Olney Theatre Center, a Mid-Atlantic destination for professional theater performance and education, concludes its critically-acclaimed 76thAnniversary season with the area professional premiere of the "Under the Sea" musical, Disney's The Little Mermaid, tonight, November 12 - December 28, 2014 on the Mainstage. Starring Helen Hayes Award-winner Donna Migliaccio and newcomer Lara Zinn, the classic musical features memorable songs such as "A Part of Your World" and "Poor Unfortunate Souls" as well as the Academy Award®-Winning Best Original Song "Under the Sea".
In a magical underwater kingdom, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home - and her fins - behind and live in the world above. But first she'll have to defy her father King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula, and convince the handsome Prince Eric that she's the girl whose enchanting voice he's been seeking. Disney's The Little Mermaid is based on the
Hans Christian Andersen story and the
Walt Disney film.
"Families have made a tradition of spending their holidays with Olney, so I'm proud we're bringing the area professional premiere of Disney's The Little Mermaid to Olney Theatre Center this year," says Artistic Director
Jason Loewith. "Merging the phenomenal cast and design team with some of the best technical elements Olney Theatre Center has ever implemented on our stage will mesmerize families from all over Maryland and beyond."
Mark Waldrop, who has staged Olney Theatre Center's biggest hits, Annie, The Sound of Music and The King and I, returns to Olney Theatre Center to direct Disney's The Little Mermaid. Mr. Waldrop's work has been seen on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and throughout the country. He is joined by Choreographer
Tara Jeanne Vallee and
Music Director Darius Smith. Ms. Vallee's work on last season's The King and I received a
Helen Hayes Award nomination for Best Choreography.
Mr. Smith recently music directed Once On This Island at Olney Theatre Center, as well as
Signature Theatre'sDreamgirls, and Adventure Theatre-MTC Three Little Birds.
Disney's The Little Mermaid stars two-time
Helen Hayes Award recipient
Donna Migliaccio as Ursula. Ms. Migliaccio was last seen at Olney Theatre Center as the Stepmother in Cinderella. DC audiences will recognize her from various productions at The Kennedy Center,
Arena Stage, Ford's Theatre, and
Signature Theatre. She is joined by
Lara Zinn, who makes her Olney Theatre Center debut as Ariel. Ms. Zinn has performed at Toby's Dinner Theatre and was recently a cast member with Disney Cruise Lines.
Joe Chisholm makes his Olney Theatre Center debut as Prince Eric. Mr. Chisholm has performed around the world, most recently in Moscow and London, as well as Tennessee and New York. King Triton is played by
Nicholas Ward, who performed at Olney Theatre Center earlier this season in Once On This Island. Scuttle is played by
Clark Young, who has been seen at Ford's Theatre, The Kennedy Center, and
Arena Stage. Ariel's friends, Flounder and Sebastian, are portrayed by
Sean McComas and
Troy Hopper, respectively, who have been seen at Adventure Theatre-MTC, Everyman Theatre, and Ford's Theatre among others. Rounding out the cast are Jane Bunting,
Jennifer Cordiner, Kenneth Derby, Jay Garrick, Matt Greenfield, Lance Hayes,
Gracie Jones, Ethan Kasnett, Ashleigh King, Nurney Mason,
Robert Mintz, Taylor Elise Rector, Suzanne Stanley, and
Ethan Watermeier.
The creative team also includes
James Fouchard (Scenic Designer), Pei Lee (Costume Designer), Julie H. Duro (Lighting Designer), Andrea Moore (Puppet Designer),
Tony Angelini (Sound Designer), and
JJ Kaczynski (Projections Designer).
Disney's The Little Mermaid at Olney Theatre Center is made possible, in part, by contributions from production sponsors Senator Jennie M. and Mr. William Forehand, Senator Karen Montgomery, and Kathleen Quinn.
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