Lewis, Palmer, Scott, Burgess and More Will Join Boggess in Disney's Little Mermaid
By Andrew Gans
20 Mar 2007
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Sherie Rene Scott will play Ursula in The Little Mermaid on Broadway.
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| photo by Aubrey Reuben | Casting is now complete for the new Disney musical The Little Mermaid, which will begin performances at The Denver Center for the Performing Arts' Ellie Caulkins Opera House July 26 with an official opening Aug. 23.
As previously announced, Sierra Boggess will head the cast in the title role. She will be joined onstage by Sean Palmer as Prince Eric, Norm Lewis as King Triton, Tituss Burgess as Sebastian, Eddie Korbich as Scuttle, Jonathan Freeman as Grimsby, Derrick Baskin as Jetsam, Tyler Maynard as Flotsam, Cody Hanford and J.J. Singleton as Flounder and Sherie René Scott as Ursula.
After its Denver run ends Sept. 9, the musical will arrive at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, current home of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Nov. 3 with an official opening Dec. 6.
"In a magical kingdom beneath the sea," reads Mermaid production notes, "a beautiful young mermaid named Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she'll have to defy her father – the king of the sea – escape the clutches of an evil sea witch and convince a prince that she's the girl with the perfect voice." The musical is based on both the Disney animated film and the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale.
Francesca Zambello will direct Mermaid, which features songs penned by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman for the Disney film as well as 11 new tunes by Menken and Glenn Slater. Doug Wright has written the book for the musical.
The creative team also features Stephen Mear (choreography), George Tsypin (scenery), Tatiana Noginova (costumes), Natasha Katz (lighting), Angelina Avallone (make-up design) and David Brian Brown (hair design).
Sherie Rene Scott received a Tony nomination for her performance in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and her other Broadway credits include Aida, Tommy and Rent. She was seen Off-Broadway in The Landscape of the Body (Obie Award), The Last Five Years and Debbie Does Dallas.
Sean Palmer was recently seen as Chip in the English National Opera production of On the Town, and his Broadway credits include The Apple Tree, Saturday Night Fever, Fosse and Dream.
Norm Lewis, currently on Broadway as Javert in the revival of Les Misérables, has also been seen in Main Stem productions of Chicago, Amour, The Wild Party, Side Show, Miss Saigon and Tommy. His Off-Broadway credits include Dessa Rose, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Captains Courageous and A New Brain.
Tituss Burgess' Broadway credits include Jersey Boys and Good Vibrations. He was seen in The Wiz at the La Jolla Playhouse, and his other theatrical credits include Children of Eden, La Cage aux Folles and Big River.
Eddie Korbich, currently on Broadway in The Drowsy Chaperone, has also appeared in After The Night and the Music, Wicked, Seussical, Carousel, Sweeney Todd and Singin' in the Rain. He received an Obie Award for his work in Takin' a Chance on Love and was also seen Off-Broadway in Assassins; Godspell; The Gifts of the Magi; Eating Raoul; Flora, the Red Menace; and A Little Night Music.
Jonathan Freeman, now on Broadway in Beauty and the Beast, has also appeared in Main Stem productions of The Producers, 42nd Street, On the Town, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Platinum, Sherlock Holmes and She Loves Me, earning a Tony Award nomination for the latter. He was seen in the Irish Rep's production of Finian's Rainbow, and his other theatrical credits include Sail Away, Encores! Li'l Abner, A Class Act and An Empty Plate.
Derrick Baskin, currently in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, played Mereb in Aida and Gator in the world premiere of Memphis at the North Shore Music Theatre. His other theatrical credits include productions of Smokey Joe's Café, Ragtime and Sundiata the Lion King of Mali.
Tyler Maynard, now on Broadway in Mary Poppins, received a Drama Desk nomination and a Theatre World Award for his performance in Altar Boyz. He has also been seen in New York in Mamma Mia!, the City Center Encores! presentation of Bye Bye Birdie and the Vineyard's mounting of Miracle Brothers. He appeared in the national tour of Disney's On the Record and the film "Palindromes."
The Little Mermaid will mark 12-year-old Cody Hanford's Broadway debut. His regional theatre credits include The Wizard of Oz, Evita and Fiddler on the Roof; he can also be seen in the films "Hounddog" and "Walk the Line."
J.J. Singleton made his Broadway debut as Young Simba in The Lion King and has also appeared in several Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS benefits.
Tickets for the Denver run of Mermaid, priced $20-$74 (July 26-Aug. 22) and $25-$77 (Aug. 23-Sept. 9), are available by calling (303) 893-4100 or (800) 641-1222 or by visiting www.denvercenter.org.
For more information visit Walt Disney Theatricals on-line at www.disneyonbroadway.com.
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