Dallas, Fort Worth to Welcome Back Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID This Spring

Dive on in with the dazzling cast of Dallas Summer Musicals' production of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID! The fun-filled, timeless tale will play at the Music Hall at Fair Park March 11-27, 2016, presented by Dallas Summer Musicals. This colorful production will make its Fort Worth debut at Bass Performance Hall March 29 - April 3, 2016, presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth.

In a magical kingdom fathoms below, we meet Ariel, the little mermaid who is tired of flipping her fins and longs to be part of the fascinating world on dry land. Joining her are Sebastian, Ariel's crabby sidekick; Ursula, the evil sea witch; Triton, King of the Sea; and the handsome and human Prince Eric.

Based on the Disney animated film and hit Broadway musical, THE LITTLE MERMAID is making its way back to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The show features all of the favorite songs like "Under The Sea" and "Part of Your World" as well as new songs written by Oscar-winning Disney composer Alan Menken, the mastermind behind productions such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and Pocahontas. Lyrics are by Howard Ashman and Glen Staler and book by Doug Wright.

Starring as the beloved Ariel is Alison Woods, accompanied by the handsome Prince Eric, played by Eric Kunze. Woods and Kunze are joined by Adam Garst as Flounder, Melvin Abston as Sebastian, Fred Inkley as King Triton, Tracy Lore as Ursula, Scott T. Leiendecker as Flotsam, Jeffrey Christopher Todd as Jetsam, Jamie Torcellini as Scuttle and Time Winters as Grimsby.

Rounding out the ensemble are Ashley Anderson, Kim Arnett, Kristine Bennett, Marjorie Failoni, Melissa Glasgow, Devon Hadsell, Michael McGurk, Amanda Minano, Dennis O'Bannion, Marco Ramos, Robbie Roby, Aaron Ronelle, James Shackelford, Brian Steven Shaw, Tro Shaw and Jeff Skowron.

Leading the creative team is director Glenn Casale, along with choreographer John MacInnis, flying sequence choreographer Paul Rubin, musical director and conductor Colin Freeman, sound designer Randy Hansen and lighting designer Charlie Morrison. Casting director is Julia Flores of Flores Casting and flying equipment is provided by Flying By Foy.

Single tickets for the Dallas engagement of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, from $25-$106 (pricing subject to change), are now on sale at DallasSummerMusicals.org, by phone at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849) and at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane, Suite 542 in Dallas, TX. Groups of 10 or more receive a 15% discount, priority seating, and many more benefits. Please call 214.426.GROUP (4768) or email Groups@DallasSummerMusicals.org.

Single tickets for Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID's Fort Worth engagement, starting at $44, are now on sale. To charge tickets by phone, call (817) 212-4280 in Fort Worth; 1-877-212-4280 (toll free) outside Fort Worth; or order online at www.basshall.com. Tickets are also available at the Bass Performance Hall ticket office at 525 Commerce Street. For group sales, call 817-212-4248.

Dallas Summer Musicals' 2016 Season will continue with WICKED, April 20 - May 22, 2016; RAGTIME, May 24 - June 5, 2016; BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, June 14-26, 2016; and closing the season will be 42ND STREET, June 28 - July 10, 2016.

Choose Your Own Package for any three DSM 2016 season shows, are now on sale online at DallasSummerMusicals.org and by phone at 1.800.514.ETIX (3849). They can also be purchased at The Box Office, 5959 Royal Lane Suite 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center.

The 2015-2016 Broadway at the Bass season continues with THE WIZARD OF OZ, June 7-12; 42ND STREET, July 12-17; Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE SOUND OF MUSIC, August 17-21; and the phenomenal new production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, October 20-30. The season also includes add-on specials BLUE MAN GROUP, Feb. 19-21; and MAMMA MIA!, May 20-22.

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the preeminent nonprofit presenter of Broadway theatre in North Texas. DSM produces, presents and promotes excellence in live musical theatre with year-round performances for diverse audiences of all ages, impacting the lives of children and families through education and community outreach programs, while enriching the cultural landscape of Dallas/Fort Worth, North Texas and the Southwest Region.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM's Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM Kids Club is a program created to foster tomorrow's musical theatre audience. Through exciting activities children gain an interest, hands-on-knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts. In addition, Dallas Summer Musicals Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. DSM's High School Musical Theatre Awards are patterned after Broadway's Tony Awards and celebrate the power of the arts to significantly improve all areas of education. DSM Associate Producers is a dynamic group of young professionals with a mission to support DSM by cultivating future patrons and leaders making DSM part of the culture for young professionals in Dallas. DSM Guild is a group of individuals who share a love of musical theatre and support DSM by providing stellar service and hospitality to the cast and crew of every show. Since 2010 the experts at DSM have made significant changes and upgrades to its acoustical systems to improve the sound quality of the productions for all its patrons, including the hearing impaired, leading to the development of Hear Us Now!; a device which utilizes five assistive listening technologies (T-coils, FM Classroom, Streamers, FM systems, and traditional headsets) to deliver a clear and direct audio signal. It is so unique that a trademark has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Seats for Vets, DSM's newest initiative, serves war veterans and their families by providing them discounted access to a unique theatrical experience as a way of thanking them for their service. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, call 214.421.5678 or visit DallasSummerMusicals.org.

The mission of the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall is to serve as a permanent home to major performing arts organizations of Fort Worth and as a premiere venue for other attractions so as to enhance the range, quality, and accessibility of cultural fare available to the public; to promulgate arts education; and to contribute to the cultural life of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and the region.

Built entirely with private funds, Bass Performance Hall is permanent home to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth Opera, and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the Cliburn. Each resident company operates independently from Performing Arts Fort Worth and manages its own programming schedule at Bass Hall.

Performing Arts Fort Worth, the nonprofit organization that oversees management of the Hall, also presents national Touring Broadway product under the Broadway at the Bass banner, as well as programming that includes Family Series at the Bass, and the BNSF Popular Entertainment Series.

The 2,042-seat multipurpose Hall is characteristic of the classic European opera house form. An 80-foot diameter Great Dome tops the Founders Concert Theater while two 48-foot tall angels grace the Grand Facade. Since the Hall opened in May 1998, the angels have become preeminent cultural icons of the Dallas-Fort Worth community. The Hall itself is renowned for its superb acoustics, exceptional sight lines and ambience on level with the great halls of the world.

Pictured: Alison Woods as Ariel. Photo by Bruce Bennett, courtesy of Theatre Under The Stars.

 

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