Pearl River Community College students are bringing Disney’s beloved tale, “The Little Mermaid,” to life on stage April 7-9. The family-friendly musical performances will be held in the Brownstone Center for the Arts on the Poplarville Campus.
Based on the Hans Christian Anderson story and subsequent animated classic, “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” is the story of Ariel who dreams of life above her ocean home. She longs to meet the handsome Prince Eric and soon strikes a deal with the sea witch, Ursula. Thankfully, she has a few great friends determined to see her win the prince’s heart and regain calm under the sea.
“The Little Mermaid” will be performed for the public on April 7 and 8 at 7 p.m. and on April 9 at 2 p.m. Tickets for the musical production are available for sale at prcc.edu/brownstone/events with seats assigned at purchase. Balcony seats are $17 each and Orchestra seats are $22 each. Groups of 11 or more people are eligible for a discounted rate.
FAMILIAR CHARACTERS AND MUSIC
The main characters from the beloved story that will be brought to life on stage include Ariel (Anna Resse Arroyo, Hattiesburg), Chef Louis (Jonathan Freeman, Picayune), Flotsam (Immanuel Green, Richland), Scuttle (Joseph Lee, Purvis), Grimsby (Gabriel Manning, Gautier), Prince Eric (Joe McHenry, Monticello), King Tritan (Garrett Rester, Carriere), Windward & Leeward (Micaiah Rosa, Bogalusa, LA), Ursula (Mallorie Saucier, Carriere), Sebastian (Justin Wakeland, Hattiesburg), Flounder (Jordan West, Purvis), and Jetsam (Nichola Williams, Gulfport.) Twenty-seven additional supporting roles will round out the cast.
“Being a part of this production has opened many creative and expressive doors for myself as well as many others,” said McHenry, who plays Prince Eric. “I am extremely excited to share this magical thing with so many people!”
Musical selections include fan favorites like “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” and “Kiss the Girl.” In total, the musical contains 30 pieces that will be performed during the two-act production.
“Being a part of The Little Mermaid has been a unique but very fun experience for me,” said Saucier, who plays Ursula. “I love being pushed out of my comfort zone, especially with performing and it has done just that. I am thankful for the bond it has created with me and my other cast mates and it's something I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Ariel is being portrayed by Arroyo.
“I’ve loved being a part of The Little Mermaid this year,” she said. “I have grown a lot throughout this process. Being in this cast has been such a fun experience, I’m so grateful for everyone’s hard work and time put into this production. This experience has meant the most to me!”
SATURDAY PRESHOW EVENT
There will be a special meet-and-greet from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. prior to the Saturday, April 9 performance where attendees can visit seven stations. This includes meet and greet with Ariel, join Flotsam & Jetsam on a visit to Ursula's lair, enjoy cupcakes with Chef Louis, get to know King Triton and the Mersisters, meet Sebastian and his Crustacean Band, sail with Prince Eric and his crew, and color coral with the sea creatures. Each station visited gets a stamp for the passport card and dinglehoppers will be given out at the end.
Admission to the Meet-and-Greet requires an additional ticket, including parents accompanying their child. The price starts at $5 for just the meet-and-greet, or $20 – $23 with a commemorative t-shirt included. Sales end on April 8 or when capacity is reached. Tickets for the Meet-and-Greet must be purchased in advance and will not be available at the door.
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