Disney’s The Little Mermaid swam onto Broadway in 2007, replacing Beauty and the Beast at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. It was the sixth Disney film to be transformed into a musical by Disney Theatrical, following Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aida, Tarzan, and Mary Poppins. Disney Theatrical have been credited with revitalising Broadway after purchasing the New Amsterdam Theatre in 1994 and signing a 49-year revenue-based lease for the theatre in 1995. Broadway and Times Square weren’t the shimmering streets we know them as today, and their investment and subsequent musical creations reinvigorated the area, bringing tourism and families back. 

The Little Mermaid launched the career of Sierra Boggess as Ariel and the story follows her as she longs to be part of the world above the sea and trades her voice for a chance to be human for three days. Ariel finds love in Prince Eric but must battle to stop her dastardly Aunt Ursula from destroying King Triton’s kingdom and losing her voice forever. Ariel is helped along by some of the most-loved characters in Disney: Sebastian and Flounder. This loveable fish and feisty, French crab often steal the show and were played by Tituss Burgess (Sebastian) and Trevor Braun and Brian D’Addario alternating (Flounder).

Many elements of the original animated film made their way into the stage musical, including Scuttle, the eccentric seagull, played by Eddie Korbich. However, many alterations were made for the production. Playwright Doug Wright was hired to write the book and focused the storyline on Ariel’s longing to find her place in the world, rather than longing for a man. 

British dancer and choreographer Stephen Mear choreographed the show after Matthew Bourne left due to creative differences with Thomas Schumacher, Head of Disney Theatrical. Mear choreographed the cast to dance on Heelys to replicate the fluidity of being underwater. A lot of the cast struggled to adapt but Sierra Boggess was an ice-skater and had no problems! Bourne was also supposed to direct the show but was replaced by Francesca Zambello who decided that the show wouldn’t use any water, wires, or flying. 

The Little Mermaid had its pre-Broadway tryouts in Denver, selling all 95,000 seats available in the six-week run. It opened previews on Broadway in November 2007 and ran until 30 August 2007 after 50 previews and 685 performances. Thomas Schumacher said it would be “fiscally irresponsible” to continue the production as Broadway is famously a trick economic landscape to navigate in autumn. However, the show has enjoyed runs all over the world. Notably, in Japan, it’s been running at various venues almost continuously since 2013!

The show was totally reimagined by Glenn Casale in 2012 for the Dutch production. He replaced ‘I Want the Good Times Back’ with Daddy’s Little Angel’, rewrote the parts of the score and book, and added aerial and wire work instead of Heelys. These changes were so successful that they’ve been formally included in the official Disney Theatrical version. 

The Little Mermaid was nominated for two Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Lighting Design of a Musical but won neither. As far as Disney adaptations go, Besties, we think it has a heart of gold and warms the soul. ABC aired a live production of the musical in 2019, starring Auli’i Cravalho, Queen Latifah, Shaggy and John Stamos. You can watch it on Disney+. 

Facts:

Music – Alan Menken

Lyrics – Glenn Slater and Howard Ashman

Book – Doug Wright

Theatre – Lunt-Fontanne Theatre 

Run – 3 November 2007 – 30 August 2009 (685 performances and 50 previews)

Tony Awards:

Nominated: Best Original Score (Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater); Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Natasha Katz)