4 minute read
'The Little Mermaid'
Taking A Magical Journey Under The Sea
Photography by Peggy Keelan
“I wanted the show to feel like
Disneyland,” said director Jason Kruger of the production of The Little Mermaid that Upper School students put on in November. Inspired by the immersive joy of the theme park, Kruger imagined a show whose magic started right when
the audience entered the lobby. It was this vision that led the theater department through the creation of this fall’s musical.
Making The Magic Happen
Upon entering the lobby, theatergoers felt as if the show had already begun. From elaborate set pieces of ocean rocks, nets, and seashells to a mermaid-themed photo area, the fun had kicked off even before the notes of the first song.
A huge element of this year’s musical was the use of custom animated videos projected not only on the stage, but on the walls and ceilings of the Dell Theatre. By partnering with a video game design company, the crew was able to produce fantastic renderings of magical underwater castles, shipwrecks on angry waters, and the shores of sandy beaches, among so many others. These projections made the audience feel truly immersed in the magical world of The Little Mermaid. underwater scenes, the crew teamed up with ZFX Flying Effects and used theatrical flying systems to make the vision come to life. “Even though there were all of these scenic set pieces, all the projections, animations, all the crazy costumes and lighting, you want the flying to feel as seamless as possible. You want it to feel magical when Ariel is singing ‘Part of Your World’ and reaches that crescendo and starts flying. So that was what we were thinking – how do we preserve that feeling of magic?” said Kruger.
“There’s always going to be that marvel of ‘oh wow, they’re flying!’ but if it becomes only about the flying, it becomes ineffective.” In a musical number like “Under The Sea” with such action and excitement going on, Kruger was proud of the way the crew timed the flying effects, in a way that added to the fun instead of
Cast members of the musical brought the magic on a visit to Mrs. Kruger's first-grade class.
distracted from the number.
The crew chose to continue the immersive theater experience by occasionally having cast members enter from the audience or coming down from the stage to dance and sing in the aisles. “All of the projections are making the theater area part of the stage, so why wouldn’t the characters also participate in that space?” said Kruger, who also encouraged his cast to interact with any children in the audience who wanted to participate in songs like “Under The Sea.”
The Little Mermaid was a true community show, being the first musical for children that the Upper School had done in about ten years. Unlike previous year’s shows, this was a production that the entire family could enjoy together. The cast and crew all had a blast bringing the magic to the younger members of the St. Andrew’s community. Cast members even came to Lower School carpool dropoff in character to drum up excitement for the show and give children a magical start to their school day. “Ariel is truly enchanting,” said Bella Castro, who played Ariel, “She was my favorite Disney princess as a kid, so it was a dream come true to get to play her. It was so exciting to make other little kids' dreams come true by seeing a real life mermaid.”
Thanks to lowering COVID case levels in the fall as well as the prevalence of vaccines compared to last spring’s show Evita, it was possible for the fall musical to look a little more normal. The cast rehearsed in masks but, after undergoing regular COVID testing leading up to the show, performed the show without them, though audience members were required to be masked. Thanks to the protocols, the cast and crew did not have a single case throughout the entire process.
The cast and crew of The Little Mermaid took their audience on an aquatic adventure full of color, joy, and song – it was a special experience for St. Andrew’s community members of all ages. Thanks to all of the theater department who worked together to create such a magical show. We loved becoming “part of your world”!
