Rebecca Bolick as Ariel and Zaiah Gray as Prince Eric star in Theatre Bristol's production of "The Little Mermaid." (photo by David Grace)
Barely minutes after Theatre Bristol closed“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”on the Paramount stage,“Disney’s The Little Mermaid”began to bubble up as the next adventure. It finally makes a splash on the Paramount stage this year, upon the 35th anniversary of the timeless animated musical. Sharing the same name and inspiration from the Hans Christian Anderson tale,“Disney’s The Little Mermaid”is a rite of passage story. Growing up and seeing it at some point – or at least being familiar with the music – is also a rite of passage for non-mermaids everywhere.
Those who experienced the award-winning animated film in movie theaters are nostalgic for the rich songs, the daring love story, and beloved characters. The film is recognized as the start of the “Disney Renaissance,” with more money and resources dedicated to“The Little Mermaid”than any other Disney animated film in decades.
Its longevity also benefits from no longer waiting for favorite movies to come around once a year to be seen. The video era made it one of the top rentals, where the Academy Award for Best Original Score and Best Original Song (“Under the Sea”) could be learned and memorized. Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken, also credited with“Little Shop of Horrors,”“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin” and many other favorites, composed the score. Over the years, parents and grandparents relive the awe by introducing their children to Flounder, Sebastian, Scuttle and, of course, Ariel — and maybe a little childhood fright at Ursula.
Designed with a Broadway-style structure,“Disney’s The Little Mermaid”is like a fish to water on stage. Theatre Bristol is excited to partner with The Paramount Center for the Arts to bring generations of families together this June for a live onstage experience of“Disney’s The Little Mermaid.”
In this production, generations come together on stage too, as adults and children have been cast in the coveted roles in this magical kingdom beneath the sea. Directing the Disney favorite is Theatre Bristol veteran director, Glenn Patterson, with recent credits of the“Royal Shakespeare Company’s A Christmas Carol,” “The Sound of Music,” “Into the Woods,” “Scrooge! The Musical,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.” Patterson is a gifted director as well as actor, and a master storyteller. He is appreciated for his years of lauded work and valued mentoring at Theatre Bristol and was awarded an Arts Achievement Award this year by Arts Alliance Mountain Empire.
The production features a cast of 39 from around the region selected from more than 180 auditionees, veterans to the stage and many new faces too. “It is not often a director has the opportunity to cast a show filled with mermaids and singing/dancing sea creatures,” grins Patterson who loves a challenge.
Rebecca Bolick plays the beautiful young mermaid princess Ariel who longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. She shares with Flounder, played by Carter Bresowar, and Scuttle, played by Richard Albright, her fascination with things from where the people are.
Prince Eric, played by Zaiah Gray, longs for someone to share his love of the sea, as he sails the ocean with pilot Tony DeVault and sailors Abe Filetti, Philip Wright, Cooper Knapp, David Maloney, Eran Castonguay and his guardian Grimsby, played by Todd Peak.
When a violent storm bombards the ship, Ariel saves Prince Eric, and her voice enchants him.
Ariel, fascinated by Eric, is distracted and preoccupied, and her sisters, Hannah Stam as Aquata, Hannah Pope as Andrina, Morgan Whitaker as Arista, Nicole Intagliata as Atina, Carly Street as Adella and Alexa Henard as Allana, try to figure out why.
Sebastian the crab, played by Seth Gilstrap, is tasked with keeping track of Ariel and tries to convince her that she has everything she needs under the sea.
Under the sea are the entire sea world inhabitants as well as Blue Sea Slug Kaden Walls, Red Lionfish Sylas Lawson, Flying Fish Harper Mensch, Flying Gurnard Kate Zeiler, Seahorse Erin Solley, Cleaner Wrasse Carlie Whitaker, Angelfish Amalia Hubbard, Starfish Jayonna Green and Merman Eran Catonguay.
When Ariel’s father, King Triton played by Mike Musick and attended by Maggie Piper as Windward and Bentley Forniash as Leeward, finds out that she has saved a human, he destroys her treasures.
Ursula, played by Diane Taveau and attended by Koty Peak as Jetsam and Dani Freeman as Flotsam, plots and takes advantage of Ariel’s wish.
Ariel tries out her new feet with Scuttle and the gulls, Albright, Intagliata, Pope and Whitaker.
Her wish granted, Ariel is attended by maids at the Palace and competes for Eric’s attention with princesses, played by Elizabeth Burns, Annie Barranco, Alexys Moody, Aubrey Christie, Allyson Gutierrez and Tabetha Davis.
Hilarity ensues over dinner, of course, between main course Sebastian and Ryan Gray as Chef Louis.
Sebastian, along with pairs of otters, turtles, swans and frogs encourage Eric to “Kiss the Girl” and break the spell.
The open seas, an underwater world, a beautiful palace, original costumes and props, special effects and lighting, ballroom, samba, tap, ballet, musical theatre, jazz dance and beautiful music transform the stage and transport audiences through to the fairy tale ending.
“My vision is to bring a time-honored classic to life in a way that will do justice to this wonderful tale and offer up a few surprises along the way,” said Patterson.
To create all of this, director Patterson is supported by the creative team of choreographer and costume designer Camille Gray, scenic designer Luke Gray, lighting designer Bennett Little, props artisan Rebecca Ryan, special effects technician Albert Tester, music operator Martha Hawk, master carpenter Ken Cornett, video effect designer Jack Dunham Productions, dance captains Zaiah Gray and Cameron Roberts, stage manager Camille Gray, fly master Temmy Roberts, and assistant stage managers Ann Vance and Terra White, along with Theatre Bristol set, prop, costume and stage crew, producer Samantha Gray and the Paramount team.
“Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International, opens June 7, and runs for two weekends at The Paramount Center for the Arts, Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 5:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., closing June 16. Tickets are $16 for adults plus processing fees and $12 for seniors and students plus processing fees and are only available atwww.ParamountBristol.org.
This production is a part of Theatre Bristol’s family-friendly 59th season of ARTspace andThe Paramount Center for the Arts shows, including “Mark Twain’s The Diaries of Adam & Eve,” “Aesop’s Foibles with River’s Way,” “The Rainbow Fish,” “The Mockingbird Sings,” “Scrooge! The Musical,” “A Tuna Christmas,” PLAYtime in the ARTspace weekly and The StART of Adventure Summer Camp.
Founded in 1965 by Cathy DeCaterina, Theatre Bristol is a community theater serving all ages that also has the distinction as the oldest continually running children’s theater in Northeast Tennessee. Located on historic State Street in Bristol, Tennessee, it also serves Southwest Virginia. Its Main Stage season consists of drama, comedy and musical productions that take place in the 100-seat blackbox ARTspace and at the Paramount Center for the Arts. Theatre Bristol is a volunteer-operated community organization and welcomes new volunteers.
Children will love“Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” but all ages will enjoy time in the beautiful Paramount and this story of dreams, love, family and friendship that have delighted generations.
