Welcome to YAT’s production of The Little Mermaid!
In this show we meet Mermaids and their doting father King Triton, a wicked sea witch, a know-it-all seagull, a loyal crab, and whimsical sea creatures. Above the water is a world of humans; a Prince, his caretaker and a full palace staff. These characters, plus a brilliant score and unique choreography, result in a wildly entertaining show. You will hear familiar songs from Disney’s animated film, along with new music created for the Broadway version. As I delved into the script, I realized The Little Mermaid also holds moral truths that challenge our thinking. The underwater world is forbidden by their King to interact with humans. Triton teaches his kingdom to distrust the human world. He believes all humans are barbarians, refusing to entertain any opposing view. Believing he is protecting his kingdom, he sees only wickedness in their differences. This line of thinking is prevalent in today’s society. In contrast, our Little Mermaid project proves Triton wrong. When humanity comes together with a common purpose regardless of differences, good does occur. May we cultivate the desire to work together for the greater good in our communities, and celebrate our diversity.
Each show, as I compose the Director’s Note, I am swept away by the power of our theatre community. The cast, crew, production staff, and parent volunteers have worked tirelessly to bring this story to life. New friendships are formed, established relationships are bolstered, and unique bonds are forged as we create together. The Little Mermaid is no exception. Originally scheduled for May 2020, the Pandemic forced us to postpone our production. I am thrilled to create with my son, Marc Caro as director and choreographer, Brice Cloke as choreographer, and my friend Leigh Scarritt, joining YAT for the first time as our wonderful music director. This beautiful score is coming to life under her passionate guidance. Rounding out the production team is our fabulous stage manager Devon Jack, his assistant Miles Reed, and our show chairmen Tammi and Elise. This team has gone above and beyond in my absence from a prolonged Covid battle. To say I am grateful is an understatement, there are no words to adequately describe my heartfelt appreciation. Of course, this production could not happen without the dedicated help from all our fantastic parent volunteers. The continued involvement of our YAT community illustrates how humanity's collective power comes from collaboration and teamwork. We hope you will leave this show singing these catchy Disney songs, and possibly challenging some long held views or prejudices.
I, along with the entire production team, hope you enjoy your time Under The Sea!
Christine Cordova
Director
