Photo Coverage: Renée Fleming at The Little Mermaid

On the evening of December 5, Renee Fleming, an American leading opera and jazz soprano, and Glen Keane, the original animator of "Ariel," visited the new Broadway production of Disney's The Little Mermaid at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street).  The Little Mermaid will officially open on Thursday, January 10 at 8PM.

The Little Mermaid is based on the Disney film and the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen.  The company features Sierra Boggess as 'Ariel,' Sean Palmer as 'Prince Eric,' Norm Lewis as 'King Triton,' Tituss Burgess as 'Sebastian,' Eddie Korbich as 'Scuttle,' Jonathan Freeman as 'Grimsby,' Derrick Baskin as 'Jetsam,' Tyler Maynard as 'Flotsam,' Cody Hanford and J.J. Singleton as 'Flounder,' and Sherie Rene Scott as 'Ursula.'

"The Little Mermaid takes place in a magical kingdom beneath the sea, where a beautiful young mermaid named Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she'll have to defy her father, the king of the sea, escape the clutches of an evil sea witch and convince a prince that she's the girl with the perfect voice," explain press notes.

Led by the award-winning director, Francesca Zambello, some of the theatre's most innovative artists have collaborated to create The Little Mermaid.  The score features the classic songs:  "Part of Your World," "Kiss the Girl" and the Academy Award-winning Best Original Song, "Under the Sea," composed by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken and his longtime collaborator, the late Howard Ashman, as well as 10 new songs by Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater.  The book for the new musical is by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Doug Wright.

The Little Mermaid's visionary team of artists includes: Olivier Award winner Stephen Mear (choreography), George Tsypin (scenic design), Tatiana Noginova (costume design), Tony Award winner Natasha Katz (lighting design), John Shivers (sound design), Danny Troob (orchestrations), Michael Kosarin (musical direction), David Brian Brown (hair design), Angelina Avallone (make-up design), Sven Ortel (projection & video designer), Rick Sordelet (fight director) and Pichón Baldinu (aerial design).

Tickets are $41.50 - $111.50 (includes a $1.50 facility fee), available through Ticketmaster at (212) 307-4747, online at www.DisneyOnBroadway.com, or in-person at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street).  Tickets to The Little Mermaid are on sale through May, 2008.  The running time is 2 hours, 30 minutes with one, 15-minute intermission.

For a complete schedule of performances and more information, visit online: www.DisneyOnBroadway.com

Sierra Boggess (Ariel) with Glen Keane, original animator for Ariel

Sierra Boggess (Ariel) with Glen Keane, original animator for Ariel

Sierra Boggess (Ariel) with Glen Keane, original animator for Ariel

Sierra Boggess (Ariel) and Renée Fleming

Tituss Burgess (Sebastian), Sierra Boggess (Ariel) and Renée Fleming

Tituss Burgess (Sebastian)

Francesca Zambello (Director) and Tituss Burgess (Sebastian)