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    The Little Mermaid Flounders

    The Little Mermaid musical sinks under weight of Disney movie nostalgia

    Alex Bentley
    Mar 17, 2016 | 2:00 pm

    Seeing an onstage adaptation of one of your favorite Disney movies could go one of two ways. Sure, it's exciting to revisit a world you know and love, as well as hear — and sing along with — the classic songs. But a theater production inevitably alters elements to conform to the stage, which could compromise those warm and fuzzy feelings.

    That's definitely the case with The Little Mermaid, which both honors and departs from the original film. The basics are all there: Ariel (Alison Woods) still dreams of living on land, much to the chagrin of her father, King Triton (Fred Inkley) and friends Flounder (Adam Garst) and Sebastian (Melvin Abston). One chance encounter with Prince Eric (Eric Kunze) is all it takes for Ariel to be willing to do anything to fulfill her dream, even if it means sacrificing her beautiful voice to the sea witch Ursula (Tracy Lore).

    Depending on how long ago you watched the original animated version, you may or may not remember that the list of songs in the movie was pretty short. There were seven total, and only four of those — "Part of Your World," "Under the Sea," "Poor Unfortunate Souls," and "Kiss the Girl" — were truly memorable. What that means for a Broadway production is a lot of filler material in order to get to the songs you know.

    Unfairly or not, few of the new songs, all of which were written by Glenn Slater, live up to the standard set by the aforementioned four. Most of them exist in order to give more stage time for characters like Prince Eric, who was missing any real background in the movie. But the songs lack pizzazz, and you may find yourself twiddling your thumbs, waiting for the next familiar song.

    When those songs do come along, they deliver on a nostalgic level, but not as much on a theatrical level. Woods' voice seems a tad thin, making "Part of Your World" underwhelming. Sebastian's two big moments in "Under the Sea" and "Kiss the Girl" are great musically, but the choreography and unimaginative stagecraft make them disappointing.

    In fact, the set decoration as a whole doesn't seem to be Broadway quality. Perhaps they focused on getting the makeup and hair just right for the various characters, but the other elements seem to be more fitting for a lesser production than a big, nationally touring musical. The only thing that sets it apart is the occasional flying swimming sequence, which finds the mermaids effortlessly gliding over the stage.

    The onstage version of The Little Mermaid won't ruin your memories of the film, but it's unlikely to leave as lasting an impression.

    -----

    Dallas Summer Musicals presents The Little Mermaid at the Music Hall at Fair Park through March 27.

    Melvin Abston, Alison Woods, and the cast of The Little Mermaid.

    Melvin Abston and Alison Woods in The Little Mermaid
      
    Photo by Bruce Bennett, courtesy of Theatre Under The Stars
    Melvin Abston, Alison Woods, and the cast of The Little Mermaid.
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    Season Announcement

    Big spenders + bigger voices fill Lyric Stage's 2025-26 Dallas season

    Lindsey Wilson
    Jun 18, 2025 | 12:29 pm
    Rocky Horror Picture Show with Tim Curry
    The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
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    For its 2025-26 season, Lyric Stage is pairing a sweet transvestite with Civil War-era sisters, a dance hall hostess with harmonizing ghosts, and a whole bunch of divas with their much-deserved spotlight.

    Now in its 32nd season, the nonprofit Lyric Stage is dedicated to the development and preservation of musicals, having produced more than 125 productions, which include 21 world-premiere musicals and two Off-Broadway shows.

    Under the helm of newish artistic directors Tricia Guenther and Scott Guenther, four of its current shows will take place in its Lyric Studio Space near the Trinity River, with one at Moody Performance Hall in the Dallas Arts District.

    First up (and just in time for Halloween) is The Rocky Horror Show — note the missing "Picture." This is the stage version on which the cult classic movie was later based, but don't worry, audiences are still encouraged to shout at the performers and throw toilet paper and other props.

    Sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named “Rocky.” It runs October 10-26, 2025 at Lyric Stage Studio and is not family-friendly.

    For the holiday season, Forever Plaid - Plaid Tidings brings Francis, Jinx, Smudge, and Sparky back to Earth on the orders of Rosemary Clooney to put a little harmony into a discordant world.

    Stewart Ross' musical is sprinkled with Christmas offerings and audience favorites, like the riotous three-minute-and-eleven-second version of The Ed Sullivan Show, this time, featuring the Rockettes, the Chipmunks, and The Vienna Boys Choir. It runs December 5-21, 2025, at Lyric Stage Studio.

    For one night only, the Dallas Divas return just in time for Valentine’s Day.

    Showcasing some of the most talented voices in Dallas, singing songs ranging from Broadway to pop, the performance is a Lyric Stage tradition. It is February 11, 2026, at Moody Performance Hall.

    Inspired by Federico Fellini’s Night of Cabiria, Sweet Charity explores the turbulent love life of Charity Hope Valentine, a hopelessly romantic but comically unfortunate dance hall hostess in New York City.

    With a tuneful, groovy, mid-1960s score by Cy Coleman, sparkling lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and a hilarious book by Neil Simon, Sweet Charity captures all the energy, humor, and heartbreak of Life in the Big City for an unfortunate but irrepressible optimist. The production is the original 1966 Broadway (not the movie version) with such hit songs as “Big Spender,” “If My Friends Could See Me Now,” “I’m a Brass Band,” and “Baby, Dream Your Dream.” It runs April 17-May 3, 2026, at Lyric Stage Studio.

    Closing out the season is Louisa May Alcott's timeless Little Women, with a book by Allan Knee, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, and music by Jason Howland.

    The musical follows the adventures of sisters Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March. Jo is trying to sell her stories for publication, but the publishers are not interested in a woman's creativity. Her friend, Professor Bhaer, tells her that she has to do better and write more from herself. Begrudgingly taking this advice, Jo weaves the story of herself and her sisters and their experience growing up in Civil War America. It runs July 17-August 2, 2026, at Lyric Stage Studio.

    Season tickets, which range from $40-$60, are available beginning July 1. Lyric Stage is located at 1170 Quaker St. in Dallas.

    dallas divasfederico felliniforever plaidlittle womenlyric stagemoody performance hallnight of cabiriarockettesrocky horror showsweet charitysweet transvestitetheatertime warpvienna boys choirmusical theatremusicals
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