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THEATER 'Little Mermaid' a spectacle of glitz and glamor Teen Musical Theater of Oregon stages production based on Disney film Comment By Hannah Golden Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Hannah Golden Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 2, 2016 at 12:38 PM Updated Aug 2, 2016 at 12:39 PM By Hannah Golden Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 2, 2016 at 12:38 PM Updated Aug 2, 2016 at 12:39 PM » Social News Only in a production like "The Little Mermaid" can you find flying, roller-blading, singing and tap-dancing sea creatures on stage. Teen Musical Theater of Oregon presents the show inspired by Disney's animated film and the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. "The Little Mermaid" plays at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 5-6, Thursday and Friday, Aug. 11-12, and at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, in the Craterian Theater at the Collier Center for the Performing Arts, 23 S. Central Ave., Medford. Tickets are $25, $15 for age 18 and younger, and can be purchased online at craterian.org , at the box office at 16 S. Bartlett St., or by calling 541-779-3000. The story is not just for kids. Red-haired mermaid Ariel, fascinated with the world beyond the waves, lives in an underwater kingdom ruled by her father, King Triton. When she falls in love with land-dwelling Prince Eric, she becomes more desperate for a taste of life on land. She strikes a shady deal with the evil Ursula, buying her precious little time onshore to see her prince. The lengths to which young Ariel will go for love bring up eternal questions that resonate with audiences. In 2008, Broadway launched the show as a musical based on the 1837 fairy tale and the 1989 film. The Broadway production involved elaborate, Cirque du Soleil-esque costumes and sets — and lots of flying. "'The Little Mermaid' is an absolute spectacle,'" says Director Eric Strahl. "We try to capitalize on that and take that opportunity to have a production that wows." TMTO, part of Craterian Performances, gives teens and pre-teens experience in theater with professional-level productions. During the summer, the organization has greater flexibility to produce bigger, flashier shows. "It's also an incredibly complicated show. You have scenes that take place underwater, on land," Strahl says. "This show is a bit bigger version and a bit wilder production of the same thing we're known for doing, which is putting talented young performers in a professional environment and letting them shine." Along with the many familiar songs, including "Under the Sea," "Kiss the Girl" and "Part of Your World," TMTO's show will include new tunes. "People are going to walk out of here humming those songs," Strahl says. The cast ranges in age from 9 to 19. Mara Pulsipher plays Ariel, Braden Day plays Prince Eric and Erika Adams plays Sebastian. King Triton is played by Brian Day, who appeared in TMTO's "Tarzan" and "Annie." Since mid-June, the crew has been working five hours a day, six days a week on rehearsals. In his 16 productions with TMTO, Day says, "The Little Mermaid" stands out for how much creative freedom — and onus — the crew has had in forging multiple theatrical worlds in one show. Characters and settings demand outside-the-box magic to pull off an underwater setting on stage. Movement is one of the biggest challenges. To achieve the range of motion the characters need, Scuttle the sea gull will be hoisted on wires, while eels Flotsam and Jetsam will cruise around on roller blades. "The scope of the show is so large," Strahl says. "It's just finding the way we're going to handle each of the elements, of being underwater and the flying effects. It's a matter of incorporating these." But this isn't the first go-round with flying equipment, and Strahl is confident. The 77-member cast means a lot of coordination for the crew. The ensemble is split up into two 20-performer groups, so that only 57 are on stage for any given show. For Braden Day, the inclusion of new actors into this production is the best part. "Being able to see the new people and the new faces is beautiful. It's incredibly fun to work with all these cast members," he says. As for textural elements, large parts of the set were made using mesh window screens that were scrunched up to create an underwater rock appearance. The costumes are just as creative and elaborate, using a layered collage of glitz, sparkle, shine and iridescence. The production also poses challenges for the young actors. For Pulsipher, one of the biggest hurdles is navigating Ariel's subtleties, portraying the bubbly princess whose emotional depth and breadth is often overlooked. Pulsipher has had seven TMTO appearances to her credit, but this is her first time in a leading role. "This is definitely my favorite role," Pulsipher says. "I just want (the audience) to be stunned and feel the emotion." By Hannah Golden Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Hannah Golden Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 2, 2016 at 12:38 PM Updated Aug 2, 2016 at 12:39 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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