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
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- Genres
- Fairy Tale/Fantasy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Once Upon A Time, An Undersea Kingdom, A Kingdom Above The Sea
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Recording
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Elementary School, Ensemble Cast, Middle School, Large Cast, Regional Theatre, Theatre For Young Audiences (TYA), Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Early Teen, Child, Late 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
to read the context for Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
A placid ocean surface, broken by a rock or two, is disturbed by the sudden entrance of a gigantic ship as it sails into view. The pilot and crew are joined on deck by Eric, a royal prince dressed as a simple sailor, who speaks of his love for the sea as Grimsby, his proper British guardian, is politely seasick over the side of the ship (“Fathoms Below”). Grimsby urges Eric to abandon his sailing plans, return to land, and take up his father’s crown, while Eric ignores him, desiring to remain
to read the plot for Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Alto, Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Alto, Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Alto, Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Countertenor, Tenor, Baritone |
Songs
- Fathoms Below - Eric, Grimsby, Pilot, Sailors
- Daughters of Triton - Mersisters
- Human Stuff - Scuttle, Seagulls
- Part of Your World - Ariel
- Under the Sea - Sebastian, Sea Creatures
- Part of Your World (Reprise) - Ariel
- She’s in Love - Mersisters, Flounder
- Poor Unfortunate Souls - Ursula
- Les Poissons - Chef Louis
- One Step Closer - Eric, *Ariel
- Kiss the Girl - Sebastian, Animals
- 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
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Videos
Quizzes
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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