CHESTER SPRINGS, PA — Journey Under The Sea – REALLY, WE MEAN IT! The Little Mermaid comes to SALT Performing Arts with two casts March 27 – April 27, 2025.
In true out-of-the-box SALT fashion, join us for The Little Mermaid, complete with real water! Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. With music by eight-time Academy Award winner, Alan Menken, this fishy fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs, including “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl,” and “Part of Your World.”
The Little Mermaid will be performed by two fabulous casts: Acting Antics All-Abilities performers and actors from SALT Performing Arts.
In 2018, a group of leaders at SALT Performing Arts sat around a table and talked about dreams for how the vision for SALT’s theatre company could grow and make a larger impact in the community. One idea that was generated was to start a program whereby people of all-abilities could have the chance to experience the magic of storytelling in community with others through a stage production. After this idea was announced to the community, it was brought to SALT’s attention that an organization doing exactly that was already in existence in Chester County, and had been for over a decade, but they needed a new home for rehearsals and productions. This birthed the partnership between SALT and Acting Antics.
Acting Antics was founded in 2007 and offers unique opportunities for children, teens, and adults who have difficulty with social skills or a diagnosis on the autism spectrum, or who simply want to make friends in a safe and truly welcoming environment. They believe in using the creative arts to encourage social skills and communication growth. For the past 5 years, SALT has opened its doors for Acting Antics to rehearse their show in the Fall and Winter, and then partners to help produce the show with a set and the technical aspects of lights, sound, and special effects in the Spring.
“Get your life preserver ready as SALT presents the most glamorous, spectacular 80’s Vegas meets Atlantica version of The Little Mermaid,” comments Lauren McComas, President and Artistic Director of SALT Performing Arts. “Ariel, Eric, Ursula, and the rest will razzle-dazzle audience members with their unmatched talent in this classic tale of love and bravery. In addition, we are thrilled to be partnering for the 5th year with Acting Antics to produce two productions of The Little Mermaid. The first weekend, March 28 – 30, will feature the Acting Antics All-Abilities cast, and the next four weekends, April 4 – 27, will feature SALT performers.”
“The Little Mermaid” has really powerful, relatable lessons about exploring who you are and breaking out of what society expects from you,” comments Melissa Ferkler, Executive Director of Acting Antics. “Like Ariel, our cast members are finding their way in the world and discovering their own unique strengths. Over the last few years, our amazing partnership with SALT Performing Arts has helped make that possible in ways we’d always dreamed of.”
SALT CAST
Ariel/Ally Hagan, Prince Eric/James Wier, Triton/Mitch King, Ursula/Daniel K. Williams, Sebastian/Jerald Bennett, Flounder/Dance Captain/Maddie Dixon, Grimsby/Chef Louis/Shamus Halloran, Scuttle/Janine Weiss, Flotsam/Ursula u/s/Julie Byrne, Jetsam/Sarah Riley, Aquata: Kylie Murray, Atina/Ariel u/s/Genevieve Kline, Arista/ Eel swing/Katy Engelman,Allana/Daneen Baird, Andrina/Drew Kalkiewicz, Adella/Alexa Poling, Windward/Mersister swing/Maeve Sasse, Leeward/Flounder u/s/Nella Hilden, Ensemble/Prince Eric u/s/Thomas Dempsey, Ensemble/Ryan Schrader, Triton u/s/Matt Rottman, Sebastian u/s/Shohom Basuthakur, Grimbsy/Chef Louis/Stephen Fisher, Scuttle u/s/Lauren McComas
SALT CREW
Director/Producer/Casting Director/Lauren McComas, Assistant Director/Stephen Fisher, Choreographer/Valerie Dixon, Music Director/Brigitte Rottman, Costume/Hair Designer/Kathy DeVries, Makeup Artist/Luke Burnette, Set, Lighting, & Sound Designer/Robbie Merow, Props Master/Laurey Zoladz, Stage Manager/Emily Craig, Assistant Stage Manager/Bo Wang, Assistant Stage Manager/Kylee Mawson, Jr. Assistant Stage Manager/Reece Dixon, Master Carpenter/Aedan Mikelonis, Carpenter/Mark Tesney, Light Board Operator/Evan Albright, Sound Board Operators/Mark Tesney, Aedan Mikelonis, Marketing Director/House Manager/Judy Elliott, Director of Cast Hospitality/Judi Kalkiewicz, Venue Manager/Chelsea Barnett/Photographer:/Mike Styer
ACTING ANTICS CAST
Ariel/Sophia Cooper, Prince Eric/Daniel Bailey,,Ursula/Julianna Hagofsky,King Triton/Chef/Matt Adams, Sebastian/Myra Maini, Grimsby/Cory Marx, Flounder/Anikh Chatterjee Biswas, Scuttle/Nicholas Lipton, Flotsam/Cynthia Stroup, Jetsam/Dominick Alete, Pilot/Aquata/Carlotta/ Megan Hill, Adriana/Princess/Kristine Stout, Arista/Princess/Millie Ferkler, Atina/Princess/Katie McCurdy, Adella/Princess/Gull/Emma Schmidt, Allana/Princess/Maggie Turbessi, Gulls/Sailors/James Crassas,Tiernan Hahn, Jack Johnson, Charlie Turbessi,Sea Chorus/Lagoon animals/all
ACTING ANTICS CREW
Director/Musical Director/Choreographer/Rose-Marie Turbessi, Assistant Director/Choreographer/Tia C. Allen, Founder/Line Coach/Cindy Schneider, Executive Director of Acting Antics/Melissa Ferkler,
Volunteers: Lynne Frassoni, Megan Bailey, Samantha Finley, Costume Designers/Debbie Young & Karen Barnet, Social Media/Admin for Acting Antics/Fran Donato, Sign-language Advisor/Elizabeth Wheeler
Details for Little Mermaid are as follows:
- This production takes place at our West Chester location: 19 Hagerty Blvd., West Chester PA 19382
- Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.saltpa.com/littlemermaid
- All ticket sales are final.
- If you need handicap accessibility, please choose seats in the Front Row D for handicapped accessible seating (ground level) and email jelliott@saltpa.com to confirm.
- Due to the “in the round” seating setup, latecomers cannot be seated right away. Once the show has begun, there are limited opportunities to be seated until the ship docks at intermission. Please plan to arrive at SALT West Chester early enough to be seated prior to showtime.
- If you book your tickets on a mobile device, the system will choose the best available for you. If you book your tickets on a computer, you have the option of choosing your own seats.
- SALT is mask-optional for audience members. Performers will not be wearing masks.
- As part of a 10-year partnership with Chester County Food Bank, SALT will be collecting canned/pouch tuna in water for the Chester County Food Bank at every performance, as we believe everyone in Chester County should have “SALT” on their table. $1.00 from every ticket sale is directly donated to the Chester County Food Bank.
- For more info check out our FAQ page.
Show schedule SALT:
- Friday, April 4, 7, 7 PM | Dressy Attire & Champagne Opening Night
- Saturday, April 5, 2 PM, 7 PM
- Sunday, April 6, 2 PM
- Friday, April 11, 7 PM
- Saturday, April 12, 10 AM & 3 PM
- Sunday, April 13, 10 AM & 3 PM
- Friday, April 18, 7 PM
- Saturday, April 19, 2 PM, 7 PM
- Saturday, April 26, 10 AM & 3 PM
- Sunday, April 27, 10 AM & 3 PM
Show schedule ACTING ANTICS:
- Thursday, March 27, 7 PM
- Friday, March 28, 7 PM
- Saturday, March 29, 2 PM
- Sunday, March 30, 2 PM
ALT Performing Arts aims to provide live community theatre productions, Playhouses for Preschoolers at Montgomery School, summer/year-round theatre camps for kids, dinner theatre, and more. With excellence as the standard, SALT, a non-profit organization, believes that the “community” is paramount in community theatre and strives to foster an all-inclusive atmosphere that promotes a positive, uplifting experience for each individual. SALT involves people of all ages from all walks of life. If you are interested in learning more about SALT Performing Arts, making a donation, or being a sponsor, please email us at info@saltpa.com. SALT Performing Arts, 1645 Art School Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425 is organized and operated exclusively ly for charitable purposes with a non-profit 501(c)(3) status. For more information or to request interviews, contact Judy Elliott (jelliott@saltpa.com, 610-513-5839) or visit our website (saltpa.com)
Acting Antics offers unique opportunities for children, teens, and adults who have difficulty with social skills or a diagnosis on the autism spectrum, or who simply want to make friends in a safe and truly welcoming environment. We believe in using the creative arts to encourage social skills and communication growth. Our inclusive, all-abilities programs are particularly well suited for those hesitant to participate in larger programs, providing a gateway to acceptance into peer and social groups. And the best way to learn is by having fun! For more information, visit them at https://actingantics.org/our-mission
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