The Little Mermaid on Broadway

[akhenaten]

i went to the blog and noticed the cast listing..how can they list buddy hackett when he's already dead?

[Disney Duster]

First things first. Everyone needs to see the art/poster/ad:


Okay, well, the demo links don't seem to be working anymore, but it's just as well, because the real, fully-orchestrated songs will be on their way!

The Little Mermaid will play a pre-Broadway engagement at the Denver Center Attractions at Ellie Caulkins Opera House beginning July 26. The musical will arrive at the Lunt-Fontanne Nov. 3 with an official opening Dec. 6.

From here.

Also, there was this:

Playbill.com: What about the stage version of The Little Mermaid?
AM: Yeah, I have three theatre projects that are tugging at me right now, and they're quite big projects. I'm on my way today to a casting session for Little Mermaid. That's the one with an opening date on Broadway, and we're opening in Denver this summer! And it's a huge show!

Playbill.com: Everyone is wondering how it's going to be staged.
AM: I've seen pictures. Francesca Zambello has it in her very capable hands. I can't wait to see what it's going to look like when it's not a model that's a foot and a half high. The original scores remains and I've written 12 more songs with lyricist Glenn Slater. People don't know his talent, but this guy is…I don't think people are prepared. He's doing all three of my theatrical projects.

From here.

Well that didn't tell us anything. Okay...I know I totally heard that for the underwater staging they're using...roller skates. I'm serious! Everyone at Broadway World and all the hot, hip, snobby Broadway forums are talking about it! I once had an official article mentioning it but it fell to the depths of the sea (I can't find it again). Well, I LOVED seeing the characters skate On Ice...

Also, there was this casting call that actually revealed that Ursula will in fact be King Triton's sister, as the Platinum Edition's deleted scenes had played around with. So she's Ariel's aunt. Ew. Here's the call:

The Little Mermaid - Equity Principal Auditions Category Performer Description NOTE: We are seeking performers of all cultural backgrounds for all roles.
Seeking actors to play the following roles:

Ariel: To play female in her late teens. A mermaid girl on the verge of maturity. A soon-to-be-siren with a frisky sense of fun. An innocent, headstrong and spirited, overflowing with feelings that are fathoms deep, and daring to dream about a different world, the world above the sea. Must move well, but need not be a trained dancer.
Vocal range: Crystal clear flawless belt to E.

Eric: To play male in his early 20’s. A prince among men, possessed of all the royal attributes that leave the girls breathless. But beneath the easy charm, the handsome face and the instinctive courage, lurks a reluctant ruler who’d happily trade his crown for a life on the bounding main, who’d gladly renounce his throne in search of something to fight for, someone to love.
Vocal range: Must be able to sing in a very controlled lyrical tenor or Baritenor. Gorgeous soaring sound to A.

Triton: To play male in his late 30’s or 40’s. The Son of Poseidon, King of the Undersea World, with a profound belief that the Human World is dangerous and to be shunned. A powerful, uncompromising monarch, and the harried father of seven mermaid daughters. Commanding, regal, charismatic, sexy – and, when it comes to his girls, especially his youngest, Ariel – a doting and deeply devoted dad.
Vocal range: booming Baritone to strong E.

Ursula: To play female in her 30’s or 40’s. A Sea Witch and Triton’s estranged (and none-to-happy-about-it) sister, banished forever for dabbling in The Black Arts. Personality as huge as her ambition. Tentacles as numerous as her devilish spells. Wildly smart, sinister and sarcastic. Luxuriously sexy, sultry and statuesque. Desperate to overthrow her brother and reclaim the undersea realm once and for all!
Vocal range: Dramatic Alto down to E. Big Belt to C# with strong head voice to a G.

Grimsby: To play male in his 30s - 50s. Prince Eric’s British guardian. Long-suffering, no-nonsense and big-hearted. More a companion and confidant than a guardian, without whose astute counsel Eric would be lost, and at sea. A source of advice, a center of gravity. Occasionally exasperated by, but entirely devoted to, his young charge, the Prince.
Vocal range: Light character vocals only, patter a la Gilbert and Sullivan.

Sebastian: To play Caribbean male in his 20’s - 50’s. A crab. The court composer, world-class suck-up to King Triton, and a ‘side-stepper’ by nature. Ariel’s unwilling protector under the sea, and later, in the inhospitable world above. Speaks with a Caribbean accent. Good sense of comedy, good dancer and singer.
Vocal range: Strong character calypso sound. Baritone to E.

Scuttle: To play male in his 30’s or 40’s. A seagull. Fancies himself the ocean’s Greatest Living Expert on humans and their peculiar (and often revolting) stuff. Full of confidence, positivity, and, of course, feathers. Ariel depends on him for the bird’s-eye view of the world and life. A real song and dance man-type, will tap.
Vocal range: Very strong character Tenor or Baritenor with a solid high A.

Flounder: To play a boy fish of 10 - 12 who can sing and move well. A little fish in a big pond. A faithful friend small enough to look up to the little mermaid, Ariel. What he lacks in courage he more than makes up for in enthusiasm. Vocal range: Boy soprano with good pop sensibility. Belt to a strong D.

Flotsam and Jetsam: To play 20’s or 30’s. Two eels, high-voltage low-lifes who are Ursula’s lackeys and partners in crime. Ssslippery, ssslimy sssnakes in the (sea) grass. Good comic actors and good movers.
Vocal range: Light seductive tenor to B with falsetto to a high D.

Please note that this production will use smoke and haze in accordance with guidelines established with Actors’ Equity Association.

[UncleEd]

Is there anywhere to hear the demos now? I'm dying to hear them.

[Disneykid]

Some people on YouTube took some of demos and matched them up with the actual animated film clips and stills. Here you go:

Wasting Away

Part of Your World

Part of Your World (Reprise)

Poor Unfortunate Souls

If Only

If Only/Part of Your World Finale

[Atlantica]

Thank you so much for the poster! Its breath-taking. I just KNEW they would use a variation on the original teaser poster. It too good a poster to ignore! One of Disney's best I think; so simple, that it becomes stunning and captivating. LOVE IT!

[Nandor]

Is there anywhere to hear the demos now? I'm dying to hear them.

I have the demo-album (except for the song Part Of Your World). I can try uploading it when I get home (this tuesday).
I got them from a great blog about the musical. I think the songs are still on there as well. I'll post the link as soon as I find it again.

[Disney Duster]

I have the demo-album (except for the song Part Of Your World). I can try uploading it when I get home (this tuesday).
I got them from a great blog about the musical. I think the songs are still on there as well. I'll post the link as soon as I find it again.

Ummm...you mean this blog?

I'm not trying to sound mean, but all you had to do was look on the page before this one. Page 3. Anyway, I checked and the links don't seem to work. You can check for yourself if you want.

[Disney's Divinity]

Also, there was this casting call that actually revealed that Ursula will in fact be King Triton's sister, as the Platinum Edition's deleted scenes had played around with. So she's Ariel's aunt. Ew.

Ew? I think you mean YAY!!!! I guess I was right in thinking they'd up the ante once it was on Broadway. Besides, within the context of the movie, Triton and Ursula are very similar in feature. They both have large bodies with rather small heads. And their noses are variants of one another.

They also throw bolts of lightning when things don't go their way...

[Disney Duster]

Well, Disney's Divinity, you had some really good points, even to the point where I realized they do have similar appearences. But having the Sea Witch be Ariel's aunt is really messing with the original tale. Happy endings, okay. But now the relationships are different? Then again, they did make the sea witch a villain when she wasn't a villain in the original tale. It's just so much like Scar wanting the throne from his brother. Plus, Ursula is so very different from everyone in the family, despite size and nose. But if Ariel's sisters all have different colored hair and different colored tails, I guess it's just stretching things a little farther.

So after all of that, I guess I said "ew" because it's even creepier that her aunt did that too her. I would think that if she was Ariel's aunt she wouldn't have been so removed from Ariel emotionally. Morgana acted a bit like a mother to Melody. I would think Ursula would have had something similar going on with Ariel. Hey, if Morgana is Ursula's sister, she's Melody's Grandaunt, right?

[SpringHeelJack]

I'm kind of hoping that the rumors of using rollerblades are false...it sounds so cheesy. Broadway doesn't need another "Starlight Express".

[Disney's Divinity]

Plus, Ursula is so very different from everyone in the family, despite size and nose. But if Ariel's sisters all have different colored hair and different colored tails, I guess it's just stretching things a little farther.

Well, I've always attributed Ursula's strange appearance to her connection with the "Black Arts." From what was said in the series, purple is her favorite color. Perhaps she changed her look to match her personality? It could also be possible that using magic eventually had an effect on her. Dunno. Maybe their parents were different species?

So after all of that, I guess I said "ew" because it's even creepier that her aunt did that too her. I would think that if she was Ariel's aunt she wouldn't have been so removed from Ariel emotionally.

Maybe Ursula was banished long before she could grow a familial connection with Ariel? It's also likely that, once you figure out how her wicked little mind works, Ursula just believes she's returning the favor. I mean, Triton banished his own sister, so what does being Ariel's aunt account for anyway?

Morgana acted a bit like a mother to Melody. I would think Ursula would have had something similar going on with Ariel. Hey, if Morgana is Ursula's sister, she's Melody's Grandaunt, right?

I tend to exclude TLMII from the entire canon. It's just nicer that way.

Sorry if I disected your post. It helps me get my points across easier.

[UncleEd]

That blog links to a site with all the songs but Human Stuff. Here is the link:


http://www.4shared.com/dir/915228/6cf92 ... rmaid.html


So, Nandor, you can get Part of YOur World. I still need to find HUman Stuff. What I like to do is take the new songs and demos and extended versions and splice them into a complete definitive version. I have done that with all the Alan Menken stuff and for the most part they sound fabulous. Does anyone else ever do this?


Is there a CD of the broadway Beauty & the Beast demos out there? If so, are any of the songs different from the show?


As for Ursula being Ariel's aunt, I've always known that since the film first came out because it was in many of the tie-in books. It's never bugged me. If you think it's weird look at Scar in the Lion King. He had no qualms about killing his nephew and brother. What';s wrong with Ursula, although they sure do use this sibling theme a lot in the recent animated features. There was Triton and Ursula, Scar and Mufasa, Hades and Zeus, and probably a few others.


My favorite one of the family relationships was how Aladdin had 3 fathers. In the Marvel comics there was a story where he went back in time and unknowingly met his mother. I think her name was Xenia. I forget the dad's name but it seems like it was something generic like Hamed, which is also Jasmine's father's name.


The second Aladdin father was the strangest and later covered up. In an episode of the series a villain called Mosenwrath revealed he and Aladdin were brothers and that Jafar was their father!! This segment was cut in reairings after the 3rd film was announced.


Then there is the Aladdin dad we all know from Aladdin & the King of Thieves.

[Disney Duster]

Disney's Divinity, on the contrary, you showed me you actually read my post thoroughly that way! I don't see why Ursula would do that, but I suppose there could be this: When King Triton banished Ursula, he made her an octopus so that no one would know/remember that he and her were connected, because he didn't want to be associated with her! I think that's more plausible than her just changing herself because she likes it, unless she changed herself to remove her looks from Triton's for that same reason: disassociation.

they sure do use this sibling theme a lot in the recent animated features. There was Triton and Ursula, Scar and Mufasa, Hades and Zeus, and probably a few others.

This is exactly one of the reasons why I didn't want Usrula to be related to Ariel. It's been done so many times! But if it was originally planned, well, all those other movies you mentioned came out after, so in a way, they would be stealing the related idea from The Little Mermaid.

UncleEd, you really gave a lot of impressive information. I never knew about Aladdin's "three fathers"! That's incredible, and shows how spin-off stories and sequels can change/ruin original stories quite a bit! At least messing with continuity and such.

Also, if they had Ursula as her aunt in tie-in books, that's very interesting because the movie came out not long after I was born, and I would have had some books. I looked at a coloring book once that had a completely different set of events at the wedding, where Scuttle tried to lift a mirror onto the ship to show Eric Vanessa's reflection. I know the script originally planned for it the mirror to break, but then the water that had spilled on the deck from the animals' splashing revealed Vanessa's reflection, and Eric broke the spell.

Anyway, I don't remember anything mentioning Ursula as Ariel's aunt, so I guess I never saw those books...

[Atlantica]

I actually have 'Human Stuff' if anyone want it! What would be the best way to give it to you all?

[The Little Merboy]

Human Stuff
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?a ... 325B0E3194

[Nandor]

That blog links to a site with all the songs but Human Stuff. Here is the link:
http://www.4shared.com/dir/915228/6cf92 ... rmaid.html

So, Nandor, you can get Part of YOur World.

Thanks for posting the link, but that file only contains the reprise. Apparently, Kerry Butler wasn't happy with her rendition of Part Of Your World, so she doesn't want it posted online. I don't know wether this is true or not, because it would seem weird she doesn't like that one posted, but has no problem with the rest being on there.
Personally, I don't really care for Kerry's Ariel. She just doesn't seem to have the right range (especially noticable at the end of Beyond My Wildest Dreams). I would love for Jodi to sing in the new songs for a SE CD, but I guess that's one dream that won't be coming true...

[Atlantica]

Thats what I want to happen! I would so love to hear Jodi sing those new songs! But that is a dream that just wont happen.....*sigh*.........

I really hope she goes to the premiere of the musical though.

[The Little Merboy]

Thats funny you say that Nador, because you can listen to a streaming audio of her "Part of Your World". On Kerry's official site, so that rumor is very false.

[UncleEd]

Why couldn’t Ursula had made herself a squid because she prefers that form to a mermaid? I’ve been hearing that in the broadway show she’ll be a mermaid though like the concept art on the DVD. Not surprising in that a squid body would be hard to pull off on stage.


I’m glad you enjoyed my sharing of knowledge. You actually shared one I had never heard. I never saw that coloring book with the alternate Scuttle ending. Thanks for sharing!


In the 1989 novelization all that stuff in the opening with the sailors telling Eric about Triton’s “witch of a sister” is there. I’ll have to see if anything else “new” is there as well. There was a new novelization done in 1993 by A.L. Singer that is now used as the official one where the first version has been forgotten.


I know quite a bit about the Alan Menken films. I was 9 when Mermaid came out and 16 when Hercules debuted and I’ve mostly felt let down by Disney after Hercules. But I was into this stuff in high school like some people are Trekkies and such. These films made me go to college to get a degree in animation but now I just write books based off of my animated film scripts.


As far as I know I have every Aladdin spin off story up through 2000. There may have been more past that. I just couldn’t keep up in college. Another interesting thing was Jafar came back at least 3 times other than in the Return of Jafar. There was the famous comic book sequel. A book for kids where he came back and reformed. And I forget the third.


One more interesting bit of Aladdin trivia. THere was a song called To Be Free that was on a CBS ice skating special that's different from the song of the same name in the Aladdin stage show. If I ever find my VHS of this I'll post the song since I doubt it was ewver released officially.


Don’t rule out a Jodi Benson CD with new Mermaid songs. Susan Egan put bother her cut Mermaid song and the new Beauty song on CD’s.


Who is Kerry Butler and what’s her site address?

[littlemermaidbroadway]

wow, thank you for supporting my blog. Sorry about the broken links, i will try to fix them as soon as possible.

Just thought i would post up here and say thank you for every one's support in visiting my blog.

Just letting you know that there are some possible new songs for ariel, triton, ariels sisters and the others... visit the blog [littlemermaid.blogspot.com] for more info! This is very exciting!

i hope this isn't seen as rude, considering this is my first post... ... any more gossip, you know where to find me...