![](http://www.thefmextra.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2-Gooseberry-Mermaid.jpg)
Evan Froslie, playing Prince Eric, and Emma Andersen as Ariel rehearse a scene from “Disney’s The Little Mermaid.”
A cast of 47 area teens brings the beloved characters of Ariel, Prince Eric, Ursula and Sebastian the crab to the stage next week with the Gooseberry Park Players’ 42nd summer musical, “Disney’s The Little Mermaid.”
Performances are at 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, July 22-26, and at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 27. All are in Horizon Middle School’s Performing Arts Center, 3601 12th Ave. S. An ASL performance is planned Thursday.
The performing cast of singers, dancers and actors includes Emma Andersen as Ariel. Evan Froslie plays Prince Eric, the shipwrecked human male whom the mermaid rescues and who tempts her to leave her watery home for land-locked romance.
The timeless musical follows the spirited young mermaid princess who dreams of living in the human world. Despite her father King Triton’s warnings, Ariel makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula to exchange her voice for human legs. Ariel’s journey leads her to navigate love, sacrifice and self-discovery as she strives to win the heart of Prince Eric and protect her underwater kingdom from Ursula’s schemes.
The musical includes all the beloved songs from the 2023 film, including “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl,” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls, ” along with new numbers written for the stage production. It features vibrant costumes, elaborate sets, and imaginative choreography to bring the underwater and human worlds to life.
Tickets are $25 for VIP seating in the first three rows of the center section, and $18 for adults, $16 for seniors (65+), and $12 for students (18 and under). To purchase, go to www.gooseberryparkplayers.org/tickets/