Marin Theatre Company Presents THE LITTLE MERMAID

This spring, Marin Theatre Company will round out its first ever fully self-produced Family Series season of Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) plays with an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale, The Little Mermaid. In this version adapted by Mike Kenny, characters dubbed "Flotsam" and "Jetsam" act as simple but mystical bits of ocean rubbage who happen to be very imaginative storytellers. The pair act on a minimal set using props from a treasure trunk to take on the forms of the characters in their story, including The Little Mermaid herself, the mermaid's sisters, a handsome prince, and the infamous Sea Witch. Children will love this reinterpretation of the classic story for its creativity, humor, and excitement.

Before the show, children will be provided materials to create their very own decorative fish to hang on a wall or a "twirling mermaid" to hang from the ceiling. Additionally, MTC is again partnering with Amazing Fairytale Parties to offer young patrons the chance to meet a real-life Little Mermaid for children and families to take pictures with!

No collection of fairy tales would be complete without the works of the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. Many of the more than 160 fairy tales he wrote, including The Ugly Duckling, The Snow Queen, The Little Match Girl, The Princess and the Pea, and The Little Mermaid, have become literary classics enjoyed by children and adults the world over.

Andersen was born on April 2, 1805, in Odense, Denmark to a very poor family. His father, who died when Andersen was only 11, would entertain him with old Danish legends and stories from The Arabian Nights, which influenced his writings as an adult.

Andersen spent most of his twenties traveling the world and writing poems, books, and plays, which met with some success, though it was not until he was 30 years old that he started writing fairy tales. His first small book of fairy tales immediately became popular, and from then on his fame grew rapidly, spreading from country to country.

In 1867 he returned to Odense to be honored by his country. He published his last fairy tales in 1872, and after a long illness, he died in Copenhagen on August 4, 1875.

ABOUT THE PLAY

Dive right into the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale! When a sea witch offers a beautiful mermaid princess the chance to make her dreams come true, it comes at a heavy price. The Little Mermaid sacrifices the best parts of herself-her tail and her voice-for legs, in the hope of winning the heart of the prince she adores. But the sea witch isn't finished with her yet. Will love conquer all? A cast of two storytellers, Flotsam and Jetsam, bring fresh energy to this timeless fairy tale.

Recommended for ages 5-8 | run time 30 minutes

TICKETS

$18-$22

Discounts for groups are available. Contact the Box Office for more details.

ACCESS

For visually impaired patrons, Large Print playbills are available with one week's advance notice. To request a Large Print playbill, call MTC's Box Office, (415) 388-5208, or use the California Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing "711." For hearing impaired patrons, amplified sound Listening Devices are available.

ABOUT MTC

Founded in 1966, Marin Theatre Company is the Bay Area's premier mid-sized theater and the leading professional theater in the North Bay. We produce a six-show season of provocative plays by passionate playwrights from the 20th century and today in our 231-seat main stage theater, as well as a four-show Family Series. We are committed to the development and production of new plays by American playwrights, with a comprehensive New Play Program that includes productions of premieres, two nationally recognized annual playwriting awards, readings and workshops by the nation's best emerging playwrights and membership in the National New Play Network. Our numerous education programs serve more than 8,500 students from over 50 Bay Area schools each year. MTC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

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