BLT goes ‘under the sea’ for three-week run of Disney musical play
Published 9:58 pm Wednesday, April 24, 2019
A timeless tale is about to be retold on the stage of The Haven.
Brookhaven Little Theatre presents Disney’s “The Little Mermaid LIVE” for a three-weekend run, starting Friday.
“Based on the Disney animated film, the hit Broadway musical and one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories, ‘The Little Mermaid’ is a beautiful love story for all ages,” said Emily Waterloo, executive director and artistic director of BLT. Waterloo is also directing this show, which coincides with the 30th anniversary of the animated Disney movie.
In a magical kingdom fathoms below the waves, Ariel (Anna Walker) is a bored mermaid tired of flipping her fins who wants to party on dry land with two-legged humans. She’s joined in her adventure with Sebastian (Camden Dixon), her crabby sidekick, as she battles the evil sea witch Ursula (Jessica Scott) to win the heart of Prince Eric (Sam Lovorn). Of course, she’s going against the wishes of her father, King Triton (Paden Phillips).
Fans will get a chance to visit with some of the cast Saturday at a meet-and-greet experience from 4:30 to 5 p.m. between the matinee and night performances. Bring a camera to take pictures with Ariel, Flounder, Sebastian, King Triton, Prince Eric, Scuttle and Ursula.
The VIP event will be in the Haven Studio, the newly remodeled area inside The Haven at 126 W. Cherokee St.
Tickets are $10 for the VIP event and are available by calling 601-990-2243 or online at http://bit.ly/CharacterExperience. Proceeds from the meet-and-greet benefit BLT��s educational programs.
The public will have at least 15 chances to see the musical, Waterloo said.
Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with matinee showings Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m., May 3-4 at 7:30 p.m. with matinees showings May 4-5 at 2 p.m., and May 10-11 at 7:30 p.m. with matinees showings May 11-12 at 2 p.m.
All tickets are $20 if not reserving seats with a previously-purchased season pass.
Others in the cast include Lela Beth Waterloo (Flounder), Eric Johnson (Scuttle), Jesse Freeman (Chef Louis), and Cerick Smith and Jimmy Foster (Flotsam and Jetsam). Several other actors portray various characters in the show such as Ariel’s ocean friends and her mermaid sisters as well as the pilot, cabin boy and sailors on Eric’s ship.
A half-dozen actors take their place in the vocal and dance ensemble.
Walker, a 22-year-old actress from Hazlehurst, is making her BLT debut on the Haven stage as Ariel.
“This is her first performance with us but she has been teaching choreography with our new Haven Studio classes,” Waterloo said.