Photo Flash: Faith Prince as 'Ursula' in THE LITTLE MERMAID

Disney Theatrical Productions will welcome Tony Award® winner Faith Prince to the Broadway company of THE LITTLE MERMAID beginning Tuesday, April 7, 2009 (Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 West 46th Street, NYC). Prince will star as "Ursula," the evil sea witch.

One of Broadway's most versatile leading ladies, Prince has appeared in 10 main stem shows, most recently the 2008 musical A Catered Affair, for which she received her fourth Tony and fourth Drama Desk nominations along with Outer Critics Circle and Drama League nods. She won the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for her turn as the perennially unwed "Miss Adelaide" in the 1992 Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls. She also received a lead actress Tony nomination for her role in the revival of Bells Are Ringing and a featured actress Tony nomination for her work in Jerome Robbins' Broadway, which marked her Broadway debut. Off-Broadway, she created roles in the original cast of Falsettoland and A Man of No Importance and regionally, she starred in the world premiere of Terrence McNally's Unusual Acts of Devotion.

"We are beyond thrilled that Faith Prince is joining the cast of The Little Mermaid," said Thomas Schumacher, producer and president of Disney Theatrical Productions. "She is that glorious creature - a leading lady in the great Broadway tradition and we think a perfect match for the role of Ursula, one of Disney's most uproarious villains. We can't wait to see what happens when she dons Ursula's trademark wig and tentacles."

Based on the animated Disney film and the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, THE LITTLE MERMAID officially opened on Broadway on Thursday, January 10, 2008. The company celebrated its one-year anniversary last month.

THE LITTLE MERMAID was the #1 selling new Broadway musical of 2008, grossing over $60 million to date. Richard Zoglin of TIME Magazine named the show "top ten theater of 2008" and praised THE LITTLE MERMAID as "one of the most ravishing shows I have ever seen on a Broadway stage." Terry Teachout of The Wall Street Journal raved, "I expect it to run from here to eternity and back again. I'd see it again in a heartbeat." The Philadelphia Inquirer declared the show "a triumph of stagecraft." The Chicago Tribune hailed THE LITTLE MERMAID a "tidal wave of stellar performances!"

The cast of THE LITTLE MERMAID features Sierra Boggess (Ariel), Sean Palmer (Prince Eric), Norm Lewis (King Triton), Rogelio Douglas, Jr. (Sebastian), Eddie Korbich (Scuttle), Jonathan Freeman (Grimsby), Tyler Maynard (Flotsam), Eric LaJuan Summers (Jetsam), Robert Creighton (Chef Louis) and Trevor Braun and Brian D'Addario (alternating as Flounder). Heidi Blickenstaff assumed the role of "Ursula" on Tuesday, January 27 and will perform until Sunday, April 5.

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. 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.

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 Mr. 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 also 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), David BrIan Brown (hair design), Angelina Avallone (make-up design), Sven Ortel (projection & video designer), Danny Troob (orchestrations) and Michael Kosarin (musical direction).

The original Broadway cast recording of THE LITTLE MERMAID was released by Walt Disney Records (February 26, 2007) and debuted at #26 on the Billboard 200. The album received a 2008 GRAMMY® Nomination for "Best Musical Show Album." The CD is available at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, music stores nationwide and at online retailers.

THE LITTLE MERMAID tickets range in price from $51.50-$121.50 (all prices include a $1.50 facility fee).

Tickets are available at DisneyOnBroadway.com, the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street), Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling Ticketmaster's Disney on Broadway hotline at 866-870-2717.

For group sales and information, please call 800-439-9000. Performance & holiday schedule varies, check online for current schedule (running time is approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes.)

Photo by Joan Marcus