BroadwayWorld has more highlights of the opening night cast party below.
In this Disney family favorite Ursula will be played by stage and screen star Vicki Lewis, who starred in the hit TV shows NewsRadio and How I Met Your Mother and in Chicago and Damn Yankees on Broadway, and who was last at Music Circus in the 2011 production of Anything Goes. Eric Kunze, who performed on Broadway in Les Misérables, Miss Saigon and Damn Yankees, and who was last seen at Music Circus in the 2011 production of Miss Saigon, will play Prince Eric. Playing Ariel will be Jessica Grové, whose Broadway credits include Les Misérables, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Sunday in the Park with George. Flounder will be played by Henry Hodges, who performed on Broadway in Mary Poppins, Macbeth and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Playing King Triton will be Merwin Foard, whose Broadway credits include The Little Mermaid, The Addams Family, Sweeny Todd and La Cage Aux Folles.
Kevin Smith Kirkwood, whose Broadway and touring credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Godspell and Grease, will play Sebastian. Grimsby will be played by Ron Wisniski, who has appeared in a dozen Music Circus productions, including Oliver! in 2011, as well as the national tours of Beauty and the Beast and Annie. Playing Scuttle will be Jack Doyle, whose Broadway and touring credits include Young Frankenstein, The Music Man, Beauty and the Beast and Crazy for You. Rounding out the production are Flotsam, who will be played by Scott Leiendecker, and Jetsam, who will be played by Ben Roseberry.
The production is being directed by Glenn Casale with Music Direction by Craig Barna. The choreographer is John MacInnis.
With book by Doug Wright, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and music by Alan Menken, The Little Mermaid features Disney storytelling at its best. Unsatisfied with her life at sea, young mermaid Ariel longs to experience the human world above, so she embarks on a fascinating journey to discover her true self. The classic love story and memorable songs have captivated audiences of all ages.
Music Circus productions are presented at the Wells Fargo Pavilion, 1419 H Street in Sacramento. Performances are Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., and Thursday and Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $30. Tickets are available by phone at (916) 557-1999, online at www.tickets.com, or in person at the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office.
Photo Credit: Charr Crail
Ron Wisniski, Craig Horness and Eric Kunze
Vicki Lewis and her husband Phil Allen
Vicki Lewis and her husband Phil Allen
Eric Kunze and Michael D. Jablonski
Henry Hodges and photographer Jose Villegas
Kevin Smith Kirkwood and Music Circus interns Matthew Gibson and Anna LeFlore
Ivory McKay, Robin Masella, Michael McGurk and Jenny Florkowski
Kristen J. Smith, Lisa Rohinsky, Jenny Florkowski, Robin Masella and Alexa Glover
Kim Arnett, John B. Williford and Michael D. Jablonski with Music Circus Employees
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