The show will debut on Nov. 16 and run again on Nov. 17 and Nov. 18.
Lovers of theater and all things Disney are invited to take a trip under the sea and maybe even kiss the girl with Curtain Call Performing Arts Center’s upcoming production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.”
Starting Nov. 16, Curtain Call’s students will treat audiences to their production of Disney’s 1989 film based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name.
Students are inviting members of the public to buy a ticket and follow along with the story of mermaid princess Ariel as she trades away her voice to the evil sea witch Ursula for a chance to become human and visit the unfamiliar world above her ocean home.
As with past Curtain Call performances, the show features two casts of students ages 6 to 12 who will showcase to audiences what they’ve learned this fall under the tutelage of Curtain Call owner and show director Anne Kessler and her staff of instructors.
In addition to training students in the typical theater skill set of singing, acting and dancing, Curtain Call also seeks to blend reading comprehension skills and other literary study into the lessons provided to its students.
With those additional lessons, Kessler and other staff find student performances improve as well, as the students grow in skills such as better remembering and delivering lines.
One returning student in this year’s production is 12-year-old Kylee Gaffney, who is set to play Flotsam, a moray eel that serves as a minion to Ursula as she carries out her evil plans.
Kylee said the talent of the show’s students would impress audiences, including the show’s younger students, several as young as age 6 who are already assuming large roles in the show.
“People should come to the show because a lot of these kids are younger and you can see how much amazing work we’ve done throughout just the short period of time we’ve had,” Kylee said.
Kylee also praised the show’s choreography and music.
“I especially like ‘Under the Sea’ because it’s one of the main songs that everyone is basically performing in and so the audience will get to see what everyone has talent-wise,” Kylee said. “They’re going to realize everyone has great talent.”
In addition to more experienced performers such as Kylee, the show also features newer students, such as 9-year-old Coltrane Benedict who is playing roles including a seagull and a chef.
“The Little Mermaid Jr.” will be Coltrane’s first show with Curtain Call, and he said the experience has already left him wanting to perform more in the future.
“It’s really fun, and with this show we have a lot of great dances and good songs, and not just the songs from the movie,” Coltrane said.
Curtain Call Performing Arts Center will debut its production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.” on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. The show also runs on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. and again on Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
All shows will take place at Harrington Middle School Theatre, 514 Mt. Laurel Road.
For tickets, prices and more information, visit www.showtix4u.com and search “Curtain Call.”
