Terrace View Brings Disney's Beloved "Tail" The Little Mermaid to the Stage

A tenacious young mermaid named Ariel found her way into the hearts and homes of many through Disney's animated film version of "The Little Mermaid." The now familiar tale has captivated audiences with its musically inclined tropical fish, evil octopus sea witch, dashing young prince and dreams of being part of a new world for more than 20 years. Terrace View Elementary Production Company is staging a version of the beloved story that is complete with a plethora of technical effects and a cast of 130 talented performers ages five to fifty-five. The show is sure to be a musical and visual feast that will surely please audiences of all ages. The magic of the show will begin with the first strains of music played by the live orchestra, which will set the tone for the underwater land and provide a seamless transition from land to water during the show amidst periodic releases of glistening bubbles throughout the theatre to extend the ocean world to the audience. The special effects will continue with a flying system courtesy of FLYING BY FOY from Las Vegas that has trained the Terrace View crew to launch and fly not just Scuttle and Ariel into the air, but several other characters as well allowing these characters to appear to be floating or swimming in the sea. Director, Geri Marquez, has put together a perfect group of well-cast actors to bring the enchanting characters to life and fill the scenery with perfectly timed dance numbers and clear vocals. Costumer, MaryJo Ford has brilliantly created, along with a team of seamstresses, two hundred plus, dazzling, colorful, intricate and extremely detailed costumes for Terrace View's production. Heading the cast are Courtney Barnes as Ariel and Jordan Crother as Prince Eric. Barnes will portray the wide-eyed innocence of a young woman intrigued by an unknown world, while Crother fits the bill of the ever-chivalrous prince. Together, their harmonies are sure to paint a convincing picture of a young couple experiencing a newfound love. Ursula, is being played by Sarah Ayotte, in a costume custom made with robotic tentacles. Ayotte is sure to carry a larger than life presence with her award winning vocals and sense of sultry evil. Charles Johnson and Brenton Ayotte are brilliantly cast together as Ursula's sinister sidekicks, Flotsam and Jetsam. The actors seem to act as one entity, finishing each other's sentences and feeding off one another. Nchima Chongwe captures Sebastian the crab's overly cautious and stiff inclinations that grow soft as the story progresses. Taylor Joseph plays the role of Ariel's overbearing father, King Triton, and her mersisters are played by Alyssa Roman, Amanda Aguado, Brittany Lotshaw, Carina Wolf, Kayla Marquez, and Megan Ramirez. Ariel's ever-loyal side-kick Flounder is played by Jacqueline Gamboa, and Prince Eric's side-kick Grimsby is played by Kingsley Malang. Scuttle, the seagull, is being played by the hilariously talented Michael Eastman. Audiences will no doubt find Terrace View's Production of Disney's "The Little Mermaid" as relatable, enjoyable and enchanting as ever. Tickets are selling fast. $12 pre-sale or $15 at the door. Shows are April 21, 22, 23, at 7 p.m. with an additional matinee on Saturday April 23 at 2 p.m. All performances will be in the Colton High School, Whitmer Auditorium, 1200 Valley Blvd. Colton. For Tickets or more information please call (909)586-5792.