The dazzling Disney musical "The Little Mermaid" is playing through October 2nd in Royal Oak, with Saturday and Sunday matinees for families. Stagecrafters members are adding their own unique twist to the timeless fairy tale. Click the video player for Ann Marie LaFlamme's interview and to hear "Ariel" sing one of her hit songs.
Show tickets are available at www.stagecrafters.org or by calling 248-541-6430.
The Broadway musical, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and book by Doug Wright is an adaptation of Disney's beloved animated feature about a mermaid princess who falls in love with a human. The story is based in the timeless fairy tale by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.
Director Matt Miga of Ferndale brings the tale to life by creating two stunning worlds, depicting life both on land and under the sea. "Our entire production team is committed to make the two locales seem different from each other, but also part of the same magical kingdom where the story takes place," says Miga. "The only clue I'll give is that we are not using roller skates or Heelys as they did in the Broadway production."
Miga credits the music for helping to recreate the large-scale Fantasy. The score includes songs such as "Under the Sea," "Kiss the Girl," plus several new ones written specifically for the stage version.
"The music director (Randall Wrisinger of Royal Oak) and choreographers (Molly Zaleski of Royal Oak and John Luther of Farmington) are working creatively to make magic happen through song and dance," says Miga.
The story unfolds in an underwater kingdom where Ariel (Kryssy Becker of Commerce Township), the restless mermaid princess, is a little too curious for her own good. Her fascination with the human culture above worries her father, Triton, King of the Sea (Patrick Kilbourn of Berkley), who charges his court composer and loveable crustacean, Sebastian (Dez Walker of Royal Oak), with keeping an eye her. Sebastian, however, is no match for Ariel's spirit of adventure.
On an excursion above the water, she spies the handsome human, Prince Eric (Zachary Coates of Detroit), and falls immediately in love. Desperate to become human and win the prince's heart, she makes a hasty deal with the unscrupulous sea witch Ursula (Linzi Thomas of Belleville). The deal strips her of her beautiful voice but gives her three days of humanity on land to win a kiss from Eric. But while Ariel and Sebastian have an adventure on land, Ursula lies in wait to ensnare Ariel in her evil plan.
OPENING NIGHT: FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 9TH
Patrons attending the Sept. 9 opening night performance are invited to participate in the complimentary pre-glow of hors d'oeuvres courtesy of Café Muse of Royal Oak. The pre-glow runs from 7:00 to 7:45 pm.
TICKETS:
Show tickets are available at www.stagecrafters.org or by calling 248-541-6430. Prices are $23 on Thursdays, $25 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. All seats are reserved and there are no refunds or exchanges on individual tickets.
If shows have not sold out, tickets can be purchased at the box office one hour prior to the performance. Student, military and senior discounts are available for specific performances. The Baldwin Theatre is located at 415 S. Lafayette in downtown Royal Oak.
Disney's The Little Mermaid is Rated G.
Show dates and times are as follows:
September 9 at 8 pm (Toast Club at 7pm)*
September 10 at 8 pm
September 11 at 2 pm
September 15 at 8 pm
September 16 at 8 pm
September 17 at 2 pm (Added matinee)
September 17 at 8 pm
September 18 at 2 pm
September 22 at 8 pm
September 23 at 8 pm
September 24 at 2 pm (Added matinee)
September 24 at 8 pm
September 25 at 2 pm
September 30 at 8 pm
October 1 at 8 pm
October 2 at 2 pm
CAST LIST BY COMMUNITY
Ursula Linzi Thomas Belleville
King Triton Patrick Kilbourn Berkley
Male Ensemble Patrick Wehner Bloomfield
Female Ensemble Kendall Doman Bloomfield Hills
Female Ensemble Rachel Latimer Clarkston
Ariel Kryssy Becker Commerce Township
Prince Eric Zachary Coates Detroit
Female Ensemble Ami McClenon Fraser
Flotsam Rachel Biber Huntington Woods
Grimsby Vince DeRita New Baltimore
Female Ensemble Regan Castle Pleasant Ridge
Male Ensemble Tim Rochon Rochester Hills
Male Ensemble Michael Champagne Royal Oak
Female Ensemble Erika Fell Royal Oak
Female Ensemble Megan Montalbano Royal Oak
Male Ensemble Tom Regan Royal Oak
Sebastian Dez Walker Royal Oak
Scuttle Jeff Weiner Royal Oak
Chef Louis/Male Ensemble Alan Semonian Southfield
Female Ensemble Emily Lourim Troy
Male Ensemble Tyler Berndt Warren
Flounder Mark Hinton Warren
Jetsam Miles Bond West Bloomfield
