'The Little Mermaid' - A cast of 200

The spring musicals Mike Dumey began producing at Schultz School in 1992 have since become an institution that involves throngs of students, parents and teachers. Dumey's first production in the tiny Schultz Library was Disney's animated hit "The Little Mermaid." Now Schultz School is closed, but "The Little Mermaid" has returned.

This time at the Central Junior High School Auditorium, the underwater set is much more sumptuous, Pat Renard's costumes are showier and more colorful than ever and the almost 200 students involved nearly fill the stage and the aisles during the rousing "Under the Sea" number.

The coming-of-age story will be presented tonight and Friday night.

Alex Kies and Rebecca Rollins are fine as the leads, Prince Eric and Ariel, the mermaid willing to become human to marry him. Rollins has a pleasing voice, and her parents will swoon when they see her in the wedding dress.

Grace Courvoisier is deliciously wicked as Ursula, the sea witch. Nathaniel Kinsey is madcap as Chef Louie, the cook in pursuit of Sebastian (Taylor McMillan), the crab who is Ariel's watchdog. McMillan is good at being crabby.

Kayla Reed exhibits a powerful voice on the opening number.

Also appearing in major roles are Stephen Gilhaus as Grimsby, Alex Bettinger as the muscular King Triton, Paige Pritchard as the scaredy-cat Flounder and Bailey Rust as Scuttle, the smart-mouthed seagull.

Also appearing in supporting parts are Aaron Buttrey, Michael Merritt, Kyle Gilhaus, Nick Heid, Murielle Wyman, Bekah Pfanstiel, Emily Williams, Anne-Marie Bernhardt, Meredith Busch and Emily Ponder.

Also performing supporting roles in the musical are Billie Rinehart, Carly Schneider, Beth Gile, Tommy McGowen, Sarah Schneider, Briana McDowell, Beth Davey, Sarah Ressel, Robert Weir, Lindsey Greene and Elizabeth Knight.

The narrators are Suzanne Burke, Danielle Ingram, Bethany Coleman, Claire Segar, Kristin Demyan, Melody Stone, Emily Viers, Kaeli Kimes, Diana Harper and Alecia King.

The set director is Sherri Sparks, the choreographer is Anne-Marie Bernhardt and the sound engineer is the Rev. Bill Burke.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182

By Sam Blackwell ~ Southeast Missourian

The spring musicals Mike Dumey began producing at Schultz School in 1992 have since become an institution that involves throngs of students, parents and teachers. Dumey's first production in the tiny Schultz Library was Disney's animated hit "The Little Mermaid." Now Schultz School is closed, but "The Little Mermaid" has returned.

This time at the Central Junior High School Auditorium, the underwater set is much more sumptuous, Pat Renard's costumes are showier and more colorful than ever and the almost 200 students involved nearly fill the stage and the aisles during the rousing "Under the Sea" number.

The coming-of-age story will be presented tonight and Friday night.

Alex Kies and Rebecca Rollins are fine as the leads, Prince Eric and Ariel, the mermaid willing to become human to marry him. Rollins has a pleasing voice, and her parents will swoon when they see her in the wedding dress.

Grace Courvoisier is deliciously wicked as Ursula, the sea witch. Nathaniel Kinsey is madcap as Chef Louie, the cook in pursuit of Sebastian (Taylor McMillan), the crab who is Ariel's watchdog. McMillan is good at being crabby.

Kayla Reed exhibits a powerful voice on the opening number.

Also appearing in major roles are Stephen Gilhaus as Grimsby, Alex Bettinger as the muscular King Triton, Paige Pritchard as the scaredy-cat Flounder and Bailey Rust as Scuttle, the smart-mouthed seagull.

Also appearing in supporting parts are Aaron Buttrey, Michael Merritt, Kyle Gilhaus, Nick Heid, Murielle Wyman, Bekah Pfanstiel, Emily Williams, Anne-Marie Bernhardt, Meredith Busch and Emily Ponder.

Also performing supporting roles in the musical are Billie Rinehart, Carly Schneider, Beth Gile, Tommy McGowen, Sarah Schneider, Briana McDowell, Beth Davey, Sarah Ressel, Robert Weir, Lindsey Greene and Elizabeth Knight.

The narrators are Suzanne Burke, Danielle Ingram, Bethany Coleman, Claire Segar, Kristin Demyan, Melody Stone, Emily Viers, Kaeli Kimes, Diana Harper and Alecia King.

The set director is Sherri Sparks, the choreographer is Anne-Marie Bernhardt and the sound engineer is the Rev. Bill Burke.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182