Though this particular “sea journey” doesn’t require scuba gear or even snorkels, Bellefontaine High School’s presentation of The Little Mermaid does have its breathtaking qualities, including an enthusiastic cast, brightly colored sets and fun costumes. And you’ll have a chance to enjoy it all this Friday or Saturday, Feb. 24 or 25, at 7 p.m. in the BHS auditorium.
With 55 students involved in the cast and crew, director Brice Henry had a lot of talent to work with. But the process of choosing this year’s production began months ago.
To make things a little more anticipatory last fall, Henry started teasing what show they’d do with a whiteboard covered in images of 25 options, which he shared to Facebook on Sept. 9, 2022.
Over the next month and a half, he gradually removed popular musical possibilities like Mary Poppins, Wicked and Newsies, until only one was left. He announced the last musical standing on Oct. 24.
“A lot of the time we choose a show based on the cast we have and if we have enough people for the roles,” Henry said. “Last year, we went a more classic route with Into the Woods; this year we wanted something more for kids and light-hearted.”
This Disney classic certainly fits the bill and includes all the favorite numbers such as “Under the Sea,” “Part of Your World” and “Kiss the Girl.” But it also has several songs written specifically for Broadway, like “The World Above,” sung by Ariel, and sea witch Ursula’s introduction with “Daddy’s Little Angel.”
Naturally, when you have a show that splits its time under the waves and on the land, you face the difficulties inherent to needing many moving sets and pieces. Fortunately, Henry and the BHS students had plenty of help from parent volunteers, coordinated by Nick and Angie Wallace and Mark and Jill Butler, along with Bellefontaine City School staff and supporters.
Bellefontaine Elementary School secretary Keri Fergus served as head of costumes, which had its own challenges.
“We didn’t have much in our closet that would work, so we basically had to start from scratch,” Fergus said.
Besides renting a few pieces from The Costume Shop in Russells Point, they borrowed others from area schools. The rest they made from the ground — or sea bed? — up.
“It is so awesome to watch a musical go from nothing to something spectacular in seven short weeks,” Henry posted online recently. “My goal always is that students learn something about theatre and about themselves in this process, that they develop musically and theatrically, and that they make lifelong memories with their friends. Students are capable of so much if they are given the support space to explore and grow.”
Tickets for The Little Mermaid are going fast but can be purchased at the school’s online box office at bellefontaine.k12.oh.us.