Miami-based theater group Area Stage Company comes back to Adrienne Arsht Center’s Carnival Studio Theatre for a dive under the sea in August with an immersive production of The Little Mermaid. The timeless Disney musical continues the company’s re-telling of classic stories following their immersive productions of Annie and two sold-out runs of Beauty and the Beast.
With the original film released in 1989, the story of the mermaid longing for life outside of the sea was brought to the Broadway stage in 2008 starring Sierra Boggess as Ariel. Featuring the music of composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman, The Little Mermaid has had a massive resurgence with the 2019 live television special and a live action reboot earlier this year.
Area Stage Co’s Giancarlo Rodaz directs this production promising a fresh new lens for this rendition of the show. “The Little Mermaid will expand on the scale of Beauty and the Beast. Unlike Beast, The Little Mermaid will be an all-out party,” said Rodaz. “Beauty and the Beast whisked audiences into a dark fantasy story; but, in Mermaid they’re descended into a hyper colorful, all-out seaside bash!”
In this rendition of The Little Mermaid, the audience will not only be dazzled by the sets and talented cast of actors, they will be a part of the undersea dance party as well. “I’ve always experimented with making every show feel like an experience as opposed to what people might think of as a regular play,” explains Rodaz. “In a world dominated by screen-based content, I think both Area Stage and audiences find the immersive approach to be a breath of fresh air. There is nothing quite like stepping into another world.”
Committed to their cast of local Area Stage Co regulars, the troupe has also cast some New York-based performers to bring some Broadway-level talent to the stage. Josslyn Shaw and Henry Thrasher will play the lead roles of Ariel and Eric, respectively. Taking on the iconic role of Ursula the sea witch isJonathan Chisolm. Rounding out the cast is Aaron Hagos as Sebastian, Hallie Walker as Flounder, Annette Rodriguez as Scuttle and Frank Montoto as King Triton.
The production will run on August 9th and run through August 27th. Evening and matinee show options are available. Tickets are available for purchase through the Adrienne Arsht Center by clicking here. Student discounts are available. For more information about the show, visit: Mermaid | Area Stage, Miami, FL.