Under the sea: Cape Junior High to produce 'The Little Mermaid'

A number of students at Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School will travel under the sea next week for their spring musical, "The Little Mermaid."

The musical, which will be presented at 7 p.m. March 3, 4 and 5 in the junior high's auditorium, also will be the concluding theatrical production produced and directed by longtime choir teacher Mike Dumey before he retires later this year.

"The Little Mermaid" onstage musical was produced by Disney Theatrical and is based on the 1989 animated Disney film by the same name.

With 110 students in the chorus and 20 in the regular cast, the costuming for the musical has posed a challenge in terms of man-hours and materials. But, with dedicated and longstanding volunteers like Mimi Higgins and Pat Renard, Dumey said costuming has never been an issue.

Along with Higgins and Renard, Dumey has had volunteer help from Dennis Wilson, who this year hand-painted the coral reef backdrop to help create Ariel's underwater world. Wilson also is creating painted scenery for the mast of Prince Eric's ship and Ursula's cave lair, among other set pieces.

Cape Central Junior High School students rehearse for their upcoming production of "The Little Mermaid" in the school's auditorium Wednesday.Laura Simon

The last time Dumey had students produce "The Little Mermaid" 12 years ago, Higgins created an Ursula costume, and the same will be refurbished for this showing.

The menacing sea witch will have undulating tentacles attached to the costume bodice to create a sense of realistic movement while the student portraying her, Taviunna Allen, moves across the stage.

"That's gonna be a really cool deal, and then Sebastian, she's making Sebastian new this year and it's even cooler," Dumey said.

Dumey said Higgins didn't like the Broadway version of the Sebastian costume because he "looked like a lobster -- crabs have shells."

And that's just one instance in which Dumey and his volunteers have worked to produce "detail on top of detail" to make elements of "The Little Mermaid" pop.

Cape Central Junior High School students rehearse for their upcoming production of 'The Little Mermaid' in the school's auditorium, Wednesday, Feb 24, 2016.Laura Simon

Props also are a large part of the process that help pull the show together, with one in particular being a large, handmade blue shell with lights attached that will hold Ursula's power. Dumey said no matter what he needs, he can provide his vision to one of his volunteers and they will undoubtedly deliver.

"I'm very, very -- and have been for many years -- a very blessed man," Dumey said.

In terms of show choice, Dumey said "The Little Mermaid" is near to his heart because it was the first musical he did when he began his career at Louis J. Schultz School, the previous location of the junior high school, in 1992.

It also was the first musical to be produced on the stage in the current junior-high auditorium in 2004 and, fittingly enough, it will be Dumey's final production before retirement.

"I personally love the story because it's the real return Disney had to animation; animation becoming the forefront for the company and a big success again. Â… 'The Little Mermaid' was the first thing that made it cool for all ages to come and enjoy something, and I think that's why it plays so well on stage, because it's that very spirit, that it plays to all generations," Dumey said.

Cape Central Junior High School students rehearse for their upcoming production of "The Little Mermaid."Laura Simon

Dumey said the main difference between the film and the musical is the students will perform the full Broadway show with a more than two-hour-long script, rather than an hour and 10-minute cartoon.

The show has more songs than the movie, so attendees shouldn't expect an exact replica of the film.

With such a large group of students involved and a limited amount of principle positions, Dumey said he makes sure to create as many parts as he can to incorporate as many students as possible, including positions such as extra mermaids, water for onstage movement and fish.

The joy of working with and directing the students, according to Dumey, comes when he sees the development they have made throughout the entire rehearsal process and the final polished product on opening night.

"That's one of the things I enjoy most, is watching them grow and develop as young actors and young singers on stage, and by the time the shows go around they look effortless, and people don't realize what hard work they did with me to begin with to get them to that point," Dumey said.

Allen, an eighth-grader, said the best part about being involved in the spring musical is the opportunity to get to know classmates she wouldn't have met otherwise.

Karley Thomas, who also is in eighth grade and will play Ariel, agreed.

"There's times where you have to be serious, but then there's a lot of jokes that go around, and it's just really fun talking and getting to know everyone and learning your part more and getting into character," Thomas said.

She said another high point of being in the musical is getting to put on a show and act like someone else.

"Getting to be somebody different, it's really fun because Ariel's more like a really perky, sweet girl, and I'm just usually really chill in school. And it's being someone really different; it's really fun," Thomas said.

Although this will be Dumey's final production at the junior high, he is looking forward to seeing the end product and has no doubt he and his students will finish on a high note.

"There's not been one year in 25 they've let me down, never. And that's a pretty remarkable stat, I do believe," Dumey said.

Tickets for the show are $8 and $10. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (573) 382-6632.

lyoung@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3632

Pertinent address: 205 Caruthers St., Cape Girardeau