The Little Mermaid

This year's mainstage musical production of The Little Mermaid was a spectacular show, which made for an amazing viewing experience for audiences of all ages! Based on Hans Christian Anderson’s classic tale, Disney’s musical version of The Little Mermaid is familiar and heartwarming. Ariel longs to be a part of the human world and makes a fateful bargain with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to pursue true love and independence. With beloved songs like “Under The Sea” and “Part of Your World,” this year’s mainstage production involved dazzling effects, colorfully-costumed characters, and highlighted performances by Shore’s talented Upper School actors. Audiences in the Trustey Family Theatre were enamored from the start.

From the opening scene, the romantic interests of Ariel, played by Lilith B., and the dashing Prince Eric, played by Nik B., were made evident, and before a calamitous shipwreck, the audience was treated to a breathtaking rendition of Ariel's "Part of Your World", a heartfelt and moving performance by the young actress. King Triton, played by Zayaan F., Sebastian the crab, played by A.J. K., and the rest of the merfolk put in spirited and memorable performances, with the beauty and vibrancy of their intricate costumes flowing together into a lovely palette of colors on stage, particularly during A.J.'s performance of "Under the Sea". A special shout-out goes to teaching assistant Weller Henderson for his role as the conniving and crafty sea witch Ursula, a powerful performance highlighted by numbers such as "I Want The Good Times Back" and "Poor Unfortunate Souls" and assisted by outstanding performances by Delilah L. and Lily C. as Flotsam and Jetsam, Ursula’s wicked electric eel accomplices. As the second act rolled on, performances of "Positoovity" by Eloise L. as Scuttle the seagull, complete with tap-dance routine, "Le Poisson" by Liam F., Chef Louis' hilarious solo masterpiece, and the heartfelt "If Only (Reprise)" by Zayaan F.'s King Triton added depth and allowed the young actors to put their respective talents on display. Finally, the show ended with the heartwarming marriage of Ariel and Eric, and the curtains closed to a standing ovation from the audience. Director and Choreographer Sarah Carlin summed it all up: "The excitement about this show began with auditions and carried through to the final performance. Every member of the cast and crew found moments to shine and contribute to the beauty and love in this show, and they formed a community that created something bigger than themselves. That is the magic of theater!"

We would like to give a shout-out to Director and Choreographer Sarah Carlin as she finishes off her tenure at Shore with a grand finale! Your tireless years putting on so many spectacular productions will leave a lasting impact on Shore, and your inspirational work with Shore students has touched so many lives. Congratulations, Sarah, and thank you for everything you do for the Shore community! We would also like to thank Music Director Jennifer Boyum, Set Designer Sam Hamlin, Technical Director Maddie Dustin, Costume Designer Kiera O'Connor, Costume Assistant Rondi Kilham, and Assistant Director and Choreographer Sarah Sklarsky for all of the many hours of hard work that went into putting on this wonderful show. The collaboration of this amazing production team continues to provide theatrical experiences of the highest standards for Shore Upper School students.