Synopsis In a magical underwater kingdom, the beautiful young mermaid, Ariel, longs to leave her ocean home and her fins behind and live in the world above. But first, she'll have to defy her father, King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, and convince the handsome Prince Eric that she's the girl whose enchanting voice he's been seeking. Written to flow seamlessly between land and sea, Disney's The Little Mermaid JR. provides plenty of opportunities to bring these locations to life through creative movement and configurations. The fantasy of being underwater means your entire cast and crew can let their imaginations run wild. Character Breakdown Cast Size: 75 Cast type: Ensemble Cast Dance Requirement: Standard Ariel Ariel, the heroine of our story, is a little mermaid who longs to be human. Cast a strong singer and dynamic performer in this role. Ariel has some beautiful solos but must be able to convey meaning through gesture once she loses her voice. Vocal range top: Eb5 Vocal range bottom: Bb3 Prince Eric Prince Eric is the adventurous prince who captures Ariel's heart. Look for a charming performer with a sensitive nature. Prince Eric has a few small solos, but it is more important to cast a strong actor in this role. Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: B3 Sebastian Sebastian is the meticulous and anxious crab who tries to keep Ariel safe while getting to lead some of the most memorable songs in the show! Look for a strong singer who can handle Sebastian's emotional range. Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: A3 Flounder Flounder is Ariel's sincere and sensitive best friend who is loyal to the end. This spunky fish also has a showstopping solo in "She's in Love." Flounder can be cast with a girl or a boy with an unchanged voice. This may be a wonderful role for a younger performer who is ready to take the next step into the spotlight. Vocal range top: Db5 Vocal range bottom: G3 King Triton
King Triton rules the sea and is a force to be reckoned with. This actor needs to command the stage as a strong leader but also show the tenderness of a parent. Cast a mature performer who feels comfortable playing father to Ariel and the Mersisters. Mersisters The Mersisters (Aquata, Andrina, Arista, Atina, Adella, Allana) are Ariel's siblings and full of personality and sass. These are great roles to showcase talented singers and dancers who can create and play six distinctive characters. Vocal range top: G5 Vocal range bottom: G3 Ursula Ursula is the manipulative sea witch who tries to overthrow King Triton. She is cunning and devious and will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Cast a mature performer who can bring out this villain's humor while finding texture in Ursula's complexity. Ursula's songs can be challenging, so look for a singer who will feel comfortable with these solos. Vocal range top: C#5 Vocal range bottom: F3 Flotsam Flotsam and Jetsam are Ursula's slippery spies. These electric eels are sinister and sneaky, so look for performers who can be underhanded and devious while still being heard on stage. Flotsam and Jetsam can be played by boys or girls. Vocal range top: C#5 Vocal range bottom: C4 Jetsam Flotsam and Jetsam are Ursula's slippery spies. These electric eels are sinister and sneaky, so look for performers who can be underhanded and devious while still being heard on stage. Flotsam and Jetsam can be played by boys or girls. Vocal range top: C#5 Vocal range bottom: C4 Scuttle Scuttle is the know-it-all seagull who serves as Ariel's expert on humans. He is funny and off-beat. While a good singer will rock "Human Stuff," this song can easily be spoken in rhythm. Look for a performer with good comedic timing who is willing to have fun with Scuttle's eccentricities. Vocal range top: E5 Vocal range bottom: B3
Gulls The Gulls are Scuttle's flock of zany "back-up singers" who help explain human stuff to Ariel. While there are three principal gulls written in the score, feel free to add as many as you need to best serve your production. Vocal range top: G5 Vocal range bottom: B3 Grimsby Grimsby is Prince Eric's prim and proper valet. He is rigid in personality and constantly trying to guide Prince Eric towards the throne. While Grimsby does have some singing to do, strong acting trumps singing ability for this role. Vocal range top: C5 Vocal range bottom: E4 Chef Louis Chef Louis is the over-the-top head chef in the palace. He is always wild and frenetic. This is an excellent featured role for a comedic performer. Vocal range top: C5 Vocal range bottom: A3 Chefs The Chefs are Chef Louis' assistants. The music in "Les Poissons" can be challenging, so good choral singers are a plus for this group. Carlotta Carlotta is the headmistress in Prince Eric's palace and Ariel's greatest human ally. This non-singing role needs to be warm and maternal to make Ariel feel welcome. Princesses The six Princesses try everything they can to win the heart of Prince Eric. Since none of them possesses the voice Prince Eric is searching for, cast actresses who can create an exaggerated and comedic personality through song. Vocal range top: G5 Vocal range bottom: E4 Pilot The Pilot is the head sailor on Prince Eric's ship. This nautical expert who entertains the sailors with wild tales of the sea presents an opportunity to highlight a developing performer. The Pilot has a few speaking lines, but his singing voice is most important. Vocal range top: C5 Vocal range bottom: Bb3
Sailors The Sailors are the crew of Prince Eric's ship. They are eager for adventure and ready to tackle a storm. The Sailors can be played by boys or girls. Seahorse The Seahorse is the court herald for King Triton. This is a good role for a young performer with a clear speaking voice. Sea Chorus The Sea Chorus is responsible for creating each world within the show. Look for performers who can move gracefully and are capable of being part of a scene without drawing focus. This can also be an opportunity to showcase some of your more skilled dancers. Sea Creatures The Sea Creatures are the ensemble underwater animals in King Triton's court. They can include as few or as many performers as your production permits. There are several moments to showcase both dancers and singers in "Under the Sea." Merfolk The Merfolk of King Triton's Court. Lagoon Animals The Lagoon Animals try to convince Prince Eric to kiss Ariel.
Fathoms Below Triton s Court Sebastian s Fanfare Daughters of Triton Where s Ariel? The Beach Finding Scuttle Human Stuff Human Stuff (Playoff) / Into Ursula s Lair Into King Triton s Court Part of Your World Under the Sea Under the Sea (Playoff) Prince Eric s Ship The Storm Part of Your World (Reprise 1) Part of Your World (Reprise 2) She s in Love Flounder Flounders Ariel s Grotto Grotto Destruction Murky Waters Poor Unfortunate Souls Transformation Eric Enters Les Poissons The Palace Hall One Step Closer The Lagoon Kiss the Girl Zzzap! Kiss the Girl (Playoff) The Contest One Step Closer (Reprise) Time s Up Ursula's Lair Poor Unfortunate Souls (Reprise) Confrontation Whirlpool Human Again Part of Your World (Finale) Under the Sea (Bows) Exit Music Song list
AUDITION LOCATION: First Presbyterian Church 621 College Ave, Wooster AUDITION DATES: Monday, April 2 Ages 8-12 6:00 pm 7:30 pm Ages 13-18 7:30 pm 9:00 pm Thursday, April 5 Ages 8-12 6:00 pm 7:30 pm Ages 13-18 7:30 pm 9:00 pm Saturday, April 7 Ages 8-12 9:30 am 11:00 am Ages 13-18 11:00 am 12:30 pm Auditions: What to Expect What do I do when I arrive? 1. Pick up and completely fill out an audition form. INCLUDE ANY SCHEDULING CONFLICTS! If you filled out an audition form online (http://www.wacpac.org) (Click on TAB for The Little Mermaid, Jr) you will need to have a printed hard copy or re-fill it out when you arrive. Present this to us when you enter the room for auditions. You will be assigned an audition number. 2. Wait patiently until you are called into the audition area. Feel free to bring quiet activities or enjoy time with the other actors auditioning! You only need to come to ONE audition date, not all of them.
What will the audition be like? First, we want you to relax and have FUN! Take this opportunity to show us your personality and skills. The more confident and energetic you are, the more we can see your capabilities. Your audition will involve three components. You must participate in all three: Vocal, Reading & Dance VOCAL: As part of your audition, you ll be asked to sing. For this show, we d like auditioners to choose and prepare a song from our Audition Song List. Go to our website at http://www.wacpac.org/audition-song-files to hear accompaniment for the songs listed. We will have these audio tracks to play at auditions. Why is there a song list? There s never been one for the summer auditions! Many times, auditioners sing a song that the directors are not familiar with, so it is difficult to gage whether or not they are singing on pitch. The directors then ask the auditioner to sing another song, like Happy Birthday or Twinkle Twinkle in order to assess for pitch. Having auditioners sing not one but TWO songs, only adds to the length of auditions. Plus, having accompaniment music will be preferable to singing a cappella! What if I don t get to sing my whole song? Don t worry if you are interrupted and don t get to finish your song. This will happen with everyone and only means that we have heard enough of your voice to give us a good idea of your sound. You may also be asked to sing some scales to give us an idea of your vocal range. READING: You will also be asked to read lines from the script along with other auditioners. If you are interested in reading for a particular character, let us know at this time. You do not have to read a certain part in order to get that same part in the play! By just reading any character you can give us a good idea of your abilities. Remember to speak loudly, clearly and put as much expressive energy into your reading as you can. DANCE:
There WILL be choreography in this production. Dance steps for this show will be relatively simple and fun. You MUST dance as part of our audition so that we can see what you re capable of. In a group with other auditioners, a choreographer will go over some simple steps and you will dance them as a group. Bring sneakers or dance shoes if you have them flips flops are hard to turn in. When am I done with auditions? You are finished when you have completed the singing, acting, and dancing portions of the audition. Can I come back and audition for the same thing twice? This is not encouraged. If you feel a need to do so, speak with the director. What if I get called back? Callback auditions mean that we would like to see you audition again for some reason. It does not necessarily mean that you are guaranteed a part. We just need to find out more before we make our casting decisions. Callbacks are Monday April 9th 6:30 pm 8:30pm and auditioners will be notified by directors. What if I am not called-back? It does not necessarily mean you haven t been cast. You could not be called back and still be cast in the show. Please do not contact the directors to inquire if you ve been cast or called back. When will I know if I have been cast in the show? 1. The cast list will be posted on Friday April 13 th on the WaCPAC Facebook site and at wacpac.org. YOU MUST CONFIRM THAT YOU ACCEPT YOUR ROLE, by sending an email to wacpacattendance@gmail.com by Sunday, April 15th. Once you accept, you are committed and we will be counting on you! 2. If you are not cast in the show, you will likely be disappointed. Please consider becoming involved in the production in some other way. No production is successful without the work of the crew! We will need help with lights, sound, props, make-up, publicity, tickets, set-building, etc. We hope that Disney s Little Mermaid Jr. will be a fun and meaningful experience for everyone involved, in whatever capacity they participate. 3. If you are cast, but not in the role you wanted, please continue with the production. Unfortunately, some people take these decisions very personally and leave the production entirely. The directors must always
Special notes: do what is best for the success of the show and although we wish we could give everyone a speaking role, it s just not possible! Chorus members are integral to a show and still have an AWESOME theatre experience. We hope that cast members will support each other and choose to be happy and supportive of their castmates. Attendance is mandatory for all of Tech Week (June 11-14) and for all performances (June 15-16, 22-24). If you have a conflict during those dates, you will not be cast. If you are unaware of a conflict and it arises after the show has been cast, you may be asked to leave the production. This is not to be mean, but it is ESSENTIAL to have the full cast present for tech week and performances! If you accept your role as an actor in the cast, you will be asked to put in a minimum of four hours working backstage, with set building, painting, costumes, or wherever you are needed most. We will need this commitment from every actor. If you are not willing to put in this extra time, please do not audition. Parent volunteers are also an essential part of our productions success. When will the first meeting be held? All PARENTS, CAST and CREW members will be expected to attend the first organizational meeting at First Presbyterian Church 621 College Ave, Wooster 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 16th. If you have a conflict and cannot attend, contact Jenny Karger at jenettekarger@gmail.com or 818-298-7308. When will I receive a complete rehearsal schedule? A finalized rehearsal schedule will be posted once the director has had time to take all scheduling conflicts into account. We will be holding most rehearsals from 6:30-8:30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays; and on Saturdays from 10am-12pm. It depends on the role which days/dates you ll be required to attend. You may have some conflicts along the way, but starting June 11, everyone must be at every rehearsal through the run of the shows, which are scheduled for June 15, 16, 22, 23, 24, 2018. Thank you for sharing your talents with WaCPAC! Break a Leg!