Based on the beloved Hans Christian Andersen story and the classic film, Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID is a hauntingly beautiful story of love and letting go. Ariel, King Triton's youngest daughter, challenges her father’s authority as she dreams of finding her own way in the world above the sea. But what will she give up to fulfill her dreams of independence? Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID will capture audiences’ hearts with its timeless story and irresistible songs, including "Under the Sea," "Kiss the Girl," and "Part of Your World." Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID promises to be one of the most spectacular productions ever staged at the Walnut!
The 1989 animated film, written & directed by John Musker & Ron Clements, features iconic music and lyrics written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, respectively. It won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song (“Under the Sea”) and is widely credited with launching The Disney Renaissance of the ‘90s. In 2008, the film was adapted for the Broadway stage with additional lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Doug Wright. The Walnut’s production marks the Philadelphia professional regional premiere of this stage musical.
Glenn Casale, who was last seen on the Walnut’s Mainstage for 2019’s Shrek The Musical, returns to direct. Casale directed the 2012 Dutch production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, the national tour, and several regional productions in the States. Casale’s revisions to the original Broadway adaptation are now the basis for all major licensed productions worldwide. His work also includes the 1999 Broadway revival of Peter Pan, which received a Tony nomination for Best Revival of a Musical, as well as the National Tour of Peter Pan and the A&E television production. He directed Dragapella! at Studio 54, which was nominated for a Drama Desk and two Lucille Lortel Awards. Chris Burcheri returns as music director and John MacInnis serves as choreographer for his first WST production. Burcheri continues his second season on the Walnut’s Mainstage, having provided music and vocal direction for Beehive – The ‘60s Musical this season, as well as Young Frankenstein and Shrek prior. He has also served as music director for the WST for Kids series and the associate conductor on Annie and Holiday Inn. MacInnis choreographed productions of The Little Mermaid in Holland, Russia, and Japan, as well as Beauty and the Beast in five European countries. He was the director/choreographer of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes, and the Olympic medals ceremonies for the 2002 and 2010 Olympic games. MacInnis is the Associate Choreographer for the Broadway and West End productions of The Prom, Mean Girls, Something Rotten, Aladdin and The Book of Mormon.
The titular mermaid, Ariel, will be brought to life by Diana Huey. Huey, making her Walnut debut, is a Helen Hayes Award winner for her portrayal of Kim in Miss Saigon (Alliance Theatre) and Gregory Award winner for playing Ariel in the national tour productions of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. In addition to her other theatre credits, which include Rock of Ages (5th Avenue Theatre) and Maybe Happy Ending (Alliance Theatre), Huey is an advocate for diversity in the arts. Walnut veteran Sean Thompson, who audiences may remember as Warner in 2019’s Legally Blonde, will play the swashbuckling Prince Eric. Thompson’s other WST credits include South Pacific, Wizard of Oz, and Gifts of the Magi. Ariel’s father and ruler of Atlantica, King Triton, will be played by Walnut newcomer Derrick Cobey, whose credits include originating the role of Andy Wright in The Scottsboro Boys on Broadway and the second Broadway revival of Kiss Me Kate. Cobey is no stranger to Philadelphia theatre, having performed at The Arden and Philadelphia Theatre Company. King Triton’s right-hand crab and Ariel’s guardian, Sebastian, will be played by WST acting apprentice alum Dana Orange, who was last seen on the Walnut’s stage as the wise-cracking Donkey in Shrek. Orange’s other credits include Sister Act (WST), To Kill a Mockingbird (Millbrook Playhouse), and In The Heights (Park Playhouse).
Walnut favorite Rebecca Robbins returns for her 19th WST production as the wicked sea witch, Ursula. Robbins was last on the Walnut’s Mainstage as the salon owner Paulette in Legally Blonde. Her Broadway credits include A Tale of Two Cities and The Phantom of the Opera. Ursula’s slithering henchmen, Flotsam and Jetsam, will played by Adam Hoyak (Shrek) and Jesse Jones (Legally Blonde), respectively.
Actor Kevin Kulp, who was previously seen in 2018’s Matilda, will return as Ariel’s fish friend, Flounder. Scuttle, a seagull and “expert” on humans, will be played by Ellie Mooney, who was last on the Walnut’s Mainstage as The Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz in 2016. Chef Louis, the palace cook looking to make a meal out of Sebastian, will be played by WST regular Ben Dibble, who audiences will remember as the pint-sized villain, Lord Farquaad, in Shrek. Also returning to the Walnut is actor Bill Van Horn, who last played Sir John Pontefract in 2019’s A Woman of No Importance, to portray Prince Eric’s put-upon servant, Grimsby.
Returning to the Walnut to form an ensemble of sailors, merfolk, and sea creatures are Rachel Beiswenger (The Wizard of Oz), Mark Donaldson (Shrek), BillyD Hart (Legally Blonde), Bonnie Kelly (Beehive), and Adam Mandala (Shrek). The Walnut welcomes Xhenet Capani, Alexandra Frohlinger, Rachael Britton Hart, Caroline Kane, Jackson Siegel, and Devon Sinclair as they make their WST Mainstage debuts in the ensemble.
Young actors returning to the Walnut as part of the Little Mermaid children’s ensemble are Cecelia Kent (Shrek) of Lower Gynedd, PA; Emma Scherz (Shrek) of Mount Laurel, PA; Akiva Schostak (Shrek) of Haddonfield, NJ; and Charlotte Ward Taylor (Matilda) from West Chester, PA. Also in the children’s ensemble and making their Walnut Mainstage debuts will be Amelia Carnahan of Philadelphia, PA; Madeline Garson of Wallingford, PA; Garrett Heinerichs of King of Prussia, PA; Alexandria Holman of Philadelphia, PA; Zachary Huot of Bensalem, PA; Declan MacDonald of Wayne, PA; Olivia Bee Sposa from Cherry Hill, NJ; and Ryan Sullivan from Glenside, PA.
Scenic Designer Robert Andrew Kovach (Shrek, Young Frankenstein, Holiday Inn, Forum) returns to the Walnut to take audiences both under the sea and sailing across its surface. Kovach will be joined by Lighting Designer Charlie Morrison (Shrek, Young Frankenstein, the national tour of Disney’s The Little Mermaid) and Sound Designer Ed Chapman (Shrek, Young Frankenstein, Holiday Inn, Forum). Giving the cast everything from fins, tentacles, and wings to elegant dresses and crowns, Costume Designer Mary Folino (Beehive, Young Frankenstein, Matilda, Annie, Holiday Inn) will create the wardrobe for the cast. Folino is joined by Hair and Makeup Designers Will Vicari and Krystal Balleza (Shrek) who will help bring these fantastic characters to life.
JUST THE FACTS
Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID runs at the Walnut November 16, 2021 – January 2, 2022. All ages including children are welcome under the sea! Children under 12 who are not vaccinated can show a negative COVID-19 test at the door. Rapid tests are available at local drugstores and online. Media Partners are 6abc and Metro. For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.com.
WHAT: Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater
Book by Doug Wright
Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film produced by Howard Ashman & John Musker and written & directed by John Musker & Ron Clements
WHEN: November 16, 2021 – January 2, 2022
PRESS NIGHT: Wednesday, November 24 at 7pm
WHERE: Walnut Street Theatre
825 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
TICKETS: Prices vary by performance and range from $25 - $127
Premium Tickets available for $175 (includes a tax-deductible donation)
A limited number of $10 ‘Back to the Show’ tickets will be made available for every mainstage performance thanks to a generous grant from PNC Arts Alive.
CURTAIN:
*No performances 11/25, 12/14, 12/24, 12/25, 1/1
Open captioning will be available for the 7 p.m. performance on Sunday, December 5. There will be an ASL-interpreted and audio-described performance at 7 p.m. on December 23.
PHONE: 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787
WEBSITE: walnutstreettheatre.org or ticketmaster.com
PRODUCTION AND DESIGN STAFF
Director: GLENN CASALE
Choreographer: JOHN MacINNIS
Music/Vocal Director: CHRIS BURCHERI
Set Design: ROBERT ANDREW KOVACH
Costume Design: MARY FOLINO
Hair and Makeup Design: WILL VICARI & KRYSTAL BALLEZA
Lighting Design: CHARLIE MORRISON
Sound Design: ED CHAPMAN
THE CAST
Ariel…………………………..........….………….DIANA HUEY*
Pilot, Chef Louis………...….…………...……BEN DIBBLE*
Prince Eric………………………….…..SEAN THOMPSON*
Grimsby…………………………………..…BILL VAN HORN*
Flounder……………………………………..……KEVIN KULP*
Scuttle………………………………………...ELLIE MOONEY*
King Triton……………………………...…DERRICK COBEY*
Sebastian………………………………...….DANA ORANGE*
Flotsam………………………………………… ADAM HOYAK*
Jetsam…………………………..……....………...JESSE JONES*
Ursula……………………………………REBECCA ROBBINS*
ENSEMBLE
XHENET CAPANI, RACHEL BEISWENGER*, BEN DIBBLE*, MARK DONALDSON*, ALEXANDRA FROHLINGER*, BILLYD HART*, RACHAEL BRITTON HART*, CAROLINE KANE*, BONNIE KELLY*, ADAM MANDALA*, JACKSON SIEGEL, DEVON SINCLAIR
CHILDREN’S ENSEMBLE
Red Team †
GARRETT HEINERICHS, DECLAN MacDONALD, ALEXANDRIA O’CONNOR, EMMA SCHERZ, AKIVA SCHOSTAK, CHARLOTTE WARD TAYLOR
Green Team ‡
AMELIA CARNAHAN, MADELINE GARSON, ZACHARY HUOT, CECELIA KENT, OLIVIA BEE SPOSA, RYAN MAYOR SULLIVAN
UNDERSTUDIES
DEANNA BEAUCHER (Ensemble), ANDREW BOZZELLI (Ensemble), XHENET CAPANI (Ariel), SOPHIA COMPORT (Ensemble), CHRISTOPHER EKLUND (Ensemble), , TYLER ELEY (Ensemble), ANTHONY FLAMMINIO (Flounder), ALEXANDRA FROHLINGER* (Scuttle), LAURA FRYE (Ensemble), BILLYD HART* (Flotsam/Jetsam), JESSE JONES* (Sebastian), BONNIE KELLY* (Ursula), JACKSON SIEGEL (Prince Eric), DEVON SINCLAIR (King Triton)
* Denotes membership in Actors' Equity Association, the professional union of Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
†Performs all evenings Tues.-Fri. 11/16-11/26, all matinees and evenings Tues.-Thurs. 11/30-12/30, and the evening show Monday, 12/20
‡Performs all matinees and evenings Sat.-Sun. 11/20-11/28, all matinees and evenings Fri.-Sun. 12/3-1/2, and the matinee and evening shows Thursday, 12/23
COVID-19 SAFETY POLICY
All ages including children are welcome under the sea! Children under 12 who are not vaccinated can show a negative COVID-19 test at the door. Rapid tests are available at local drugstores and online.
Walnut Street Theatre is continuing to work with guidelines from the CDC, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and Philadelphia Department of Health to develop the most comprehensive plan to keep patrons, artists, and employees safe. Everyone in the theatre must wear acceptable face coverings at all times, including during the show, except while eating or drinking when seated in Barrymore’s Cafe, located in the lower lobby. All face coverings must cover the nose and mouth and comply with the CDC guidelines for acceptable face coverings.
Guests will need to be fully vaccinated with an FDA or WHO authorized vaccine to attend a show and must show proof of vaccination at their time of entry into the theatre with their valid ticket. The only exception to the above will be for guests under the age of 12, or those who need reasonable accommodations due to a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief. Guests requesting an exemption must provide proof of either a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance or a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test taken within 6 hours of the performance, in addition to properly wearing a mask inside the building. For more information visit WalnutStreetTheatre.org/visit/safety.php.
ABOUT THE WALNUT STREET THEATRE
Walnut Street Theatre is America’s Oldest Theatre and the most popular theatre company in Philadelphia. As a producer of live theatre, many of the artists on the stage, in the orchestra and behind the scenes are from the Philadelphia area. As a non-profit institution, the Walnut is recognized nationally for bringing affordable theatre and diverse stories to more subscribers than any other theatre company in the world. In addition to its five Mainstage productions, popular Walnut Street Theatre for Kids Series and Independence Studio on 3 Series, the Walnut’s education and outreach programs bring live theatre to over 100,000 students, teachers, parents, and kids every year.
825 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107–5195 | 215-574-3550 VISIT US AT WalnutStreetTheatre.org
