Jessica Grové, Eric Kunze and More to Lead Sacramento Music Circus' THE LITTLE MERMAID

Disney's The Little Mermaid, the hit Broadway musical based on the popular animated film, will have its West Coast premiere at Wells Fargo Pavilion for a two-week run from July 10 – 22. This Disney family favorite, part of the 2012 Music Circus season, features the popular songs "Part of Your World," "Under the Sea," and "Kiss the Girl." Tickets start at $30 for all performances, with specially-priced children's tickets available in any seating section.

California Musical Theatre is the only theater in the United States that was granted the rights to produce The Little Mermaid this summer, thanks to the close relationship CMT Artistic Director Glenn Casale has with Disney Theatrical Productions. Casale is directing a new production of The Little Mermaid for a European tour, which opened recently in Amsterdam to rave reviews. Casale will also direct the Music Circus production.

In the Music Circus production, Ursula will be played by stage and screen star Vicki Lewis, who starred in the hit TV shows NewsRadio and How I Met Your Mother and in Chicago and Damn Yankees on Broadway, and who was last at Music Circus in the 2011 production of Anything Goes. Eric Kunze, who performed on Broadway in Les Miserables, Miss Saigon and Damn Yankees, and who was last seen at Music Circus in the 2011 production of Miss Saigon, will play Prince Eric. Playing Ariel will be Jessica Grové, whose Broadway credits include Les Miserables, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Sunday in the Park with George.

Flounder will be played by Henry Hodges, who performed on Broadway in Mary Poppins, Macbeth and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Playing King Triton will be Merwin Foard, whose Broadway credits include The Little Mermaid, The Addams Family, Sweeney Todd and La Cage Aux Folles.

Kevin Smith Kirkwood, whose Broadway and touring credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Godspell and Grease, will play Sebastian. Grimsby will be played by Ron Wisniski, who has appeared in a dozen Music Circus productions, including Oliver! in 2011, as well as the national tours of Beauty and the Beast and Annie. Playing Scuttle will be Jack Doyle, whose Broadway and touring credits include Young Frankenstein, The Music Man, Beauty and the Beast and Crazy for You. Rounding out the production are Flotsam, who will be played by Scott Leindecker, and Jetsam, who will be played by Ben Roseberry.

With book by Doug Wright, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and music by Alan Menken, The Little Mermaid features Disney storytelling at its best. Unsatisfied with her life at sea, young mermaid Ariel longs to experience the human world above, so she embarks on a fascinating journey to discover her true self. The classic love story and memorable songs have captivated audiences of all ages.

Music Circus is produced under the leadership of California Musical Theatre Artistic Director Glenn Casale and Associate Producer Scott Klier.

Music Circus productions are presented at the Wells Fargo Pavilion, 1419 H Street in Sacramento. Performances are Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., and Thursday and Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $30. Tickets are available by phone at (916) 557-1999, online at www.tickets.com, or in person at the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office.

The 62nd Music Circus season continues with The Music Man (July 31 – August 5), Fiddler on the Roof (August 14 – 19), and Crazy for You (August 28 – September 2). For more information, please visit www.SacramentoMusicCircus.com.