Overview
Synopsis
Beautiful mermaid Ariel should be a happy girl -- she lives in an enchanted undersea country, her father is a King, and she has the most beautiful singing voice. But she is a passionate, headstrong teenager, and wants what she cannot have -- to live on land. When she falls in love with a handsome human prince, Ariel is more determined than ever to gain a pair of legs. But her only option is to defy her furious father, and bargain with Ursula the Sea Witch, giving her voice as the price of entry onto dry land. With the help of Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull, and officious court composer Sebastian the crab, Ariel must wordlessly gain Prince Eric's love within three days -- or lose her soul to the ambitious witch! Based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, and the wildly popular Disney film, this musical staging of The Little Mermaid features a funny and fanciful book by Doug Wright, with the beloved score by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, and Glenn Slater in an expanded but completely faithful form, featuring the rambunctious and persuasive “Under the Sea,” the romantic expectation of “Kiss the Girl,” and that anthem to longing and belonging, “Part of Your World.”
Show Information
- Book
- Doug Wright
- Music
- Alan Menken
- Lyrics
- Howard Ashman , Glenn Slater
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Disney's The Little Mermaid animated film
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2007
- Genres
- Romance, Fairy Tale/Fantasy
- Settings
- Period, Fantasy/Imaginary, Multiple Settings, Spectacle
- Time & Place
- once upon a time, an undersea kingdom, a kingdom above the sea
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Late Teen, Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Child, Early Teen Characters
Context
Disney’s The Little Mermaid premiered on Broadway on January 10, 2008, at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, after previews in November of 2007. The original movie score, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman, was present, along with additional lyrics by Glenn Slater and a new book by Doug Wright. This production featured Sierra Boggess in the title role, with Sean Palmer as Prince Eric, Tituss Burgess as Sebastian, and Sherie Rene Scott as Ursula. This production closed on August
to read the context for Disney's The Little Mermaid and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
A placid ocean surface, broken by a rock or two, is disturbed by the sudden entrance of Ariel, a beautiful young mermaid, who breaks through the waves, triumphantly gazing around at the world above the water. She sings of her excitement, and the feelings of home which the world above the water inspire (“The World Above”). Her reverie is broken by a distant shout, and Ariel hides behind a rock, watching as a gigantic ship sails into view. The pilot and crew are joined on deck by
to read the plot for Disney's The Little Mermaid and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Treble/Boy Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone |
Songs
Act I
- The World Above - Ariel
- Fathoms Below - Eric, Grimsby, Pilot, Sailors
- Daughters of Triton - Mersisters
- If Only (Triton’s Lament) - Triton
- Daddy’s Little Angel - Ursula, Flotsam, Jetsam
- Part of Your World - Ariel
- Part of Your World (Reprise) - Ariel
- *She’s in Love - Mersisters, Flounder
- Her Voice - Eric
- *Under the Sea - Sebastian, Sea Creatures
- If Only (Ariel’s Lament) - Ariel
- Sweet Child - Flotsam, Jetsam
- Poor Unfortunate Souls - Ursula
Act II
- *Positoovity - Scuttle, Seagulls
- Beyond My Wildest Dreams - Ariel, Grimsby, Maids
- Les Poissons - Chef Louis
- Les Poissons (Reprise) - Chef Louis
- *One Step Closer - Eric, *Ariel
- Daddy’s Little Angel (Reprise) - Ursula
- *Kiss the Girl - Sebastian, Animals
- If Only (Quartet) - Ariel, Eric, Sebastian, Triton
- The Contest - Grimsby, Princesses
- Poor Unfortunate Souls (Reprise) - Ursula
- Finale - Ariel, Triton, Eric, Ensemble
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A play, musical, or opera that has been adapted from a written work.
A song that uses short stanzas to tell a story about love.
The sequence of steps and movements in dance, also the orchestrated and rehearsed movements for actors, based on the script.
A fictional story of the fantasy genre – idealised, romantic, and magical.
A type of song, usually early in the musical, in which the protagonist expresses their desires. The "I Want" song establishes the character's objectives.
A production designed especially to show off the talents of a particular performer.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Guide Written By:
