The Little Mermaid was my favorite Disney movie as a girl. I mean, who can't relate? A teenager who feels like she doesn't belong falls for a boy her dad hates (though in my case, Dad was totally right), and meets a villain who looks strangely like her Aunt Rose (don't be mad, Mom!). Well...maybe you can't relate to the Aunt Rose part, but the rest is pretty standard teenage fare. So I was enamored. I loved the songs, the energy, the absolute fun of the show. I loved the sacrifices and mistakes she made...and who didn't love Prince Eric? He's totally the best Disney prince.
Now I have to admit - when it opened on Broadway, I was perplexed. How will they do underwater? Rollerskates? Disney's very own Xanadu (I'm really dating myself with that one)? I was not impressed with the idea. I didn't see it. I really didn't want to. In fact, it wasn't until my niece Lauren (name drop) played Ursula in her 8th-grade production of the show that I bothered to see it, and even then, my focus was on her (she was splendid), and I ignored the rest because I really didn't like it.
At all.
It seems to be starting like that a lot with the recent shows we've done at FMS. I start out hating the show, the idea of the show (there's love, and middle schoolers struggle A LOT with love), and then for some reason (I get outvoted), we choose to do the show, and I find myself sitting in the light booth upstairs, alone, and crying when I see four young people standing on the stage singing a quartet that most adults I know couldn't master, and my heart melts (it's really spectacular).
And that's how it was with Frelinghuysen's production of The Little Mermaid.
So we put our imaginations into overdrive, conjured up with some interesting ideas for sets, costumes, and movement. We asked the kids to stretch their imaginations, as well as their acting, singing, and playing chops - because the music for this show is HARD!!! And we set off on a journey that brings us here tonight.
The cast, crew, and pit have worked so hard to bring this show to life, and I hope you can see and appreciate all they have done to make us love this show. They are truly amazing in every way, and it has been our honor and pleasure to work with them for the last three months.
Special thanks goes out to all our families who put up with us being absent on nights and weekends, and even when we're home, not being totally home because we're figuring, or sewing or gluing, or typing or internet searching how to make a coral reef from foam, or looking for Baby Shark costumes on Amazon.
Thanks also to the amazing custodial and secretarial staff at FMS who keeps us organized and sparkling, not to mention the teachers and administrators who support us in any way we ask.
Finally, we are thankful for the students and their families who agree to take this crazy journey with us. Thank you or giving us your time, your energy, and your dedication to the show. It is not easy to produce a musical, and it takes a village. We are so lucky to be a part of this little village known as Frelinghuysen Middle School, and we thank you all for being such a supportive part of our theatre family!
Enjoy the show!
