The Little Mermaid (musical)

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The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid Musical Playbill.jpg
Playbill cover at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
Music Alan Menken
Lyrics Howard Ashman
Glenn Slater
Book Doug Wright
Basis The Little Mermaid
by John Musker
Ron Clements
The Little Mermaid
by Hans Christian Andersen
Productions2007 Denver (tryout)
2008 Broadway

The Little Mermaid is a stage musical produced by Disney Theatrical, based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios 1989 film The Little Mermaid and the fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen about a mermaid who dreams of the world above the sea and gives up her voice to find true love. Its book is by Doug Wright, music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman (written for the film), with additional lyrics by Glenn Slater. Its underwater setting and story about aquatic characters requires unusual technical designs and strategies to create gliding movements for the actors.

Contents

After a pre-Broadway tryout in Denver, Colorado from July to September 2007, the musical began Broadway previews on November 3, 2007, at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, replacing Disney's Beauty and the Beast . The production officially opened on January 10, 2008, and closed on August 30, 2009, after 685 performances and 50 previews. It introduced Broadway debuts by director Francesca Zambello and Sierra Boggess in the title role.

Subsequent productions have been seen in US regional theatres and internationally. A modified version of the musical with a new book and direction by Glenn Casale was developed in 2012, and this version is the basis for subsequent productions.

Development

"It [then] becomes about how does she live underwater, and how do you make that world? It's about the truthfulness to the story and that, in essence, gave me the idea to create something that was really a jewel-box – something that was very simple and in terms of the set, very translucent, takes light beautifully and [is] architectural and sculptural to suggest an underwater world without actually being in real water or having people swimming.'" [1]
— Francesca Zambello, director

Disney Theatrical had success with stage adaptations of its animated musical films Beauty and the Beast in 1994 and The Lion King in 1997. Thomas Schumacher, head of Disney Theatrical, proposed another adaptation, this time of the 1989 film The Little Mermaid , approaching songwriter Alan Menken, who had composed the music for the film, to be part of the production team. [1] Schumacher initially brought on director/choreographer Matthew Bourne to helm the musical, but Bourne left when their visions on the project differed. [2] Schumacher then approached Francesca Zambello, telling her that "We haven't found a way to do the water". Zambello's experience with the fantasy elements of opera made her open to the project, and the decision was made that there would be no water, wires or flying in the production. [2] Playwright Doug Wright was brought on as book writer, focusing the story line on Ariel's longing not for her prince, but for "a world in which she feels truly realized in her own terms. ... Her ambitions are bigger than any one man." [2] For the songs, Menken brought on lyricist Glenn Slater, whom he'd worked with on Home on the Range , and together they wrote ten new songs for the stage musical, adding '60s rock, vaudeville and 1920s Brechtian cabaret to the sound of the show. [2]

In creating the underwater world on stage, director Zambello asked her design team to use translucent materials to create abstract shapes and manipulate light to give the watery illusion. [3] The design team consisted of George Tsypin for sets, Natasha Katz for lighting, and Tatiana Noginova for costumes – all three of whom had previously worked with Zambello. [2] For the performers' movements, choreographer Stephen Mear had the actors wear Heelys wheeled footwear, dubbed "merblades", while tails on sprung-steel rods, designed by Michael Curry, were attached to their hips. [4] Sierra Boggess, who originated the role of Ariel, was an ice-skater and had no trouble with the Heelys, but the rest of the cast took some getting used to the footwear. [2] Ariel's tail originally had a motor inside that allowed the fluke to move independently, but the mechanics made the tail heavy and loud and were removed. [2]

Rehearsals for the Broadway production began on May 29, 2007, at the New 42nd Street Studios in New York. The cast had six weeks of rehearsals before the pre-Broadway tryout. [2]

Reimagining

After the Broadway production underperformed at the box office and closed in 2009, director Glenn Casale was brought on to reinvent the musical for the 2012 Dutch production. He made changes to the score and book, adding the new song "Daddy's Little Angel" to replace "I Want the Good Times Back" (which gives Ursula and Triton a new backstory), and replacing the Heelys worn by the actors to introduce aerial effects and flying harnesses to create the illusion of being underwater. [5] The new stage design was made by Bob Crowley, with the world above water made to look like a pop-up book, using cardboard waves and rocks. The character of Carlotta was entirely omitted in this version, leaving Grimsby with her lines, and Flounder was a teenager. [6] [7] Following the success of the Dutch production, Casale then worked with California Musical Theatre to present a regional production of the musical in the round. [5] The various changes introduced by Casale in these productions have been incorporated into the official version of the show that Disney Theatrical currently licenses for regional and professional productions. [5]

Productions

Denver tryout (2007)

The Little Mermaid had a pre-Broadway tryout at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts' Ellie Caulkins Opera House from July 26, 2007, through September 9, 2007. Every seat available (approximately 95,000 seats) for the 6-week run was sold out. [8]

Broadway (2008–2009)

The musical began previews on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 3, 2007, and was temporarily shut down on November 10, 2007, due to the 2007 Broadway stagehand strike. [9] The strike ended on November 28, 2007, and the show resumed previews the next day. [10] The official opening date was postponed from December 6, 2007, to January 10, 2008. [11] Jodi Benson and Pat Carroll, who starred in the 1989 animated film as Ariel and Ursula, respectively, attended the opening night ceremony. [12]

Direction was by Francesca Zambello, making her Broadway debut, with choreography by Stephen Mear. Scenic design was by George Tsypin, costumes by Tatiana Noginova, lighting by Natasha Katz and projections by Sven Ortel. The original cast featured newcomer Sierra Boggess in the title role of Ariel, Sean Palmer as Prince Eric, Brian D'Addario and Trevor Braun alternated as Flounder, Norm Lewis as King Triton, Sherie Rene Scott as Ursula, Tituss Burgess as Sebastian, Tyler Maynard as Flotsam, Derrick Baskin as Jetsam, Jonathan Freeman as Grimsby, and John Treacy Egan as Chef Louis. Notable replacements included Faith Prince as Ursula and Drew Seeley as Prince Eric. The production closed on August 30, 2009, after 50 previews and 685 performances. [13] Thomas Schumacher, producer and president of Disney Theatrical Productions said, "it would be fiscally irresponsible to our shareholders to risk operating losses with such a big show in the historically challenging fall months. We are closing the Broadway production to concentrate on the long future life of this title." [14]

Regional US and Canada productions

Regional US productions include the Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Ivins, Utah (2011, 2014, 2019); [15] The Muny, St. Louis, Missouri (2011, 2017); [16] [17] the California Musical Theatre, Sacramento (2012); [5] the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey (2013), [18] [19] the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota (2014), [20] the Music Hall at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas (2014), [21] and the White Plains Performing Arts Center, New York (2014). [22] There have also been limited tours of regional productions, such as a 2015 tour by Theatre Under the Stars, [23] and a 2016 tour which launched at the 5th Avenue Theatre on November 23, 2016, and made stops in Orlando, Cincinnati, Atlanta and Louisville, among other cities. [24] A production at California Musical Theatre in Sacramento, directed by Casale, was performed in the round. [5]

The first Canadian production opened on August 13, 2014, and ran until August 29, 2014, at Rainbow Stage, Winnipeg, MB. Colleen Furlan starred as Ariel along with Marc Devigne as Prince Eric and Jennifer Lyon as Ursula. The production was directed by Ann Hodges, choreographed by Linda Garneau and the music director was Elizabeth Baird. The costumes used were made for this original cast by Kansas City Costumes. [25] Another Canadian production opened on November 19, 2014, at the Dunfield Theatre in Cambridge, Ontario, where it ran until December 21, 2014. [26]

International productions

Israel (2010–2011)

A Hebrew production ran in Tel Aviv and other cities in Israel during the 2010/2011 season, directed by Moshe Kaftan and starring Rinat Gabay as Ariel and Guy Zu-Aretz as Prince Eric. [27]

Philippines (2011)

Atlantis Productions staged its own version on the show at the Meralco Theater in Manila, where it ran from November 18, 2011, to December 11, 2011, with Rachelle Ann Go as Ariel and Erik Santos as Prince Eric. The production incorporated Asian elements into its costume design by Eric Pineda. A majority of the cast members played as puppeteer-actors, who controlled wayang or shadow puppets, bunraku or traditional Japanese puppets, and nang kaloung or Cambodian puppets during certain parts of the show. [28]

The Netherlands (2012–2013)

The Dutch version, produced by Stage Entertainment, officially opened on June 16, 2012, at the Nieuwe Luxor Theater in Rotterdam and after touring The Netherlands, it performed a whole season at the Beatrix Theater in Utrecht, from September 5, 2012, to July 7, 2013, playing more than 400 performances. [29] [30] This was the first revised production, directed by Glen Casale and featuring new set design by Bob Crowley. [31] The new song "Daddy's Little Angel" was added and the set design was changed to include flying harnesses and aerial effects to create the underwater illusion, while the world above was depicted with a storybook design. Casale's changes to the production have since been incorporated into the official licensed version of the musical. [5]

Russia (2012–2014)

In Russia The Little Mermaid opened on October 8, 2012, at the Rossiya Theatre in Moscow, using the Dutch designs and directions by Bob Crowley and Glenn Casale, respectively. Produced by Stage Entertainment, the show took its final curtain call on April 13, 2014, after 502 performances and having been seen by more than 700.000 people. This production won two Golden Mask National Theatre Awards, for Best Production for an Operetta/Musical and Best Actress for Manana Gogitidze's portrayal of Ursula. [32] [33]

Japan (2013–2023)

A Japanese production ran in Tokyo from April 7, 2013, to April 9, 2017, with the designs and directions used in the Dutch production by Bob Crowley and Glenn Casale, respectively. A live album recording with the original cast was released in 2013. [34] [35] After closing in Tokyo, the show was transferred to Fukuoka from August 11, 2017, to November 4, 2018, and Sapporo from December 22, 2018, to February 26, 2020. The final performance in Sapporo was initially expected to take place on March 15, 2020, but it was moved forward due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [36] [37]

Concurrently, a second production ran in Nagoya from October 15, 2016, to August 26, 2018. [38] After closing in Nagoya, the show was transferred to Osaka from October 13, 2018, to November 21, 2021, [39] Shizuoka from April 2 to May 29, 2022, [40] Hiroshima from July 11 to October 10, 2022, Sendai from November 26, 2022, to March 12, 2023, and Sapporo from May 28 to November 26, 2023.

Denmark (2014)

After its successful production of Aladdin during the 2012/2013 season, the Fredericia Teater teamed up once again with Disney Theatrical to stage a local version of The Little Mermaid in Denmark, where it ran from July 17 to August 17, 2014, at the Copenhagen Opera House, and from August 28 to October 26, 2014, at the Fredericia Teater. [41]

Belgium (2017–2018)

A Dutch-language production directed by Frank Van Laecke ran at the Flanders Expo in Ghent from a December 13, 2017, to January 7, 2018. After closing in Ghent, the show was transferred to Ethias Arena in Hasselt from April 13–15, 2018. [42] [43] [44]

Brazil (2018–2022)

The first Latin American production opened on March 30, 2018, at the Teatro Santander in São Paulo, produced by IMM and EGG Entretenimento, and closed on July 29, 2018. [45]

A second production premiered at Teatro Santander on July 17, 2022, using the same sets and costumes, besides retaining most of the 2018 cast. The new production was acclaimed for having Gabriel Vicente as the first black actor to play Prince Eric in Brazil. [46]

Finland (2019–)

In Finland The Little Mermaid premiered on August 29, 2019, at the Helsinki City Theatre, under the direction of Samuel Harjanne. [47] The show was well received, but it was forced to close on March 12, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The production reopened on August 17, 2023. [48]

Synopsis of the Broadway Production

Act I

Sierra Boggess as Ariel in "Part of Your World" Ariel-SierraBoggess.jpg
Sierra Boggess as Ariel in "Part of Your World"

Prince Eric, his nautical expert pilot and adviser, Grimsby, and sailors are aboard a ship at sea, discussing the "mythical" merfolk that supposedly live under the sea. Grimsby wants Eric to return to court to fulfill his birthright as king. However, Eric hears a beautiful voice and commands it to be followed ("Fathoms Below").

Deep on the ocean floor in the merfolk kingdom, a concert in honor of a thwarted coup d'état by the sea witch Ursula is underway, being performed by the daughters of King Triton, the ruler of the sea. King Triton's court composer, Sebastian the crab, has composed a song for the girls to perform ("Daughters of Triton"). However, the youngest daughter, Ariel, is not there for her solo, bringing the concert to a halt. Ariel has forgotten about the concert and is swimming around the surface, admiring a new item for her collection, a fork. She reveals that she is fascinated with the human world ("The World Above"). Together with her best friend Flounder, Ariel visits Scuttle and his fellow seagulls to ask about the human things she's collected, and he explains them somewhat erroneously ("Human Stuff").

Elsewhere, Ursula is seeking revenge against her brother, King Triton. She was banished from the palace for using black magic, and tells her minions Flotsam and Jetsam to keep an eye on Ariel, whom she thinks will be the key to getting the crown and trident ("I Want the Good Times Back").

When Ariel returns home, King Triton is angered to learn that she has been on the surface and reprimands her: King Triton is xenophobic towards humans, believing them to be nothing but savage fish-eaters. Ariel rushes off distraught, and King Triton assigns Sebastian to watch over Ariel to make sure she doesn't get into trouble. Ariel sits alone in her grotto, which contains her collection of human things, and imagines living in the human world ("Part of Your World"). Ariel and Flounder meet Scuttle at the surface to see Prince Eric's ship up close. On board, Grimsby tells Eric that he must find a bride and take his place as king. A storm suddenly hits, and Eric is tossed overboard. Ariel saves him from drowning and drags him to shore. She realizes that she is falling in love with him, and vows to find a way to be with him ("Part of Your World (Reprise)").

After Ariel returns home, her behavior makes her sisters and Flounder suspect that she has fallen in love ("She's in Love"). On land, Eric is determined to find the woman who saved his life, but the only clue he has is ("Her Voice"). Sebastian reveals to King Triton that Ariel has saved a human. Triton angrily confronts her about it ("The World Above (Reprise)"), uncovers her grotto and uses his trident to destroy Ariel's human collection. After the king leaves, Sebastian tries to comfort Ariel by pointing out the wonders of the undersea world ("Under the Sea"), but she is disappointed with him for reporting to her father and sneaks off with Flounder during the song. Once she is away, she is stopped by Flotsam and Jetsam, who sweet talk her into seeking help from Ursula ("Sweet Child").

Ariel goes to meet Ursula, who presents a deal: Ariel will be turned into a human for three days, during which she has to win the kiss of true love from Eric. If she does, she will be human permanently; if not, her soul will belong to Ursula. In exchange, Ariel must give up her voice, which will stay in Ursula's magic nautilus shell ("Poor Unfortunate Souls"). Ariel signs the agreement and sings into the shell, after which she is transformed into a human and swims up to the surface.

Act II

Sebastian and Flounder bring Ariel, newly human, to shore. Scuttle and the seagulls give her a pep talk to raise her spirits and help her get used to her new legs ("Positoovity"). Eric arrives, but when Ariel tries to talk to him, she cannot speak. Eric brings Ariel back to his palace, where Carlotta, the head mistress, and the maids bathe and dress Ariel. Ariel is fascinated by the human world, while the maids wonder why Eric has brought such a girl to the palace ("Beyond My Wildest Dreams"). That night Chef Louis cooks dinner for Ariel, Grimsby, and Eric, and almost cooks Sebastian for the grand finale ("Les Poissons"/"Les Poissons (Reprise)").

Eric and Ariel spend time together, during which Eric teaches her to dance ("One Step Closer"). Meanwhile, Ursula is anxiously waiting for the three days to end and sends Flotsam and Jetsam to hurry things along ("I Want the Good Times Back (Reprise)"). After a tour of the kingdom, Eric takes Ariel on a quiet boat ride through a lagoon. Sebastian and Scuttle watch anxiously and try to create a romantic atmosphere for Eric to kiss Ariel ("Kiss the Girl"). As they are about to kiss, Flotsam and Jetsam give the boat an "electric shock", scare the animals away, and swim away gloating ("Sweet Child (Reprise)"). As the second day ends, Ariel wishes she had more time and could tell Eric everything, Triton worries about where his daughter has gone and vows to change if she were to return, Sebastian is concerned that Ariel's time as a human is almost up, and Eric still dreams of finding the girl who saved him even though he does not want to lose Ariel ("If Only (Quartet)"). Sebastian returns to the sea and tells an angry King Triton about Ariel's deal with Ursula.

On Ariel's last day as a human, Grimsby has arranged a contest for all foreign princesses to sing for Eric, so he may choose one for his bride ("The Contest"). Eric isn't interested in any of them, and Ariel asks to participate, dancing for him. Eric picks her, but before they can embrace, Ursula appears, declaring that the sun has set and Ariel now belongs to her. Flotsam and Jetsam grab Ariel to take her back to the sea. King Triton arrives to confront his sister, agreeing to take Ariel's place. Ursula claims the trident and declares herself queen ("Poor Unfortunate Souls (Reprise)"). She banishes Triton with a wave of the trident. During a battle with Eric's ship, Ariel grabs Ursula's nautilus shell and regains her voice (which causes a horrified Flotsam and Jetsam to swim away). Ursula begs Ariel to return the shell to her, as her power is contained within it, and even tries to sweet-talk her into doing so, saying she can turn her human again and reunite her with her prince. Ariel is torn, but ultimately destroys the shell just in time, which destroys Ursula and restores King Triton to his throne and daughter.

Eric and Ariel are reunited on the beach, and Eric asks King Triton for his blessing to marry Ariel. King Triton says that it is Ariel's place to answer, and she accepts Eric's proposal. King Triton then says goodbye to his daughter ("If Only (Reprise)"). In honor of his daughter, Triton declares peace between the humans and merfolk. Ariel and Eric are married and sail away on a ship ("Finale").

Changes from the 1989 film

In adapting the film into a live stage musical, the following significant changes are made:

Musical numbers

Original Broadway Production. Lyrics are by Glenn Slater, except as noted:

* Lyrics by Howard Ashman

† Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater

The songs "Where I Belong" (Eric) and Ursula's reprise of "Her Voice" were cut, and the "Finale" was re-worked after the Denver tryout. It included a short reprise of "Fathoms Below". Also, the duet between Ariel and Eric was originally a bit longer with a poetic device about him being her land and her being his sea. Three other songs were cut from the show before the tryout but were available on the leaked demo tape. These included Ursula's "Wasting Away", "All Good Things Must End", and an alternate version of "Poor Unfortunate Souls (Reprise)".

In the Dutch production reinvented by Glenn Casale, a new song called "Daddy's Little Angel" replaced "I Want the Good Times Back", while "Human Stuff" and "Sweet Child (Reprise)" were cut. Ariel sang a reprise of "If Only" after the grotto destruction and the songlist order was substantially altered. [5] [53]

The official version currently licensed for regional and professional productions incorporates more changes in the songlist order and adds a new reprise of "If Only" in which Triton laments over the loss of his wife. Another difference in this version is the entire omission of the song "The World Above (Reprise)". [5] [54]

Roles and casts

CharacterOriginal Broadway CastCharacter DescriptionVoice typeOther notable stage performers in noteworthy productions
Ariel Sierra Boggess She dreams of life on land instead of "under the sea". She is the youngest daughter of King Triton, and the apparent niece of Ursula. Mezzo-soprano Patti Murin, Rachelle Ann Go, Desi Oakley, Kerry Butler, Emma Degerstedt, Sara Bareilles, Jodi Benson, Lea Michele, Auliʻi Cravalho
Ursula Sherie Rene Scott She tricks Ariel into trading her voice for a pair of human legs in order to hopefully win Prince Eric's heart, only to attempt to take advantage of Ariel's naivety. She is the apparent sister of King Triton, and aunt of Ariel. Alto Faith Prince, Heidi Blickenstaff, Vicki Lewis, Emily Skinner, Rebel Wilson
Prince Eric Sean Palmer He is destined to recover the girl that saved him from drowning, ignorant to the fact that it is Ariel, with whom he eventually falls in love. Tenor Drew Seeley, Gavin Creel, Guy Zu-Aretz, Erik Santos, Eric Kunze, Nick Adams, Darren Criss
King Triton Norm Lewis The strict but caring father of Ariel, and ruler over Atlantica. He originally hates humans, due to the loss of his wife, causing him to commonly reprimand Ariel for her constant human explorations, but eventually realizes it is best to let her follow her dreams. He is the apparent brother of Ursula. Baritone Jerry Dixon, Jeff McCarthy, Steve Blanchard, Terrence Mann, Peter Gallagher, Ken Page
Sebastian Tituss Burgess Ariel's musical and practical guardian, Triton's faithful servant, and court composer. He serves as the musical's primary comic relief, and reluctantly assists Ariel in her efforts to charm Prince Eric. Tenor Francis Jue, James T. Lane, Ken Page, Derrick Baskin
Scuttle Eddie Korbich He believes he is an expert on human artifacts, although he is mainly incorrect, and is often consulted by Ariel for information on her discovered "treasures". He also serves as a comic relief, alongside Sebastian. Tenor Lara Teeter, Tim Federle
Grimsby Jonathan Freeman Prince Eric's faithful servant and friend. Seemingly a close friend of Eric's late father, Grimsby's main initiative is to ensure that Eric marries a princess to maintain his promise to the deceased king. He realizes Ariel is a princess, and is more than happy to let them wed. Baritone
Flotsam Tyler Maynard One of Ursula's sly and slippery henchmen. Tenor
Jetsam Derrick Baskin Another one of Ursula's cunning henchmen. Baritone Tim Federle
Flounder Trevor Braun,
Brian D'Addario,
Cody Hanford,
J.J. Singleton †		Ariel's loyal companion. He often accompanies Ariel on her excursions in search of human artifacts. Boy soprano/Tenor Henry Hodges, Joshua Colley
Chef Louis John Treacy Egan The castle chef, who tries to capture Sebastian and cook him for dinner. He also serves as comic relief. Tenor Jimmy Smagula, Lee Roy Reams, Frank Vlastnik, John Stamos, Cheech Marin

† Hanford and Singleton were cast as Flounder but had to leave the show shortly after opening because they had grown taller than Boggess. Braun and D'Addario replaced them. D'Addario was the vocalist on the original cast recording and performed on the show's opening night.

Original Broadway cast recording

Disney's The Little Mermaid: Original Broadway Cast Recording is the cast album for the 2008 musical. It was released on February 26, 2008, by Walt Disney Records, produced by Alan Menken and features performances from the show's cast, which includes Boggess, Burgess, Scott, Lewis and Korbich. The recording contains twenty-nine songs from the musical. It was nominated for a Grammy Award. [55] It ranked No. 26 when it entered the Billboard 200 albums chart in March 2008, the second highest position for a cast album in 25 years (after Rent ). [56]

All music is composed by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater

Disney's The Little Mermaid: Original Broadway Cast Recording [57]
No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."Overture"Alan Menken2:52
2."Fathoms Below"Sean Palmer, Jonathan Freeman, Ensemble2:34
3."Daughters of Triton"Kay Trinidad, Chelsea Morgan Stock, Cathryn Basile, Zakiya Young Mizen, Michelle Loucadoux, Cicily Daniels, Tituss Burgess1:19
4."The World Above"Sierra Boggess1:34
5."Human Stuff"Eddie Korbich, Tituss Burgess, Ensemble2:31
6."I Want the Good Times Back"Sherie René Scott*, Tyler Maynard, Derrick Baskin4:57
7."Part of Your World"Sierra Boggess3:24
8."Storm at Sea"Alan Menken2:00
9."Part of Your World (Reprise)"Sierra Boggess, Eddie Korbich2:02
10."She's in Love"Brian D'Addario, Kay Trinidad, Cicily Daniels, Michelle Loucadoux, Zakiya Young Mizen, Chelsea Morgan Stock3:39
11."Her Voice"Sean Palmer3:15
12."The World Above (Reprise)"Norm Lewis & Sierra Boggess1:17
13."Under the Sea"Tituss Burgess, Ensemble4:06
14."Under the Sea (Reprise)"Tituss Burgess, Ensemble1:14
15."Sweet Child"Tyler Maynard, Derrick Baskin, Sierra Boggess1:53
16."Poor Unfortunate Souls"Sherie René Scott, Sierra Boggess5:20
17."Positoovity"Eddie Korbich, Ensemble4:04
18."Beyond My Wildest Dreams"Sierra Boggess, Heidi Blickenstaff, Ensemble3:03
19."Les Poissons"John Treacy Egan1:54
20."Les Poissons (Reprise)"John Treacy Egan, Ensemble1:56
21."One Step Closer"Sean Palmer4:22
22."I Want the Good Times Back (Reprise)"Sherie René Scott, Tyler Maynard, Derrick Baskin1:38
23."Kiss the Girl"Tituss Burgess, Eddie Korbich, Sean Palmer, Ensemble3:10
24."Sweet Child (Reprise)"Tyler Maynard, Derrick Baskin1:12
25."If Only (Quartet)"Sierra Boggess, Sean Palmer, Tituss Burgess, Norm Lewis4:55
26."The Contest"Jonathan Freeman, Ensemble1:33
27."Poor Unfortunate Souls (Reprise)"Norm Lewis, Sherie René Scott1:51
28."If Only (Reprise)"Sierra Boggess, Norm Lewis1:45
29."Finale Ultimo"Sean Palmer, Sierra Boggess, Company2:33

Response

Audience response of the targeted family demographic to the musical has been generally positive. [58] Critics gave the show a mixed response, with some praising it, [59] and some calling it "less than witty" [60] and "bloated". [61] Ben Brantley of the New York Times was especially critical, saying that the "charm-free" musical is "stripped of the movie’s generation-crossing appeal. Coherence of plot, endearing quirks of character, even the melodious wit of the original score (supplemented by new, substandard songs...) have been swallowed by an unfocused spectacle." [62] Time Magazine , however, commented, "It was one of the most ravishing things I have ever seen on a Broadway stage." [63]

Awards and nominations

YearAward CeremonyCategoryNomineeResult
2008 Tony Awards [64] Best Original Score Alan Menken (music), Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater (lyrics)Nominated
Best Lighting Design of a Musical Natasha Katz Nominated
Drama Desk Awards [65] Outstanding Actress in a Musical Sierra Boggess Nominated
Outstanding Set Design George Tsypin Nominated
Outstanding Lighting Design Natasha Katz Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards [66] Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Sherie Rene Scott Nominated
Drama League Award [67] Distinguished Performance Award Sierra Boggess Nominated
Grammy Awards [55] Best Musical Show Album Nominated

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Ursula is a fictional character who appears in Walt Disney Pictures' animated film The Little Mermaid (1989). Voiced by actress Pat Carroll, Ursula is a villainous Cecaelian sea witch who offers a mermaid princess named Ariel a temporary opportunity to become human so that she may earn the love of Prince Eric within three days. However, Ursula is, in fact, determined to sabotage Ariel's chances so that she can ultimately usurp King Triton's position as ruler of the oceans.

Ariel (<i>The Little Mermaid</i>) Fictional character from Disneys 1989 animated film The Little Mermaid

Ariel is a fictional character in Walt Disney Pictures' animated film The Little Mermaid (1989). Ariel is voiced by Jodi Benson in all official animated appearances. Ariel is the youngest daughter of King Triton and Queen Athena of an underwater kingdom of merfolk called Atlantica. She is often rebellious, and in the first film, she longs to be a part of the human world. She marries Prince Eric, whom she rescued from a shipwreck, and together they have a daughter, Melody. She is the fourth Disney Princess and also the first Disney Princess to be developed during the Disney Renaissance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Under the Sea</span> 1989 song

"Under the Sea" is a song from Disney's 1989 animated film The Little Mermaid, composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman. It is influenced by the calypso style of the Caribbean which originated in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as reggae, which originated in Jamaica. The song was performed in the film by Samuel E. Wright. The track won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1989, the first for a Disney film since "Chim Chim Cher-ee" from Mary Poppins in 1964. Additionally, the song won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media in 1991.

Emily Skinner, also known as Emily Scott Skinner, is a Tony-nominated American actress and singer. She has played leading roles in 11 Broadway productions including New York, New York, Prince of Broadway, The Cher Show, Side Show, Jekyll & Hyde, James Joyce's The Dead, The Full Monty, Dinner at Eight, Billy Elliot, as well as the Actor's Fund Broadway concerts of Dreamgirls and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. She has sung on concert stages around the world and on numerous recordings.

"Part of Your World" is a song written by lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken for Disney's animated feature film The Little Mermaid (1989). Performed by American actress and singer Jodi Benson in the titular role as Ariel, a mermaid princess, "Part of Your World" is a power ballad in which the main character expresses her strong desire to become human; its lyrics use placeholder names in lieu of several human-related terms that would be unfamiliar to a mermaid. The film's theme song is later reprised by Ariel after she rescues Eric, a human prince with whom she has fallen in love, from drowning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norm Lewis</span> American actor, singer (born 1963)

Norm Lewis is an American actor and baritone singer. He has appeared on Broadway, in the West End, film, television, recordings and regional theatre. He’s also noted for his wide vocal range. Lewis was the second African-American actor after Robert Guillaume to perform in the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera and the first one to do so in the Broadway production. In 2023, he reprised the role in the show's sequel, Love Never Dies, in London's West End.

<i>The Little Mermaid</i> (1989 soundtrack) 1989 soundtrack album by Various Artists

The Little Mermaid: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack to the 1989 Disney animated feature film, The Little Mermaid. It contains the songs from the film written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, as well as the film's score composed by Alan Menken. The score was orchestrated by Thomas Pasatieri. The album has achieved multi-platinum sales and won the Grammy Award for Best Recording for Children. The album includes recordings of the music that won the Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television, the Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score.

<i>The Little Mermaid: Ariels Beginning</i> 2008 animated film

The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning is a 2008 animated direct-to-video musical fantasy comedy-drama adventure film produced by Disneytoon Studios, with the animation production being done by Toon City Animation, Inc. and DisneyToon Studios Australia This film is the prequel to Disney's 1989 animated feature film The Little Mermaid, the third installment in The Little Mermaid trilogy, and the last direct-to-video sequel after John Lasseter took over as chairman for the Disney Animation Division. It is also the first in the chronology of the story running through the series and it is based on the fairy tale The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen and The Little Mermaid animated television series which ran for three seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure</span> Dark ride attraction

The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure is a ride attraction based on the 1989 Disney animated film The Little Mermaid, located in Paradise Gardens Park at Disney California Adventure and in Fantasyland at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom Park, where it is titled Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid. The ride opened on June 3, 2011 at Disney California Adventure, and on December 6, 2012 at Magic Kingdom.

<i>The Little Mermaid</i> (franchise) Disney media franchise

The Little Mermaid is an American media franchise created by The Walt Disney Company and it is based on The Little Mermaid created and written by Danish poet Hans Christian Andersen. The success of the 1989 animated film of the same name led to a direct-to-video sequel, a prequel film, a spin-off television series, a musical, several video games, theme park attractions, and other merchandise. A live action remake of the film was released in 2023. The Little Mermaid paved the way for what would become the Disney Renaissance, with the original film becoming the first film of that era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voyage of the Little Mermaid</span> Defunct live show at Disneys Hollywood Studios

Voyage of the Little Mermaid was a live show attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The show was an abridgment of the 1989 film The Little Mermaid. Along with a mix of live actors and puppets, the show featured effects such as light and laser projections on the auditorium walls and light rain over the audience. Voice actors included Pat Carroll as Ursula, Jess Harnell as Sebastian, Corey Burton as King Triton, Edan Gross as Flounder, Paddi Edwards as Flotsam and Jetsam, and Frank Welker as Max the Sheepdog. Wright, Carroll, Mars, Edwards, and Welker reprised their roles from the original film. The show replaced the previous attraction, Here Come The Muppets, on January 7, 1992, in the Animation Courtyard Theater.

"Fathoms Below" is the opening song from the 1989 animated Disney feature film The Little Mermaid. A rousing sea shanty written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, the song is sung by the ship's crew on the film's original soundtrack. An extended version with additional lyrics by Glenn Slater appears in the 2008 stage adaptation of the musical.

The Little Mermaid Jr. is a stage musical produced by Disney Theatrical, based on the animated 1989 Disney film of the same name and the classic story of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen about a mermaid who dreams of the world above the sea and gives up her voice to find love. Its book is by Doug Wright, music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman, with additional lyrics by Glenn Slater. The Little Mermaid Jr. first became available to license by the company Music Theater International and Disney Theatrical Productions.

<i>The Little Mermaid Live!</i> American TV series or program

The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live!, or simply The Little Mermaid Live! is a musical television special created for ABC, based on Disney's 1989 animated feature film The Little Mermaid. It is produced by Done and Dusted and directed by Hamish Hamilton, who also executive produced alongside Katy Mullan, David Jammy, Raj Kapoor, Ian Stewart, and Richard Kraft, with the original voice of Ariel, Jodi Benson, introducing the special.

<i>The Little Mermaid</i> (2023 film) Disney live-action film

The Little Mermaid is a 2023 American musical romantic fantasy film directed by Rob Marshall from a screenplay by David Magee. Co-produced by Walt Disney Pictures, DeLuca Marshall, and Marc Platt Productions, it is a live-action adaptation of Disney's 1989 animated film of the same name, which itself is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 fairy tale. The film stars Halle Bailey as the title character, with Jonah Hauer-King, Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, Noma Dumezweni, Art Malik, Javier Bardem, and Melissa McCarthy in supporting roles. The plot follows the mermaid princess Ariel, who is fascinated with the human world; after saving Prince Eric from a shipwreck, she makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula to walk on land.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Lassell, Michael (2009). The Little Mermaid: A Broadway Musical – From the Deep Blue Sea to the Great White Way. Disney Editions New York. ISBN   978-1-4231-1272-3.
  3. ↑ Lunden, Jeff (January 11, 2008). "'The Little Mermaid,' Heeling Hard to Broadway Port". Playbill.com. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
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  18. ↑ 12–13 Season Archived 2012-03-02 at the Wayback Machine
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  51. ↑ In the junior version developed for high school productions, she is no longer Triton's sister, though she did try to stage a coup against him and is also responsible for the death of Ariel's mother; similarly, she also grows to monstrous proportions as in the film.
  52. ↑ This is all told in the new song "Daddy's Little Angel"
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