Disney’s The Little Mermaid

New Musical Produced by Dallas Summer Musicals

          Coming to the Music Hall at Fair Park

Previews February 13-16, Performances February 18-March 2, 2014

Dallas, TX…Based on the Disney animated film and hit Broadway musical, Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID is making its North Texas debut at the Music Hall at Fair Park, produced by Michael A. Jenkins and Dallas Summer Musicals. The new production features a revamped script, additional songs, a new physical production and an entirely fresh interpretation of the musical. 

Directed by Glenn Casale with original choreography by Glenn John MacInnis, the all-star cast includes Nick Adams (Prince Eric), Chelsea Morgan Stock (Ariel), Liz McCartney (Ursula), and Alan Mingo, Jr. (Sebastian).

In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. Based on the enchanting 1989 Disney animated film and one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories, with music by eight-time Academy Award® winner Alan Menken and his long-time collaborator, the late Howard Ashman, it also contains new songs by Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater.  The book for the musical is by Pulitzer Prize® and Tony Award®-winning playwright Doug Wright, a native Dallasite. 

“The Dallas Summer Musicals version of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID has never been seen before,” said director Casale.  “The script and the structure of the piece are entirely new.  Ursula and Triton have new songs.  It is a family adventure that you will want to share with your sons and daughters.”

Glenn Casale (Director) helmed the Broadway production of Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby and filmed by A&E.  Off Broadway he directed The Property Known as Garland, Dragapella at Studio 54.  Internationally he directed Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.

Casale’s work has been seen throughout the U.S. in productions of Dr. Dolittle; Ballroom starring Tyne Daly and Charles Durning; Wrestlers starring Mark Harmon and George Clooney; From the Top starring Carol Burnett; Camelot starring Michael York; and The Prisoner of Second Avenue with Jason Alexander.  He is artistic director for the California Musical Theater in Sacramento.

John MacInnis (Choreographer) recently choreographed the European productions of Disney’s The Little Mermaid now running in Holland, Russia and Japan.  He also choreographed Beauty and the Beast in more than five European countries, including a touring production currently running in Spain.  In 2011 he served as associate choreographer of the Tony Award-winning musical The Book of Mormon.  Other credits include directing and choreographing the Olympic Medals Ceremonies at the 2002 and 2012 Winter Olympic Games.  From 1999 to 2001, he directed and choreographed the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

Craig Barna (Music Director) musically directed the Broadway productions of Peter and the Wolf, Peter Pan, Jesus Christ Superstar, and the national tours of Camelot, Cats, Singin’ in the Rain and Grease.  Television credits include A&E’s Peter Pan, the 1999 Tony Awards, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, The Today Show, and CBS This Morning.

THE LITTLE MERMAID design team includes:

Scenic design by Kenneth Foy.  Foy’s credits include the Broadway productions of Candida starring Joanne Woodward, Macbeth with Nicol Williamson, the David Merrick production of Oh, Kay!, the 20^th anniversary production of Annie, An Evening with Jerry Herman, and the 1989 Tony Award-winning production of Gypsy directed by Arthur Laurents.

Costume design by Amy Clark and Mark Koss.  Clark’s design credits include Chaplin (Broadway), On Your Toes (Encores!), Show Boat (Goodspeed), and Monster at the Door (Alley Theatre).  Koss designed costumes for California Musical Theater’s Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Producers.

Lighting design by Charlie Morrison, whose credits include Groovaloo, Grinch, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Miss Saigon, Aida, Guys and Dolls, My Fair Lady, The King and I, Gypsy, 42^nd Street, Smokey Joe’s Café, The Who’s Tommy, Titanic, The Music Man, and many others.

Sound design by Paper Mill Playhouse Resident Sound Designer Randy Hansen.  Over the past 25 years he has designed hundreds of musicals, plays, and live events all over the country.

Hair and wig design by Leah J. Loukas.  Loukas recently designed hair and wigs for Paper Mill’s production of The Sound of Music.  On Broadway, she designed Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, American Idiot, Irena’s Vow, and Shakespeare in the Park’s Into the Woods.

Paul Rubin will serve as the flying sequence choreographer.  His work was seen on Broadway in Wicked, Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby, Curtains, The Pirate Queen, Frozen, The Green Bird, Kiss Me, Kate, Dance of the Vampires, Fiddler on the Roof and Saturday Night Fever.

Preview performances of The Little Mermaid will be February 13-16, with official press opening night Tuesday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m., with the last performance Sunday, March 2.  There will be eight performances weekly.  All evening performances will be held at 7:30 p.m., and matinee performances will be at 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and selected Thursdays during the show’s run.

Single tickets are priced from $25-$90, available at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane #542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, or any Ticketmaster outlet.  Tickets are also available at www.ticketmaster.com or www.dallassummermusicals.org.  For groups of 10 or more, call 214-426-GROUP (4768).