By Kim McDarison
Performances of the Fort Atkinson High School production of “The Little Mermaid” will be held Thursday, Nov. 18 through Sunday Nov. 21.
On Monday, the full cast of lovable Little Mermaid characters held a dress rehearsal. From staging, to costuming — and complete with music from a 15-piece pit orchestra under the direction of Justin Steger — the pageantry came to life in full and vibrant sound and color.
The performance features all the familiar songs associated with The Little Mermaid story, including such favorites as “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” and more.
In all, the full two-act performance is filled with 28 songs.
The Fort Atkinson High School performance of The Little Mermaid is based on a book written by Doug Wright, with music written by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater.
The tale of the Little Mermaid is further based on a Hans Christian Anderson story and the Disney film by the same name produced by Howard Ashman and John Musker, and written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements.
The Fort Atkinson High School production is choreographed by Doug Reed and directed by Kiah Snow.
The Fort Atkinson High School production is presented through special arrangement with Music Theater International (MTI), according to information supplied by the Fort Atkinson High School Performing Arts Program.
The show will he presented Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 18-20, at 7:30 p.m. A fourth show will be held Sunday, Nov. 21, at 1:30 p.m.
Tickets cost $16 each and can be purchased online by visiting: www.fortatkinsonmusic.org, or through email: boxoffice@fortschools.org, and https://bit.ly/fahs_mermaid.
All performances will be held in the Fort Atkinson High School Theater.
Cast
The cast of the Fort Atkinson High School performance of The Little Mermaid includes:
Abbey Hoffman as “Ariel”
Jackson Sitkiewicz as “Prince Eric”
Jack McDonough as “Pilot”
Oisin Riedlinger as “Grimsby”
Emerson Hagner as “Flounder”
Nathan Hefty as “Scuttle”
Cole McDonald as “King Triton”
Lily Rodriguez as “Sebastian”
Kayla Fehrman as “Flotsam”
Ashlynn Hampton as “Jetsam”
Kyra Johnson as “Ursula”
Elizabeth Barganz as “Chef Louis”
Mersisters: Alayna Riddle, Lexi Rottmann, Georgia Diagne, Alex Garrett-Grandt, Mara Zanin, and Nora Nelson
Ensemble: Melanie Belzer, Kai Cluver, Georgia Daigne, Alex Garrett-Grandt, Courtney Majeres, Jack McDonough, Nora Nelson, Alayna Riddell, Lexi Rottmann, Willow Severin, Joshua Reynolds and Mara Zanin.
Pictures from Monday’s dress rehearsal follow.
“Grimsby,” played by Oisin Riedlinger, from left, “Prince Eric,” played by Jackson Sitkiewitz, and “Pilot,” played by Jack McDonough sail their ship across the waves, played by members of the ensemble dressed in blue.
“Ariel,” the little mermaid, played by Abbey Hoffman, greets the audience.
“King Triton,” played by Cole McDonald, expresses his concern for his daughter.
Alayna Riddell, who plays Ariel’s sister “Aquata,” sings on stage during her mic check.
Ariel and members of the cast dance on stage.
“Jetsam,” played by Ashlynn Hampton, from left, “Ursula,” played by Kyra Johnson, and “Flotsam,” played by Kayla Fehrman sing and dance on stage.
Seated on his throne, “King Triton,” played by Cole McDonald, holds court.
“Prince Eric,” played by Jackson Sitkiewitz, sings during Monday’s dress rehearsal.
“Chef Louis,” played by Elizabeth Barganz, sings and dances during her mic check.
Members of the orchestra play from the pit.
Jackson Klitzkie plays the drums.
Actors perform on stage as the orchestra, directed by Justin Steger, plays from the pit below.
Student sound technician Jack Jonas mans the sound board during Monday’s dress rehearsal.
Ariel’s sisters dance. They are (not in depicted order): “Aquata,” Alayna Riddell; “Andrina,” Lexi Rottmann; “Arista,” Georgia Diagne; “Atina,” Alex Garrett-Grandt; “Adella,” Mara Zanin, and “Alanna,” Nora Nelson.
Members of the backstage crew make scenery ready in advance of Monday’s dress rehearsal.
“Ariel,” played by Abbey Hoffman, at left, and “Flounder,” played by Emerson Hagner, take a short break in the orchestra pit before their stage call.
Kyra Johnson, who plays “Ursula,” seated, at center, waits to be photographed by John Collins, managing director of the Fort Atkinson High School Performing Arts Center. Kayla Fehrman, who plays “Flotsam,” at right, watches performers on stage as she waits her turn to be photographed.
Director of the Fort Atkinson High School’s production of “The Little Mermaid” Kiah Snow watches as performers find their way on stage and perform mic checks in advance of Monday’s dress rehearsal.
Kim McDarison photos.
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