THE LITTLE MERMAID Write-Up

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 11:54am

Disney Theatrical has big, big plans for "The Little Mermaid"

With rehearsals for Disney's next Broadway musical just about to get underway, Jim Hill raises the curtain a little. Revealing to JHM readers what he knows about the sets & costume design for this new show

As Ed Sullivan used to say, get ready for " ... a really big show." Or should I say " ... a really TALL show" ?

Either way, that's all that the folks at Disney Theatrical can talk about these days. The immense size of the sets that scenic designer George Tsypin has created for their newest musical, "The Little Mermaid."

"What I can tell you is it's big — physically. It has scale because George Tsypin works with scale. He was an architect, and he comes at things from a very structural point of view. It's a pretty aggressive design sense, which is great. I knew of him through the opera world through Julie [Taymor]. It's his first Broadway musical."

And just like Ms. Taymor did with her Tony Award-winning version of "The Lion King," Tsypin chose not to try & replicate the look of Disney's 1989 animated version of "The Little Mermaid." But -- rather -- went back to the source material (I.E. Hans Christian Andersen's original story) to draw his inspiration. With the hope that George might then create something that looked both classic & romantic.

Well, according to what Disney Theatrical insiders have told me, Tsypin delivered in spades. Though the end result is a show that looks decidedly different from the animated cartoon, the sets for Broadway's "Mermaid" still look absolutely amazing. With all these tall flats & scrims that literally tower over the stage. Where even the waves in the ocean are rendered in the Art Nouveau style. And plexi-glass & projections combine to give audiences the impression that Ariel & her finny friends really are living "Under the Sea."

Speaking of the fish in this show ... The stage version of "The Little Mermaid" will actually use a variety of techniques in order to create all of the creatures that one would expect to find in Triton's undersea kingdom. In some cases, the fish will just be puppets. While in other cases (Particularly when that character has a speaking and/or singing role), the performers will then wear their fish body on their heads as sort of a hat / mask combo. With their own mouth & eyes supplying the mouth & eyes for that creature.

Which (I know) sounds kind of odd. But those who have actually seen Tatiana Noginova's costumes in action say that they really look spectacular. Particularly in the case of Titus Burgess, who plays Sebastian in this Broadway-bound musical. To help sell the idea that this large black man is actually a tiny little crab, Titus's face and hands will first be painted red while the rest of Burgess's body will be hidden by a black and/or camouflage body costume.

As to how these performers will then give the impression that they're actually gliding around under the water, "The Little Mermaid" 's choreographer Stephen Mear came up with a pretty ingenious solution. He's going to have his cast wear modified heelys (You know ? Those skate / sneaker things that the kids all wear today ?). Which will then allow these performers to zoom around the stage as good mer-people should.

Given that "The Little Mermaid" 's cast now has to learn to dance on roller skates plus master the 11 new songs that Alan Menken & Glen Slater has written for this show ... Well, these folks are going to need all six of the weeks that have been set aside for rehearsals (Which get underway shortly, by the way) in order to learn how to properly perform this new musical. Which is going to be quite a challenge, given that "The Little Mermaid" features on-stage storms, magical transformations and even full-sized whales swimming across the stage.

In preparation for this rather intense period of rehearsal, the show's leads and supporting players have spent the last few weeks fulfilling their outside obligations as well as tying up loose ends. Earlier this month, Sierra Boggess (Who's playing the title role from "The Little Mermaid") put in her last few performances as Christine in the Las Vegas production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera." Similarly, Norm Lewis (Who'll be playing King Triton in Disney's new musical) just bowed out of the Broadway revival of "Les Miserables." As did Eddie Korbich, who recently left "The Drowsy Chaperone" so that he could then prepare to play the part of Scuttle.

And as for Sherie Rene Scott (Who landed the truly juicy role of Ursula the Sea Witch) ... This Disney Theatrical vet (I.E. Scott originated the part of Amneris in "Aida" and regularly stopped that show with her over-the-top performance as the fashion-conscious queen) managed to sneak in one last try-out of her new cabaret act, "a work in progress" earlier this month before she then had to strap on those tentacles and go back to work for the Mouse.

After rehearsing "The Little Mermaid" for all of June and most of July in NYC, the cast & crew will then leave NYC for Denver. Where Disney's newest musical then begins a seven week out-of-town try-out at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts on July 26th. From there, it's back to New York City, where previews begin on November 3rd. And -- if all goes according to plan -- "The Little Mermaid" opens on Broadway on December 6th.

Anyway, that's the latest Scuttle(butt) on the Broadway version of "The Little Mermaid." Over the next few months, JHM will periodically be checking in on Disney Theatrical's latest production. And -- from time to time -- we'll be sharing some other tails ... er ... tales of "The Little Mermaid," as this show makes its (hopefully) trouble-free voyage to the Great White Whale ... er ... Way.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 12:09pm

TARZAN part II.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 12:15pm

I disagree. I have a feeling this one will set Disney Theatrics straight ... I hope it garners the same successes as THE LION KING did a decade earlier.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 12:19pm

"'After rehearsing "The Little Mermaid" for all of June and most of July in NYC'"

Umm...They've been in Denver for over a week now.

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 12:20pm

I didn't see Tarzan and it isn't my all time favorite Disney show. I thought the plexiglass was a very good move.

What has got me is the roller skates? Why do they take these kind of risks when a show has to be on stage six days a week? With all of the sets? It must be bad enough with Xanadu but that is only a sequence, unless they took that out of the script?

I hope all of you working on this production have hazard pay. I'll be looking for roller derby like stunts and slippery floors.

I am happy to see they are trying to be creative. New songs? Humm... The face idea sounds reasonable and I have seen it done before, with skates, these Actors need all they can get, to avoid bumping into each other.

Why does some of this make me "seasick" just reading about it?

[jordangirl]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 12:20pm

I agree Mike. Heelys aside (I HATE those things...and I HATE parents glaring at me when their darling runs into me while their darling is on them. Like I harmed their child. Idiots!), I think it's got the potential to be great.

[Elphabuff2]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 12:45pm

Well, jordangirl, I kind of agree with you. But, let's think of it this way. I am always shocked when I see these kids go from walking to gliding. Everytime. And I was in Disney World a week ago, so I saw my fair share. Hopefully it will be more "magical" on stage. I'm interested to see the modifications. I do not feel this will be Tarzan II. I just don't.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 12:50pm

I'm almost more surprised to see kids walking now. LOL. The best was the mom whose kid came to school (where we have to go up and down 8 fllights (4 floors) of stairs numerous times a day) and when she was caled said she "didn't know the child had them on until she was getting on the bus". I'm sorry...I teach this child and she has NO other shoes that look like Heelys.

I'm very hopeful for the show. I think it's got great potential.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 1:08pm

Little Mermaid WILL NOT be Tarzan II. Little Mermaid has a much bigger fan base. Looking at the pictures of Tarzan, it seems as if they had problems in the creative department. I have a feeling the creatives can do so much more in developing the sets, costumes, etc. in Little Mermaid.

[mikeyb16]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 1:11pm

Well by reading that article, seems to me that the Creative Team know exactly what they are doing to make sure that the Musical does extremely well. :)

With the sets, incredible cast, and costume designs all in order, I think this show will be successful I hope (and just) Little Mermaid enjoys the same success as both Beauty & The Beast & The Lion King have. :)

[Julian2]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 1:17pm

I just hope that it not only get praise for its staging, ala Lion King, but also has good writing to support it, contrary to Lion King.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 1:25pm

I hope (and just) Little Mermaid enjoys the same success as both Beauty & The Beast & The Lion King have. :)

- BEAUTY was a long running success with fans and tourists. But it wasn't a critical success. It only won ONE Tony Award. Losing all the major awards to much more deserving PASSION.

So I'm hoping MERMAID can be a critical and artistic success as well as a financial success.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 1:42pm

Fosse is right. They are here. A few cast members have been spotted around town.

[me2]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 4:27pm

On the TARZAN comparison, remember that MERMAID has Alan Menken, who is extremely smart and story-oriented. Collins is smart, but he doesn't have the experience or training for musical theatre like Menken does.
Broadway Blog: 50 Amazing Broadway Performers in 50 Weekdays

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 4:31pm

There were similar articles to this when TARZAN was going into pre-production and they sounded like they knew what they were doing too.
I'm just saying.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 4:45pm

It sounds, dare I say: "dreamy." I am actually really excited about this. And after hearing the demo, I hope this will do great and I hope it will be great.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 4:49pm

i doubt (or at least hope) this won't be a Tarzan 2... as much as i really liked Tarzan and i'm glad I saw it when i went to new york... the biggest problem for me was that the book to Tarzan was HORRIBLE! HORRIBLE! David Henry Hwang... what is wrong with you??? and secondly, the additional music wasn't all that... and i would agree with me2 that ALan Menken knows more than Phil Collins on that regard.... personally... i thought the design to Tarzan was beautiful... but yeah... I'm excited for LIttle Mermaid because it probably has one of the better storylines in general and the music is already classic... still not too sure about the heely thing... but we'll see

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 6:03pm

B.U.M.P.

For those who haven't had the opportunity to read...

[FutureAladdinOnB'Way]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 6:06pm

I agree with ljay889, I hope that Little Mermaid gets critical, artistic, and financial success as the Lion King did!

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 6:12pm

I agree with Julian. I hope The Little Mermaid will be able to be sucessful artistically (like The Lion King) but still tell the story well (unlike The Lion King).

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 6:18pm

THE LION KING got the theatrical design aspect right but the score is just one of the worst on Broadway at the time, IMO (except for the original movie songs, though even a few of them lose stamina on the stage version); then BEAUTY & THE BEAST has a beautiful score--even if Tim Rice is not and will never be Howard Ashman--but feels like a theme park show.
I am hoping that LITTLE MERMAID (with a score by Menken) gets both parts right. So far the only reason I'm looking forward to seeing this show is because of the fantastic Sherie Rene Scott, I hope there are more reasons to enjoy this show come November.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/9/07 at 7:00pm

Well, to be blunt, this worries me. MERMAID is a delicate little story, and I'm hearing about a Tyspin set that towers over the stage? Forgive my hesitation, but this really does sound like yet another MAGIC FLUTE, which had a breathtaking set... just not for that particular production.

Still, I'm curious to see what he's come up with.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 2:41pm

Keep on the positive, friends. Creative knows what they're doing.

[dramadude2]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 3:31pm

I could not agree more about the and heelys, Jordan girl. I think disney is in a position where MERMAID could do horrible but It would financially be very little of a burden. I'm confident that It'll attract at least a small fanbase.

[JBSinger]

Posted: 7/10/07 at 3:40pm

TARZAN had so many things working against it.
1) A designer turned director
2) a pop song-writer writing for the stage (badly)
3) Hwang writing the Book in that warehouse in Brooklyn while they learned how to use the set.

they needed a strong producer to really turn to Hwang and Collins and say - that's not working, write something else. Clearly the director didn't do it. he was too worried about the set.

MERMAID -
1) an experienced opera director
2) an experienced theatrical song-writing team
3) presumably gorgeous sets/great cast
4) An solid story structure that doesn't need much fiddling

I think MERMAID will be Broadway's next B&B. People will flock to see this heartwarming show, with great sets and songs. I can't wait to hear the reports from Denver.