By Jessica Kennedy.
The Little Mermaid Jr. has been making a splash at John W. Engeman Theater in Northport since its opening on September 22nd! Directed by Kevin F. Story, this charming cast of talented young actors and actresses will redefine your expectations of children’s theater, and warm your heart with their creative and colorful presentation of some of your favorite Disney songs and characters.
The magical experiences starts as soon as you enter and hear the classic “Two Worlds” by Phil Collins from the Tarzan soundtrack piped into the lobby. The theater is alive with the sounds of excited children and parents, all ready to enjoy this beloved classic. Booster seats are made readily available throughout the theater, and snacks are permitted to help keep the tiny guests calm and quiet. The show’s running time is about 90 minutes with a 15 minute intermission, and is full of brightly colored costumes (designed by Jessica Costagliola and Laura McGauley) and lively musical performances (directed by Matthew Tobin and choreographed by Danielle Aliotta) to keep even the tiniest theater-goers on the edges of their seats (or their parents laps)!
The 1989 Disney version of the Hans Christian Andersen story about a young, spirited mermaid wishing for a chance to experience a life outside of the one she has known, has since made Ariel a household name. I watched the film as a child (again and again- waiting impatiently each time I had to hit rewind on the VCR), and willingly watch it again with my own children. I jumped at the chance to take my oldest son, 4 ½, to see the show, and was delighted to see his reaction when he realized the actors and actresses were children! He was not the only one in our party to thoroughly enjoy the show, however. While the voices of Meaghan Maher (Ariel) and Olivia Freiberger (Ursula) were wildly impressive, the entire cast shined as they performed classic songs such as Kiss the Girl” and “Under the Sea” (both led by the talented Danny Feldman as Sebastian). Songs written by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater just for the musical, such as “She’s in Love,” captivated the audience with a charming solo by Makayla Connolly as Flounder.
This show is professional and polished, yet full of youthful energy! All audience members will enjoy it from curtain to curtain, even the playful rendering of “Happy Birthday,” led by Ariel (Maher) after the show as the cast acknowledges some little ones who came to the show to celebrate their special day (call the theater directly for more information about their birthday party packages). The whimsical theater experience ends with a meet and greet of the main cast in the lobby. The line goes quickly as the cast smiles, signs autographs, takes pictures, and makes the day for a budding generation of theater lovers!
For an afternoon of fun and entertainment for all ages, head to the John W. Engeman Theater by October 28th and enjoy this charming rendition of a quintessential childhood classic!