'The Little Mermaid' Swims on Broadway, New Opening Jan.10

The new Broadway production of Disney's The Little Mermaid will resume performances tonight, Thursday, November 29.  Prior to the canceled performances due to the recent labor dispute, the show played five sold out previews at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street).  The previously scheduled opening night of December 6 has been cancelled and The Little Mermaid will now have its official press opening 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).

The company of 35 also includes:  Adrian Bailey, Cathryn Basile, Heidi Blickenstaff, James Brown III, Robert Creighton, Cicily Daniels, John Treacy Egan, Tim Federle, Merwin Foard, Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines, Ben Hartley, Meredith Inglesby, Michelle Lookadoo, Joanne Manning, Alan Mingo, Jr., Zakiya Young Mizen, Betsy Morgan, Arbender J. Robinson, Bret Shuford, Jason Snow, Chelsea Morgan Stock, Kay Trinidad, Price Waldman and Daniel J. Watts.

Performances of The Little Mermaid began on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street, NYC) on Saturday, November 3 at 8PM.  The official Broadway press opening is Thursday, January 10 at 8PM.

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.

Please note the variance in the playing schedule, and holiday changes below:

November 26 – December 2:
Thursday at 8pm
Friday at 8pm
Saturday at 2pm and 8pm
Sunday – No performance

December 3 – December 9:
Monday - Wednesday at 8pm
Thursday – No performance
Friday – No performance
Saturday at 2pm matinee and 8pm
Sunday at 3pm matinee

December 10 – December 23
Tuesday – Saturday at 8pm
Wednesday and Saturday matinee at 2pm
Sunday matinee at 3pm

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE, December 24 – January 6:
Monday – No performance
Tuesday – No performance
Wednesday-Saturday at 8pm
Wednesday and Saturday matinee at 2pm
Sunday at 1pm matinee and 6:30pm early evening

Beginning Tuesday, January 8, 2008, The Little Mermaid will perform Tuesday – Saturday evenings at 8pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2pm, and Sunday matinees at 3pm.

For more information, visit online: www.DisneyOnBroadway.com