Video clip: Is a former Glinda playing Ariel at Disney World?

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 5/29/11 at 9:17pm

I came across this video on youtube. It's a video of the Disney World attraction "The Voyage of the Little Mermaid." The girl who is playing Ariel in the show looks and sounds like Erin Mackey, who played Glinda in "Wicked" and was also in the show "Sondheim on Sondheim." Is this really her or is it just someone who looks like her?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TL5CS6iBXw&feature=related


Updated On: 5/29/11 at 09:17 PM

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/29/11 at 9:31pm

I don't know.

But many talented performers on Broadway have worked for the Disney Parks and Cruise Line. It's possible.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/29/11 at 9:31pm

That's not Erin Mackey.

I doubt Mackey, who spent the better part of 4 years making very good money in various companies of Wicked, need to resort to hourly work at a theme park at this point. Most of the entertainment cast members at WDW make less than $10 an hour, and a good portion of them make much less than that because they're in the College Program.

I also have no idea if Voyage of the Little Mermaid employs Equity performers. Finding Nemo does, but I don't think this one does.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/29/11 at 10:00pm

The girl in that video is not even close to Mackey. Erin Mackey is a waif with a crystalline voice. That young women is clearly not Mackey.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 5/29/11 at 10:13pm

If that were Erin Mackey I doubt she would be (poorly) lip syncing the song.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/29/11 at 10:43pm

If that were Erin Mackey I doubt she would be (poorly) lip syncing the song.

No, that's an issue with youtube syncing the audio. Ariel sings live in that show. Trust me.

[massofmen]

Posted: 5/29/11 at 10:46pm

right cause being in Wicked is on SUCH a higher artistic level than being in the little mermaid at Disney World..

[thismyshow]

Posted: 5/29/11 at 10:50pm

@adamgreer as of last november finding nemo is a non equity production according to the house manager I spoke with about there park theatrical hiring polices

[sparrman]

Posted: 5/29/11 at 10:52pm

"Most of the entertainment cast members at WDW make less than $10 an hour..."

This is completely untrue. You are confusing the Character department, which is covered by the Teamsters' Union, with the Entertainment department, which is the actors, singers, and dancers covered under Equity. (Not saying being a Character doesn't take talent, or that they aren't "entertaining", only that they aren't compensated fairly.) There is some "gray area" when it comes to dancers, but by and large the dancers in Disney World shows are covered under Equity. Ariel in the Mermaid show is covered under Equity.

No, Disney pay isn't equivalent to a Production contract, but it's way better than $10 an hour.

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 5/29/11 at 10:56pm

http://www.playbill.com/jobs/find/job_detail/37104.html

Looks like it's about $15/hour.

[sparrman]

Posted: 5/30/11 at 12:35am

I'm frankly surprised it's that low. But bear in mind they pay for a minimum of 40 hours per week, regardless of the actual hours, and leads can get above $15.

[PopAria]

Posted: 5/30/11 at 7:31pm

Even if they work 40 hours a week, they spend about half that time lounging in the green room between shows. So although it's something like $ 700- 800 a week for like 20 40-minute shows, they spend a lot of time doing nothing.