Vancouver's Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) is bringing Disney's The Little Mermaid to the Malkin Bowl stage in Stanley Park from July 3 to August 22, offering audiences a fresh take on the beloved animated classic.
A Deeper Dive into Ariel's World
Director-choreographer Nicol Spinola emphasized that the stage musical provides a more nuanced exploration of the protagonist. "The stage version gives Ariel more agency," Spinola said. "We get to see a fuller journey. The musical allows her to discover herself in a deeper way than the film has time for."
Madison Simms, who portrays Ariel, noted the character's enduring appeal. "I think she's one of the first really relatable Disney princesses," Simms said. "Compared to some of the princesses who came before her, she's a little awkward, a little kooky. A lot of people see themselves in her. She's trying to figure out who she is and where she belongs, and that's something a lot of young people connect with."
The Musical's Evolution
Originally released in 1989, the animated film The Little Mermaid became Disney's highest-grossing animated feature at the time and is credited with launching the Disney Renaissance, a period that produced hits like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. The stage adaptation debuted on Broadway in 2008, with a book by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Doug Wright, known for works like Quills. Wright reworked the story to address criticisms of Ariel sacrificing her voice for a man, giving her more autonomy.
Simms witnessed the character's impact firsthand through her younger half-sister's "very intense Little Mermaid phase." The musical includes new songs alongside classics like "Part of Your World," "Kiss the Girl," and "Under the Sea"—the latter won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, and the soundtrack won for Best Original Score.
Creative Challenges and New Songs
Spinola highlighted additions like "She's in Love" and a new song for Prince Eric called "Her Voice." "One of my favourites is She's in Love, which wasn't in the movie," she said. Despite limited resources compared to Disney or Broadway, Spinola relishes the creative challenge. "That's actually one of the most exciting parts of being a director and choreographer. You get the script and the material, but then you get to build your own version of that world with the designers, cast and crew. That's what makes theatre so exciting."
Both Simms and Spinola have previous TUTS experience. Simms performed in Legally Blonde The Musical last year, while Spinola appeared as a performer over a decade ago and choreographed past productions including Mary Poppins (2017), Cinderella (2018), and Something Rotten! (2022).
Event Details
The production runs from July 3 to August 22 at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park, 610 Pipeline Rd., Vancouver. Tickets range from $35 to $69, available at tuts.ca or by calling 1-800-514-3849. Alongside The Little Mermaid, TUTS is also staging Sister Act this summer.
