Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/774378
12 UCW JANUARY 18-24, 2017 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM The Cape Fear Regional Theatre is bringing Ariel, Eric, Flounder, Sebastian and Ursula to the stage this month when Disney's The Little Mermaid comes ashore Jan. 19. CFRT asked freelance director Melissa Rain Anderson from New York to take the helm. CFRT rented the production, including costumes, from the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, where Anderson directed it last year to rave reviews. Anderson is quick to point out that local audiences will be impressed with the "absolutely beautiful" costumes that come as part of the package. Also impressive for CFRT's production of the musical is that aerialists will perform some of the roles. 2 Ring Circus, a performance troupe out of New York, merges the art of circus with the heart of Broadway. Through theatrical collaboration, 2 Ring Circus works with the production team to incorporate aerial and ground circus movements that highlight the story. For CFRT's production of Disney's The Little Mermaid, that means visually representing underwater movements on stage and in the air. "It creates a huge, visceral, dance ballet in the air," Anderson said. For Disney traditionalists, the original elements of the story are still in the musical. "All of the songs in the movie are in the play," Anderson said, "And they've added some more. All of your favorites will be in the show." The musical follows the 1989 animated film based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories. The Danish fairytale tells the story of a beautiful mermaid princess, Ariel, who dreams of becoming human. In a seashell: Ariel disobeys her father, King Triton of Atlantica, and goes to the surface of the ocean to visit a seagull named Scuttle. During her adventures with her best friend Flounder, and Sebastian, a crab, she rescues Prince Eric during a storm and falls in love. She goes to sea witch Ursula and makes a deal to get back to Eric. There are two eels, several mishaps, a lot of singing, and a race to get a "kiss of true love" before we get to a final showdown between good and evil. "It's a classic love story," said Anderson. "Ariel is a wonderful female hero. She gives up her family, her home, even her body, to be with the one she loves and, ultimately, be what she knows she is." The sweeping adventure may seem like a lot to stage, but not for a veteran like Anderson. One challenge to performing the Disney tale on stage, she said, is "figuring out how to be in 25 locations" with scenes on a ship, on the beach, on the surface of the water, under water and in the palace, among others. "We use a lot of theatrical devices to tell where we are," Anderson said. The scenic designer has a big job… it is the biggest challenge of this piece." Anderson is no stranger to challenges on stage. She is a New York based director, actor and acting coach. She specializes in musicals. Anderson often ventures out from NYC to direct, staging productions in Colorado and Arkansas in recent months before arriving in Fayetteville. Anderson's acting credits include network television, national tours, off-Broadway productions as well as voice over work and several cast recordings. She has performed on national tour in South Pacific and also appeared in Law & Order: SVU and Lipstick Jungle. She is looking forward to bringing the show to the CFRT, Anderson said. Disney's The Little Mermaid has music by Academy Award winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and John Musker, and book by Doug Wright. Disney's The Little Mermaid runs Jan. 19 through Feb. 12. The CFRT box office is open Monday – Saturday from 1 – 6 p.m. Visit www. cfrt.org or call 323-4233 for more information. The Little Mermaid Comes Ashore at CFRT by APRIL OLSEN EVENTS APRIL OLSEN, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. The Little Mermaid plays at CFRT through Feb. 12. Tickets available at 910.521.6361 or uncp.edu/gpactickets GIVENS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THURSDAY - JANUARY 26 - 7:30 P.M. "Best Price Guaranteed" 2703 Raeford Road www.BizCardXpress.com • Banners • Business Cards • Real Estate Signs • Business Forms • Business Promotional Specialties