Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID Opens This Month at Berkeley Playhouse

Berkeley Playhouse closes out the groundbreaking 2015-16 season with Disney's ultimate fish-out-of-water family musical, The Little Mermaid. Featuring a score by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken,Disney's The Little Mermaid performs June 23-July 31, 2016 at the historic Julia Morgan Theater in Berkeley. Tickets (ranging from $17-$60) are on sale now at www.berkeleyplayhouse.org or through the Berkeley Playhouse Box Office at 510.845.8542 ext. 351.

Based on the Academy Award-winning animated Disney film, The Little Mermaid, which features some of Menken's most beloved songs, including "Part of Your World," and "Poor Unfortunate Souls,"invites audiences to go "under the sea" as headstrong mermaid Ariel journeys from her underwater home to explore the mysterious world above the waves. Berkeley Playhouse's inventive production uses the post-Broadway revised script by Glenn Casale that features the new song "Daddy's Little Girl," which provides an updated backstory for the wicked sea-witch Ursula, and further develops the relationship between Ariel and Tritan, Ariel's royal father who doesn't understand his daughter's hopes and dreams.

Berkeley Playhouse founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy says: "Disney's A Little Mermaid, at its core,is the story of a curious young girl who feels different from those around her. Ariel has an incredible passion for knowledge and growth, and a need to experience the world beyond the ocean floor, where she ultimately finds her voice-literally! In a season that saw Berkeley Playhouse expand its own horizons with the presentation of our first original new work, Bridges: A New Musical, and our first non-musical play, To Kill A Mockingbird, like Ariel, we too have explored new territories in creating theatrical experiences for the entire family. I can think of no other musical that could more appropriately close out this momentous season than Disney's A Little Mermaid."

Directed by returning Berkeley Playhouse artist Scottie Watson, the creative team includes choreography by Staci Arriaga, musical direction by Rachel Robinson, and will feature a company of over 30 actors.