The North Hunterdon Regional High School Theater Organization will perform “The Little Mermaid” on March 4, 5 and 6. The production is based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen and the Disney film.
The musical opens with Ariel, the youngest daughter of King Triton (played by senior Sabrina Bunca) hoping to pursue the human prince Eric (junior Alek Lipinski) in the song “The World Above”.
Meanwhile, the wicked sea witch, Ursula (senior Maggie Dean) and her eel minions, Flotsam and Jetsam (second year Lea Chukrallah and senior Makaela Kessie) plot revenge on King Triton for taking Ursula’s power and having her banished from the kingdom in “Daddy’s Little”. Angel.”
As Ariel spends more time on the surface, her sisters (seniors Chloe Giordano, Annelise Johnson, Cassandra Mitros, junior Steph Yakely, second Kayla French and freshman Megan Simonelli) and Flounder the fish (junior Hanorah Hyland) all notice a change as they sing “She’s In Love”.
Sebastian the Crab (Junior Ryan Walsh) rounds up his gang of crustaceans in an attempt to convince her that life is better in “Under the Sea.” After a fight with her father, King Triton (junior Daniel Decker), Ariel makes a deal with Ursula to trade her tail for legs in the “Poor Unfortunate Souls” number. But the market isn’t what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends to restore order under the sea.
Two numbers where Ariel finds her way are “Positoovity” hosted by Scuttle the Seagull (junior Morgan Treece) and “Les Poissons” sung by Chef Louis (freshman Oskar Aparicio). As the story continues, Ariel and Eric grow closer and closer as seen in “One Step Closer” and “Kiss the Girl”. Ariel has many hurdles to overcome, such as a competition to marry Prince Eric, the clock on her bargain with Ursula, and her father’s temper as she hopes to find her true love.
Other characters in the production are Grimsby (second year Chris York), a pilot (junior Phillip Matthew), trumpet fish Windward and Leeward (freshman Ava Spinetti and senior Vanessa Moline) and Princesses (seniors Cassandra Mitros, Alyssa Swope, junior Jessica Holliday, sophomore Kayla French, freshmen Karina Lospinoso and Aria Spinetti). Set includes sailors, sea creatures, chefs, gulls, maids and guests played by Olivia Auletto, Brendan Calv, Etienne Gallacher, Alex Kesselhaut, Hailey LaRuffa, Mara Livingston, Conall McConnachie, Madison Millward, Heather Mondoro , Madi Thompson, Avery Wrba , and Thomas Zahortchak.
NHTO’s The Little Mermaid is directed by English teacher Mary Hopta. Music teacher Charlie Hopta conducts the orchestra and the vocal director is music teacher Heidi Peterson. Other faculty members are choreographer Kerrie Decker, set builder Aaron Willsey, stage crew director Margaret Gartlgruber, technical director Greg Boccutti, costume designer Hope Kiehl, makeup artists Nancy Gaidos and Caitlin Baxter, the poster and publicity manager Karen Ellis and theater coordinators Regina Cavo and Karen Ellis.
Customers can visit nhto.booktix.com to purchase tickets; the ticket office opens on February 1. The North Theater program offers a VIP ticket package for $25. Tickets are priced at $15, and ticket prices for students and seniors are $10. Contact Karen Ellis at kellis@nhvweb.net for more information on ticket sales. The school is located at 1445 Route 31, Annandale.
The production is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theater International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
Submitted by North Hunterdon High School
