The Academy Playerz will perform four showings of 鈥淭he Little Mermaid JR鈥� in mid-December at the Breedlove Auditorium on the AV抖阴 campus.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children 10 and under. There will be four showings by two separate casts: one cast will perform on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 2 p.m., and another cast will perform on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 15 at 2 p.m.
鈥淭he Little Mermaid鈥� is based on a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale about a young mermaid who yearns to leave her ocean home for the world that awaits outside the water after she falls in love with a prince she sees from afar. But to escape to the world above water, she鈥檒l have to defy her father, King Triton, and make a deal with an evil sea witch.
The show features hit songs 鈥淧art of Your World,鈥� 鈥淪he鈥檚 in Love,鈥� and the Oscar-winning 鈥淯nder the Sea.鈥�
Director Shannon Stoddard of Fort Smith said the shows are 鈥済oing to be phenomenal.鈥�
鈥淲orking on 鈥楾he Little Mermaid鈥� has been so much fun,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he music is so catchy, the dances are adorable, and you can鈥檛 help but love the classic story.鈥�
This is the Academy of the Arts鈥� second rendition of a Disney classic in this year鈥檚 series. Previously, they performed 鈥淒isney鈥檚 Aladdin KIDS鈥� on Oct. 26.
Jada Mack of Greenwood, who plays Ariel in the production, and Dana Mays of Fort Smith, who plays Ursula, said they have loved the time spent working on the show.
Mack said, 鈥渂eing with the Academy of the Arts is an amazing experience,鈥� a feeling echoed by Mays.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be happier with the whole experience the Academy has given me,鈥� Mays said.
Stoddard agreed, saying 鈥淭he Little Mermaid JR鈥� is one of her favorite shows.
鈥淚鈥檝e really been enjoying bringing the show to life with these students,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey always have so much life and vibrancy to add to everything they do.鈥�
Members of the two casts include:
Barling: Heaven White.
Charleston: Alyvia Wooden.
Fort Smith: Kinsey Barnett, Gabriella Collins, Emma Conley, Michael Doss, Leslie Gonzalez, Sadie Hanesworth, Van Harris, Shelby Hartwig, Ethne Hester, Hollace Hubbard, Sarah Long, Dalavanh Martinez, Ethan Martinez, Dana Mays, Michael Moreton, Hayden Parker, Aryn Rink, Erin Sampley, Kaitlin Seiter, Izabelle Simonian, Anna Claire Tilley, Jayson Toney, Braeden Wear, Maycie Wilbanks, Ethan Wright.
Greenwood: Kennedy Holland, Grant Huneycutt, Jada Mack, Juliet Ngwira, Hannah Wheatley.
Lavaca: Caitlin Elliott.
Mulberry: Rylee Lewis.
Muldrow, Okla.: Gabrielle Gore.
Pocola, Okla.: Lily Jarnagin, Cadence Jones.
Roland, Okla.: Katie Vann.
In addition to Stoddard, the production team includes Hillary Yerton as choreographer, Sheila Mann as music director, Lindsay Hobbs as costume designer, and Zack Hiatt as set designer, all of Fort Smith.
鈥淭he Little Mermaid JR鈥� is part of the Academy of the Arts鈥� On Stage series, which includes other productions such as 鈥淪hrek the Musical,鈥� 鈥淎 Year with Frog and Toad Kids,鈥� and 鈥淧irates of Penzance JR.鈥� The On Stage series has a total of 12 events featuring young and seasoned performers in musical and theatrical productions.
For tickets, contact the AV抖阴 Box Office at 479-788-7300 or visit .