caption:

 

‘Little Mermaid’

Jonathan Klos (Scuttle the Seagull), Anna Raymond (Flounder), Elena Mercier (Ariel), Alex Mercier (Sebastian the Crab) will appear in the Bradley Playhouse’s “The Little Mermaid” starting Aug. 11. Courtesy photo.

 

 

PUTNAM — The Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut at the Bradley Playhouse will present Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”  to northeastern Connecticut. It starts Aug. 11 and runs for three weekends. 

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 11, 18 and 25 and at 2 p.m. Aug. 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27. The evening performances are only on Friday night. Matinees will be on Saturday and Sunday afternoons to allow more children to attend the show. Tickets are $24 for adults and $21 for seniors and students.

Reservations may be made with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887. Tickets may be purchased at the theater box office, either before the performance or at the door if available.

On opening night, Aug. 11, at 6:30, the Bradley Playhouse will present a Red Carpet Premier. Children will receive a free Little Mermaid poster, a take home grab bag and drinks and desserts donated by Victoria Station Café. There will be free appetizers for adults from 85 Main. Special Little Mermaid treats and adult beverages will be available for purchase. Reserve early.

The TNECT production of “The Little Mermaid” is co-directed by Kathleen Atwood and Greg Brock. Joshua Smith is music director and Keri Danner is the choreographer. The large and talented ensemble cast is led by Elena Mercier as Ariel and Skye Shogren as Prince Eric. Mike Griswold appears as King Triton and Seana Hendrickson is the evil Ursula. Sebastian is played by Alex Mercier, Anna Raymond is Flounder and Jonathan Klos appears as Scuttle. Jimmy Weigel is the ever faithful Grimsby. Be sure to keep a look out for Ursula’s evil eels Flotsam, Joey Almonte, and Jetsam, Andrew Carpentier. 

Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s well-loved story and Disney’s classic animated film, “The Little Mermaid” book was written by Pulitzer- and Tony-winning playwright Doug Wright. The music is by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater wrote the lyrics. It is presented by special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

True to the film version, “The Little Mermaid” is the story of Ariel, a young mermaid who longs to leave her ocean home and find true love with Prince Eric in the world above. To do that, she has to defy her father, King Triton, and make a deal with Ursula, the evil sea witch. All of her familiar friends are there to help her – Sebastian the crab, Flounder the fish and Scuttle the seagull.

The mark of a good musical is to leave the theater with wonderful songs running through your head. The Little Mermaid has plenty of them, including “Under the Sea, “Kiss the Girl”, “Part of Your World” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls”.