DISNEY’S ANIMATED FILM As a great admirer of classic fairy tales, Walt Disney looked to bring “The Little Mermaid” to the screen in 1940. Unfortunately, the timing and concept were not quite right and the project was abandoned. Almost 50 years later, Disney animators Ron Clements and John Musker decided to try again. They hired Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, authors of the recent off-Broadway hit Little Shop of Horrors, to create a musical theater score for the film. The Little Mermaid, an uplifting adaptation of Andersen’s famed tale, became Disney’s 28th animated feature and opened to rave reviews on November 17, 1989. Menken and Ashman were awarded the Oscar®, Golden Globe, and GRAMMY® for their score and for the song “Under the Sea.” The Little Mermaid marked the beginning of a renaissance in Disney animation and paved the way for such films as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King.
DISNEY’S STAGE MUSICAL Originally structured like a Broadway musical, the film was a solid candidate for stage adaptation, especially in the wake of the enormous success of Beauty and the Beast. Disney Theatrical Group brought book writer Doug Wright together with director Francesca Zambello, set designer George Tsypin, costume designer Tatiana Noginova, and lighting designer Natasha Katz to create an undersea world onstage. Alan Menken reprised his role as composer and worked with lyricist Glenn Slater to add new songs to the film’s score. The Broadway production opened on January 10, 2008, running for 685 performances before closing on August 30, 2009. The stage musical was adapted for middle school children as The Little Mermaid JR. in 2012. The full-length show was then revised and enjoyed sold-out productions in Holland, Moscow, and Tokyo. The Little Mermaid continues to charm audiences around the globe.
1989 Disney animated film Photo © Disney
Sierra Boggess as Ariel Original Broadway Production of The Little Mermaid
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