The Little Mermaid on Broadway

UncleEd · Post by **UncleEd** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 9:17 am

Drat! Just when I thought I now had the Complete LIttle Mermaid (which runs just under 80 minutes with all my demos, animated songs, and the new songs.) I hope we get to hear them soon!!!

I wondered why Fathoms Below wasn't on there. Glad that it's coming to the show.

crunkcourt · Post by **crunkcourt** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 9:29 am

It looks like Sierra Boggess may play Ariel, she is currently playing Christine in Phantom of the Opera.
http://broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=15323

Sierra Boggess to Play Ariel in Bway-Bound Little Mermaid?
Back to the Article

by BWW News Desk

The Denver Post reports that Sierra Boggess - who currently plays Christine in Phantom - the Las Vegas Spectacular - has been offered the role of Ariel in the upcoming Broadway production of Disney's The Little Mermaid.

The 24 year-old performer, according to the article "cannot comment on the offer until a contract has been signed, which is expected by mid-February." The offer was reportedly made on Tuesday, January 23rd, and Boggess' father Mike commented "...She's originating a role called the Little Mermaid in a show called The Little Mermaid that's going to Broadway? What's to question?"

No comment, however, will be made by Disney officials until casting for the entire show is complete.

Boggess - who has been a fan of Disney's animated film The Little Mermaid since the age of 7 - toured in Les Miserables prior to becoming one of two actresses starring as Christine in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, an abridged version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera.

The Little Mermaid will receive its pre-Broadway engagement at the Denver Center Attractions at Ellie Caulkins Opera House beginning July 26, 2007.

The production will then begin previews on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street) on November 3, 2007 and open officially on December 6, 2007.

The Little Mermaid is, according to press notes, "based on the Academy Award-winning film and the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, 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."

With a score composed by eight-time Academy Award-winner Alan Menken and his late partner Howard Ashman, the show will feature the classic songs “Part of Your World,” “Kiss the Girl” and the Academy Award-winning Best Original Song, “Under the Sea,” as well as nine new songs by Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater. The book for the new musical is by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Doug Wright.

The creative team for the show include Francesca Zambello (director), Stephen Mear (choreographer), George Tsypin (scenic design), Tatiana Noginova (costume design) and Tony Award-winner Natasha Katz (lighting design).

The Lunt-Fontanne is currently home to Menken’s long-running Broadway hit Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, which will end its historic run on Sunday, July 29, 2007.

Visit www.disneyonbroadway.com for more information.

Nandor · Post by **Nandor** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 10:26 am

I wonder what That World Above is going to be like. Will it be replacing Part Of That/Your World? I didn't like Triton's version in the demo, so I do hope they've changed it a lot...

Disney Duster · Post by **Disney Duster** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:15 am

UncleEd wrote: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.

OMG NOOOOO! One of the biggest reason I love Ursula is because of her look! I dont' care what anyone says, Ursula isn't Ursula if she's not an octopus. And I actually think that her octopus costume would not be hard at all. When I saw The Little Mermaid On Ice, she was just wearing the costume like a dress that kept the tentacles buoyant, so they weren't dragging on the ground, and she skated freely. But Disney made Ursula an Octopus for a reason OMG what's next Flotsam and Jetsam aren't eels?!?!!

The Aladdin stuff is a all fascinating. It's like The Little Mermaid comics, but the Aladdin comics tell what happens after movie, and The Little Mermaid comics tell us what happens before the movie. I'm sorry Disney dissapointed you after Trekkie-like dedication! But they're planning a return to former glory... Oh, and I totally found this whole long script for the alternate ending with Scuttle and the mirror, Glut the shark chasing Ariel to the wedding ship, and more! If you want it, just ask!

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

Oh, well thanks for popping in here and telling us about new songs! I'm hoping that "The World Above" is perhaps song when Ariel is around the sunken ships, and then King Triton says a reprise of it when he scolds her for being on the surface. Also, I'm glad to finally hear that Flounder is getting to sing, and with Ariel's sisters, no less! I'm also glad there will be a longer Fathoms Below! And thanks for working on the links!

Crunkcourt, thanks! Although, I don't care who's in it as long as they're good!

Jake Lipson · Post by **Jake Lipson** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:40 am

Wow - I really don't want Beauty and the Beast to close, but I *love* the Mermaid demos, especially If Only. So sad.

I'm wondering wheather or not there is a way to download the entire demo recording at once, like in a .ZIP or something. That's how I'd like to do it, since I can't seem to get the individual ones I've been listening to to download. Plus, since I'd obviously want the whole thing, getting it in one swoop would be best. Can anyone help?

The Little Merboy · Post by **The Little Merboy** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:57 am

crunkcourt wrote:It looks like Sierra Boggess may play Ariel, she is currently playing Christine in Phantom of the Opera.
http://broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=15323
Sierra Boggess to Play Ariel in Bway-Bound Little Mermaid?
Back to the Article

by BWW News Desk

The Denver Post reports that Sierra Boggess - who currently plays Christine in Phantom - the Las Vegas Spectacular - has been offered the role of Ariel in the upcoming Broadway production of Disney's The Little Mermaid.

The 24 year-old performer, according to the article "cannot comment on the offer until a contract has been signed, which is expected by mid-February." The offer was reportedly made on Tuesday, January 23rd, and Boggess' father Mike commented "...She's originating a role called the Little Mermaid in a show called The Little Mermaid that's going to Broadway? What's to question?"

No comment, however, will be made by Disney officials until casting for the entire show is complete.

Boggess - who has been a fan of Disney's animated film The Little Mermaid since the age of 7 - toured in Les Miserables prior to becoming one of two actresses starring as Christine in Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, an abridged version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera.

The Little Mermaid will receive its pre-Broadway engagement at the Denver Center Attractions at Ellie Caulkins Opera House beginning July 26, 2007.

The production will then begin previews on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street) on November 3, 2007 and open officially on December 6, 2007.

The Little Mermaid is, according to press notes, "based on the Academy Award-winning film and the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, 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."

With a score composed by eight-time Academy Award-winner Alan Menken and his late partner Howard Ashman, the show will feature the classic songs “Part of Your World,” “Kiss the Girl” and the Academy Award-winning Best Original Song, “Under the Sea,” as well as nine new songs by Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater. The book for the new musical is by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Doug Wright.

The creative team for the show include Francesca Zambello (director), Stephen Mear (choreographer), George Tsypin (scenic design), Tatiana Noginova (costume design) and Tony Award-winner Natasha Katz (lighting design).

The Lunt-Fontanne is currently home to Menken’s long-running Broadway hit Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, which will end its historic run on Sunday, July 29, 2007.

Visit www.disneyonbroadway.com for more information.

Oh no

I am deeply saddened by this

I wish Kerry got the role, hopefully this isn't true.

Disney's Divinity · Post by **Disney's Divinity** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 3:26 pm

Well, I wouldn't mind the change that much. I don't know if she was just overexaggerating on the demos or what, but Butler was a really bad Ariel. The only thing I don't understand is why they got random people to do the demos if they weren't going to be the actual actors? Not that I'm complaining. Many of the voices weren't great for the parts. Sebastian was too...fake, Triton and Ursula's voices weren't deep enough and Flotsam / Jetsam were too annoying. The only character I didn't have any qualms with was Eric.

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 not too sure that'll happen though. For one, in the "Poor Unfortunate Souls" demo, when Ursula's explaining the deal, she says, "Oh, snap my tentacle, one small thing!" Although I'm sure they could change things around, I don't think they'd go that far. Also, on the casting list on the preceding page, it mentions Ursula's tentacles as well. Ursula's appearance gives an impression of her character more than anything else. Changing that would make her an entirely different character. I could understood if they changed her to have normal skin, but getting rid of her tentacles would be a big mistake.

Oh, well thanks for popping in here and telling us about new songs! I'm hoping that "The World Above" is perhaps song when Ariel is around the sunken ships, and then King Triton says a reprise of it when he scolds her for being on the surface. Also, I'm glad to finally hear that Flounder is getting to sing, and with Ariel's sisters, no less! I'm also glad there will be a longer Fathoms Below! And thanks for working on the links!

It's too bad there wasn't any info on another Ursula song. *sighs* Still, I'm glad they gave Ariel more songs. I thought it was strange that the girl with the voice didn't get more songs than the other characters. Now I can only hope that they get a good Sebastion.

By the way, does anyone know if they're planning on making a CD of all the songs in the musical after it's hit Broadway? I don't know if they do that. Was it done for Beauty and the Beast?

Wonderlicious · Post by **Wonderlicious** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 3:34 pm

Disney's Divinity wrote:By the way, does anyone know if they're planning on making a CD of all the songs in the musical after it's hit Broadway? I don't know if they do that. Was it done for Beauty and the Beast?

I think practically every Broadway/West End show does that, so I'm guessing that there will be a soundtrack album.

UncleEd · Post by **UncleEd** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 4:45 pm

What's always bugged me about the Little Mermaid comics and cartoon is that they made the mer world so modern with phones and rock music and cars and mobsters, etc. It completely removed it from the fairy tale realm of the film. I still ate it up though.

Here's a Mermaid factoid. THere were 2 comic book stories about Eric and the Princess of Glowerhaven. In the 1990 comic book the reason it didn't work out was because she was a lot taller than Eric and they made a gag out of it. In 1997 they did another version where the princess was kidnapped by Pirates and Eric saved her but they decided they just wanted to be friends. I kind of liked that one and if you flipped the book around there was an Ariel story and both had points that overlapped that you got when you read both.

I really would have liked a post Hercules sequel. AFter all, they changed the ending so they could do a sequel so it's maddening when they didn't and left a gaping plot hole.

Oh, yes, please post that if you can. I'd love to see it. The only script I have is a Draft 1 of Toy Story 2 that I got on Ebay. It isn't as good as the fnal film but ther's some inside jokes that reference the script. Like when Rex says "Why don't we use some balloons and float to the top" they did reach Al's apartment that way in Draft 1. The reason I don't like this draft is there's too much of the Prospector and Senorita Cactus and Woody being divva collectibles, Bullseye talks, and in the end Al chases Woody with his car and tries to run him down. Woody's hat ends up getting sucked into the car's exaust and damaged. I just find that Al seeing the toys alive and chasing them would be so lame. I'm so glad we got the version of TS2 we got.

In one of the demos I thought I heard Ursula reference being an angel fish too?

And how could you not like the voice they had for Scuttle? He's a dead ringer for Buddy Hackett and some of the things he says are so Buddy Hackett-ish. I didn't care much for the character in the film but I like his songs in this show.

Jake Lipson · Post by **Jake Lipson** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 9:41 pm

Wonderlicious wrote:I think practically every Broadway/West End show does that, so I'm guessing that there will be a soundtrack album.

Yes, that's standard - it's great marketing and brings in even more money, aside from preserving some part of the show. However, it will be a *cast recording* -- soundtracks are film and are named such because of the sound track that accompanies the picture. There's no such thing for a Broadway show which is live, so they are called "cast recordings" or "cast albums."

The Little Merboy · Post by **The Little Merboy** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:51 am

UncleEd wrote:And how could you not like the voice they had for Scuttle? He's a dead ringer for Buddy Hackett and some of the things he says are so Buddy Hackett-ish. I didn't care much for the character in the film but I like his songs in this show.

Thats exactly what I thought, sounded just like Buddy.

littlemermaidbroadway · Tue Jan 30, 2007 6:56 am

i think (as far as i know) that it was buddy hacket before he died - thats what i have heard any how.

I find it odd that on the audtion list [http://littlemermaidbroadway.blogspot.c ... tions.html] there is no mention of ariel's sisters at all - considering they have 1 song between them... odd indeed.

Nandor · Post by **Nandor** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 8:21 am

Don't they have two songs now? Daughters Of Triton and the one with Flounder?
Maybe they want to have Ariel cast before they cast her sisters?
There are too many questions in this post.

UncleEd · Post by **UncleEd** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 8:27 am

I’m not sure if it’s really Buddy or not but it’s very close. Sometimes he sounds like Buddy, sometimes not but this actor has his essence. And some of the things he says are so Buddy Hackett like “You Go Go!” or how he says “slip extra chips into your cookie”. That’s dead ringer Buddy Hackett. I wonder how the seagulls will be played in the show, full bodied actors or puppets?

And speaking of Buddy, does anyone have the song Buddy Hackett wrote for Scuttle and sang on the Tonight Show that is referred to in the Little Mermaid commentary? I’d like to hear it. Maybe that’s something you could add to your Mermaid blog because I’m sure lots of people have never heard it before.

I really like how they handled Ursula in the new songs too. She still retains that 1920’s era vamp. And the Howard Ashman kind of humor is in the new material. I’m not sure if there is an official term for it but I think of it as a Long Island New York Jewish kind of humor that you see in much of broadway films and it was brought into Mermaid but not at as high of a scale as in a broadway show. The Mermaid musical has more than the feature but it fits. The only thing I don’t like is the “Oh, My God” Ariel line. As stated before, it just doesn’t fit her.

The Little Merboy · Post by **The Little Merboy** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:36 pm

UncleEd wrote:The only thing I don’t like is the “Oh, My God” Ariel line. As stated before, it just doesn’t fit her.

Yeah, I hope that doesn't make it into the show. I like how Disney doesn't add in religion, it's better that way. Keep everyone happy

UmbrellaFish · Post by **UmbrellaFish** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 4:06 pm

I agree with the "Oh my god!" line needed to be taken out. Ariel would never say that. Just stick with "Oh my gosh!" and one of the best lines, "Oh my gosh! My father's going to kill me!"

Anway, please, please, please don't put them on roller-skates!

The Little Merboy · Post by **The Little Merboy** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 6:28 pm

UmbrellaFish wrote:I agree with the "Oh my god!" line needed to be taken out. Ariel would never say that. Just stick with "Oh my gosh!" and one of the best lines, "Oh my gosh! My father's going to kill me!"

Anway, please, please, please don't put them on roller-skates!

Yeah, why would she all of a sudden be saying "Oh my god", sooo not Ariel. But if it's taken out, "Oh my gosh, how very odd". Hmmmm, doesn't rhyme, or flow

Glad I'm not a song writer.

As for roller skates

that would be HORRIBLE! And wouldn't that be dangerous, skating around on stage, I smell big lawsuit.

SpringHeelJack · Post by **SpringHeelJack** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 7:11 pm

There's been skating on Broadway in musicals before, though. "Starlight Express" had the actors in rollerblades the entire show, and there was a fair amount in "The Rink".

Ariel'sprince · Post by **Ariel'sprince** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 7:52 am

UncleEd wrote: My favorite one of the family relationships was how Aladdin had 3 fathers.

oh,wow,someone was a bad girl.

UncleEd · Post by **UncleEd** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 7:58 am

I don't mind when religion is in a film or art. I think the religious stuff in Hunchback in beautiful. I just think Ariel saying "Oh my God" makes her sound like an air headed valley girl and I find it offensive that she takes God's name in vain and you know lots of other people would take it to an even more extreme than that.

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