The Maine West Fine Arts Department is excited to present Disney’s, The Little Mermaid on February 20, 21 and 22 at 7 p.m. and February 23 at 2 p.m. in the auditorium at Maine West High School. Tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/MWBoxOffice and are $7 for students and $12 for adults. The show is directed by Maine West Drama and Speech Teacher David Harmon.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid is the story of a young and slightly rebellious teenage mermaid that is curious about the world beyond her own: the human world. The story is centered around this young mermaid, Ariel, when she falls in love with a human prince. Ariel is greeted by a villain sea witch, Ursula, who makes a deal with Ariel that she can’t refuse. Ursula promises to make her human for three days. After the plan takes an unforeseen turn, Ariel’s father, Triton, must make a difficult decision regarding the future of his daughter. This story ecompasses themes of curiosity, coming of age and sacrifice.
“Having the opportunity to play Ariel in this year’s musical has been an absolute blessing,” shares Adeola Alebiosu, an 11th grader at Maine West. “She is a fun, creative ball of energy who knows what she wants and won’t back down. The cast has helped make this an incredible experience and I’m so thrilled to share it with everyone.”
Behind the scenes is a tech crew of about 20 students led by Maine West Technical Director Peter McManus. The crew is designing and constructing the set, designing and controlling the lighting, organizing all props and handling all of the sound engineering. Costumes are being designed by Marquecia Jordan along with student assistants and parent volunteers. Tuesdai Perry is the production’s choreographer and there is also an orchestra pit with 22 musicians under the direction of Maine West Director of Bands Bernie Gerstmayr.
Penny Wurster, a Maine West 11th grader who plays the very manipulative Ursula, shares these thoughts: “This is my first year playing a main character and it’s also my first time portraying a villain. While it’s a bit intimidating, I’m having an absolute blast with it. Being in a musical is always fun whether you’re a named character or part of the ensemble. It is such a close-knit, open and accepting community where I’ve made lifelong friends along the way.”
Prior to the matinee on Sunday, February 23, children of all ages are invited to come and enjoy games, prizes, reading and coloring stations, and pictures with the characters at Maine West’s “Under The Sea” Carnival. The department is also encouraging all the little Ariels out there to wear their little mermaid costumes for this pre-show event. The Carnival will be from 12 to 1:30 p.m. in the Upper Commons area of Maine West High School. The admission for this special event is $7 per person.
“We are thrilled to produce the Little Mermaid for the greater Des Plaines Community,” says Harmon. “The show is full of vibrant colors and unforgettable characters. The cast, pit and crews have been working tirelessly to tell the story the way it should. Don’t miss this heartwarming classic that is perfect for those who are young and young at heart.”