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MacKid Review: Disney’s The Little Mermaid at the Fox

By Dana Spears July 9, 2014
Don’t miss Broadway in Atlanta’s musical comedy “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” through Sunday at the Fox. This delightful production is a reworking of the original Broadway version with wonderful new sets and costumes. The cast is filled with Broadway regulars, including Liz McCartney as the wicked Ursula and Jessica Grove as Ariel. The voices are amazing. This is no second-rate touring company. It’s a true Broadway experience! 


Broadway’s “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” is a retelling of a Hans Christian Anderson classic based on the Disney animated version. The show includes familiar tunes (“Part of Your World,” “Kiss the Girl”) and some delightful new music.  I especially liked the new song “She’s in Love.” My other favorite moments were Ursula singing “Poor Unfortunate Souls” and Sebastian (the talented Alan Mingo) singing “Kiss the Girl.” You may have seen Mingo recently touring as Donkey in “Shrek the Musical.” 


The new costumes and sets address some of the criticisms of the original Broadway version. These mermaids are elegant. And there are some great special effects – lots of swimming and flying, and plenty of Disney-style romance, comedy, and dance. I expect this version to return to Broadway to better reviews than the original.
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Although Ursula is pretty creepy (as is any good Disney villain), the tone is upbeat and family-friendly. The play is longer than the movie, but I observed small children sitting enraptured through the whole show. Show-times vary significantly from day to day, so be sure to check the schedule.

Tickets for this show start at $30, with significant add-on fees for online purchases. You can take a chance and arrive early at the box office in hopes of getting tickets without all the upcharges, or you can make a trip to the box office before this sells out. There are matinees and an early (6:30) Sunday performance. As an added treat, the Fabulous Fox organ is played before the show. For more information on the “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” go to BroadwayInAtlanta.com.


Tickets were provided to Macaroni Kid for the purpose of this review.