Jennifer Allen as Ursula, Brandon Roach as Flotsam and Frederick Hagreen as Jetsam.
A: They are both trapped, or locked, in a world that they have taken for granted and think will always exist. They both undergo real growth and change within the span of the story. Although Triton is not onstage as much as the Beast, the arc of Triton is still very strong because he’s the catalyst for Ariel to discover herself. She’s also his catalyst because she changes him — his view of the world and his prejudice toward humans. She draws him out of his shell. It’s a wonderful arc for an actor to play. Q: When Mermaid was reworked, did the role of King Triton improve? A: This version of the show emphasizes the father-daughter relationship in a way that was not there before. Fathers who have had to let a daughter go for whatever reason can
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relate. In fact, I know they’re getting lumps in their throats. I’ve seen fathers with tears streaming down their faces. Q: Do you have a “dream role” you still want to play? A: Besides being a series regular on a TV series shot in New York? I want to do Sweeney Todd one day. That was my Hamilton, my Rent, my Spring Awakening that I saw as a college student in 1979. I realized that dark, gritty, passionate theater is what I wanted to do. Q: Any advice for someone who wants a stage career? A: Don’t be afraid to just be, nothing more. But you have to want it more than anything or get out. Because someone else wants it more than you. MARK KITAOKA
Q: What do the Beast and Triton have in common?