Seeking inside info for The Little Mermaid @ Paper Mill

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

According to Paper Mill website they already have an offer out for Ariel (seeking info on that) and the production will also play at Pittsburgh CLO and Kansas City Starlight Theatre.

Here's the link


Paper Mill Little Mermaid casting

[finebydesign]

"NOTE: We encourage performers of all cultural backgrounds to attend."

Yet it's required that Ariel, Eric, Flounder, Grimbsy, Scuttle, be white?

I guess Grimbsy, I'll understand but really? Disney had black Belles.

[Zarkana2]

Exactly. And maybe it's just be, but I've always wanted to see how a black Ariel would turn out. I think it could be interesting.

[Matteo]

I am not 100% sure about this, but I am almost certain one of the understudies for Eric on Broadway was black.... Im not sure why PaperMill isn't allowing this!

[LizzieCurry]

Yes.
http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/103655/Arbender-J-Robinson

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

I think because the character of Ariel is known for being a redhead the character has to be white. I mean I've seen many clips of productions of BATB and I've seen Belles that are black and white blonde and burnette. Belle doesn't have to be one or the other because she's not known as a white burnette.

[PlayItAgain]

Heidi Blickenstaff is playing Ursula

[CapnHook]

Black women in red hair are gorgeous. No reason there can't be a black Ariel. Or a black Annie.

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

PlayItAgain, is it a known fact that Heidi Blickenstaff is playing Ursula or are you pulling my leg?

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Why does Flounder have to be 18-22? Wasn't the Broadway Flounder a kid?

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Just looked it up, and sure enough, Flounder was a kid. I wonder why they want an 18-22 year old?

[darquegk]

The revised Flounder is a teenager with more blatant sexual tension/crush on Ariel, instead of a cute child sidekick.

[bdn223]

I hope its true that Heidi is playing Ursula because one of best decisions made in adapting the stage to Broadway at least initially in its run was to turn Ursula into a belter. It causes her songs to be so haunting and true show stoppers. When I saw Faith Prince's Usuala on the View I remember I was so disappointed because she basically just did the film version of Poor Unfortunate Souls which was basically just spoken through. It was no Act 1 finale, which I know Heidi's Ursula is much closer to Scott's than Prince's especially since she was her replacement and understudy.

I wonder if they are going use "I want the good time back" or "Daddy's little angel"? I love "I want the good times back" because it just showcased Scott's vocal prowess, but I have to admit "Daddy's little angel" actually tell you some plot and backstory of her childhood and how she actually envies ariel, while the former only told you that at her fathers death Triton got the trident and Usual got the shell and tried to take over the sea so she was banned by her brother.

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

It's the revised version so they are probably going to use "Daddy's Little Angel" instead of "...Good Times Back"

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

Sorry I have to say I hope Chelsea Morgan Stock is NOT Ariel.

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

Sorry I have to say I hope Chelsea Morgan Stock is NOT Ariel.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Thank you for confirming, Darquegk.

I too am excited about Heidi as Ursula. I saw her as Alice in THE ADDAMS FAMILY, and her "Waiting" was wonderful.

[Starship]

If the Heidi rumor is true, she'll be incredible. I mean, listen to this piece of amazing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFdZkR0cEQM

[moym471]

I hope the Heidi rumor is true.. She's fantastic. But don't forget about [title of show] possibly being revived in London with the OBC before the year is over.

[DEClarke]

Here is what I know:

Papermill, Theatre Under the Stars (in Houston), and a few other places are working together on this with Disney. Disney is putting quite a bit of money into it. The casts won't be the same at the different theaters (however, I guess some crossover isn't out of the question). Yet, these theaters will all be using the same physical production (set design, light design, costume design, curtains, etc). Elements of the Broadway production may make it into this version, but everything is being looked over and revised for effectiveness. Everything is being improved or changed. Nothing has been finalized.

[PlayItAgain]

A North AMerican tour is in the works, thus why this is being done in several different productions.