News
Middle School to Present Disney's The Little Mermaid JR
GPS and McCallie students prepare for upcoming performances.
Middle school students from Girls Preparatory School and McCallie School will soon present Disney’s “The Little Mermaid JR,” complete with much of the beloved songs and scenes as the original Broadway play and animated movie.
The production will be held on Monday, October 15, at 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday, October 16, at 7 p.m., in GPS’s Frierson Theatre, at 205 Island Avenue. The show is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
Based on a Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, “The Little Mermaid JR” is a window into a magical, underwater kingdom where sacrifices are made for love and acceptance. The journey under the sea features the familiar characters of the 1989 film—the beautiful young mermaid Princess Ariel, her father King Triton and mersisters, the sea witch Ursula, and Ariel’s adorable aquatic friends plus tunes from the popular Academy Award-winning musical, including “Part of Your World” and “She’s in Love.”
“This Disney adaptation not only has a beautiful score of memorable songs, but also sends a positive message to young people today, to never give up on their dreams. Anything is possible,” says Mike Lees, GPS Middle School Musical Director.
Lees and Assistant Director Erin Bas, GPS world languages teacher, began the rigorous casting process for “The Little Mermaid JR” in August, with middle school students from GPS and McCallie auditioning over a two-week period with voice screenings, script readings, and dance combinations. Students also serve backstage, helping with everything from lighting to costumes.
“I am so very proud of these students,” Lees says. “Not only are they super talented, but they are also eager and willing to take directions. They are dedicated to ensure this to be a first-rate production.”
Lees chose the musical from among his childhood favorites. He recalls the late Walt Disney as a great admirer of classic fairy tales. Timing and concept, he says, prevented “The Little Mermaid” from making it to the big screen in 1940, so the project was abandoned. Some 50 years later, Disney animators would try again, hiring Alan Menken and Howard Ashman (“Little Shop of Horrors”) to create a musical-theater score for the movie. The animated film won Oscars and Golden Globes (Best Original Music Score and Best Original Song for “Under the Sea”) as well as two Grammys.
Menken and Ashman’s work led to the successful adaptation of “The Little Mermaid” to the Broadway stage, with new additions to the film’s score. Today, other than a few new songs, the stage version remains true to the story and film, Lees says.
The public is invited to attend both shows in GPS Frierson Theatre. General admission is $10. Tickets are on sale now at GPSLittleMermaid.eventbrite.com.
