart.
The famous score by eight-time Academy Award-winner Alan Menken, and his long-time collaborator, the late Howard Ashman, features classic songs like Part of Your World, Kiss the Girl and the Oscar-winning Best Original Song, Under the Sea.
The stage adaptation also includes new songs by Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater. The book for the musical is by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Doug Wright.
Director Jayme Armstrong takes the helm of this much-loved underwater fairy tale following the successful run of Disney’s Beauty and The Beast last season.
Choreographer Robin Calvert creates elegant underwater ballets and exuberant ballroom dances that perfectly capture the two worlds in the story, while music director Steve Thomas leads a superb orchestra through the memorable score.
Set designer David Boechler fashions an ambitious set that beautifully conveys the majesty of the beloved story, including everything from King Triton’s underwater palace to Prince Eric’s castle ballroom.
Costume designs by Vincent Scassellati and Kenneth Burrell ensure every character is fit for a fairy tale.
A stellar cast has been assembled for this impressive production including Jessica Gallant as the curious and willful young mermaid Ariel, who dreams of living in the human world above.
Making her Drayton Entertainment debut in this production, Gallant has played a diverse range of roles at theatres across the country from Anne in Anne of Green Gables at the Charlottetown Festival to Marty in Grease at the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres in Toronto.
Al Braatz is the sweet and dashing Prince Eric, while Kelly Holiff brings her powerful voice to the role of the tentacley-malevolent sea witch Ursula.
Both Braatz and Holiff recently appeared in the popular production Kings & Queens of Country.
Keith Savage brings his signature enthusiasm and pizzazz to the role of Ariel’s goofy seagull friend, Scuttle.
Savage is no stranger to Disney musicals having played Lumière in Beauty and the Beast last season.
Aadin Church radiates charisma as Sebastian, the crusty Caribbean crab who is constantly scurrying after Ariel to keep a watchful eye on her.
Twelve-year-old Oliver Neudorf also makes his Drayton Entertainment debut as Ariel’s best friend and faithful fishy sidekick, Flounder.
Anthony MacPherson and Brent Thiessen are Ursula’s delightfully wicked electric-eel minions Flotsam and Jetsam, with Aaron Walpole as the comedic Chef Louis. J. Sean Elliott is Prince Eric’s royal confidante Grimsby, while Kevin Aichele is the mighty King Triton, ruler of the sea-people, and Ariel’s father.
This production also features 28 young local children who perform on a rotating schedule in two groups throughout the run, alongside the professional cast.
Regular performance tickets are $46 for adults, $27 for youth under 20 years of age and $37 for groups of 20 or more and select discount dates. HST is applicable to all ticket prices.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid runs July 18 to Aug. 4 at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse.
The production will then transfer to the Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend from Aug. 9 to Sept. 2.
Tickets may be purchased in person at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, online at www.draytonentertainment.com/little-mermaid, or by calling the box office at 519-747-7788 or toll free 1-855- DRAYTON (372-9866).
