Zambello of 'The Little Mermaid' to Receive French Honor

Francesca Zambello, director of Disney's The Little Mermaid, will be awarded the Chevalier Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) by the French government for her contribution to French culture.  The reception will be held on Monday, March 10th at The Cultural Services of the French Embassy.

The Order of Arts and Letters was established in 1957 to recognize eminent artists and writers, and people who have contributed significantly to furthering the arts in France and throughout the world.

Along with Zambello, other honorees include Elizabeth Lecompte, Ronald C. Simon and John Yau.  Recent American recipients of this award include Paul Auster, Ornette Coleman, Marilyn Horne, Richard Meier, Robert Paxton, Robert Redford and Meryl Streep.

Disney Theatrical Productions (Thomas Schumacher, Producer) is proud to present the Broadway production of The Little Mermaid, 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, John Treacy Egan as Chef Louis, Trevor Braun and Brian D'Addario 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," states 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 Mr. Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater.  The book for the new musical is by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Doug Wright.

Disney's The Little Mermaid is currently playing at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.  The playing schedule is as follows: Tuesday - Saturday evenings at 8pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2pm, and Sunday matinees at 3pm.  Tickets for are $51.50 - $121.50 (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).

Photo: Francesca Zambello