'The Little Mermaid' swims into Elgin
Take a visit to a world "under the sea" and enjoy the timeless tale of a mermaid who wants feet instead of fins, as Children's Theatre of Elgin and Fox Valley Youth Theatre Company present Disney's "The Little Mermaid" for two weekends in June.
The musical, based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, features music by eight-time Academy Award-winner Alan Menken, lyrics by the late Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater and a book by Doug Wright.
Shows will be performed the weekends of June 17-19 and 24-26 at the Elgin Community College Arts Center Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Building H.
Young and old alike love the Disney feature-length animated film of the redheaded mermaid (Kaylee Hofman of West Dundee) who defies her father, King Triton (Brad Wendt of South Elgin), to visit the world up above. On one such excursion she rescues a young man, Prince Eric (Colin Bokowy of Algonquin), instantly falls in love and wants to join him on land and leave her sea kingdom behind. She makes a deal - not with the devil but with Ursula the sea witch (Mary Grace Martens of Elgin) to make this dream come true.
The show will feature classic Disney songs such as "Under the Sea," Kiss the Girl" and "Part of Your World."
This summer show combines both CTE performing groups, children second grade through ninth grade as well as those in the Fox Valley Theatre Company, ninth grade through age 20. It's the first combined summer musical since 2000, when the two groups performed "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
Allison Cherry, who performed in "Joseph" as well as "Annie" the year before, is on the other side of the curtain these days, directing.
"I remember it being really neat to work with the older kids when I was in 'Annie,'" she said of the importance of producing the combined show. "I think it really pushes the younger children to strive to do their very best and gives them a chance to see what they can become.
"It also makes it a unique experience for the high school and college students to work with such young actors. They take their leadership role pretty seriously when they see a 7-year-old looking at them in awe."
"Each role in the show is an important one, from the mermaid Ariel down to every last starfish, tropical fish, sea turtle and more," Cherry added.
The show, which also features eye-catching costumes and rollicking dance moves, includes 89 cast members from 17 suburbs up and down the Fox River Valley.
A full 30 percent of the cast is participating in his or her first show with the companies, added CTE President Steve Olson.
"We have always taken pride in broadening our reach, looking carefully at every potential cast member who auditions and not selecting only those who have performed before," he said. "Everyone was new once. Everyone. We welcome every potential actor who has stage presence and is going to deliver a great performance."
Show times are at 7:30 p.m. for the Friday and Saturday performances and at 2 p.m. for both Sunday shows.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Visit elgin.edu/arts or call (847) 622-0300 for tickets.
If you go
What: Children's Theatre of Elgin and Fox Valley Youth Theatre Company's production of "The Little Mermaid"
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 17-19 and 24-26
Where: Elgin Community College Arts Center Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive Building H, Elgin
Tickets: $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Visit <a href="http://elgin.edu/arts">elgin.edu/arts</a> or call (847) 622-0300.