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Deep Sea Love Story

July 25, 2024

Take a Dive Under the Sea: Tin Building Theatre’s Rising Stars youth summer camp presents four performances of Disney’s musical “The Little Mermaid Junior” Aug. 1-4

CLIFTON – In a colorful, magical underwater kingdom, beautiful and adventurous young mermaid princess Ariel, longs to leave her ocean home to live her life with handsome Prince Eric who she’s fallen in love with. Ariel has already enchanted him with her siren’s song.

Wanting nothing more than to give up her privileged life of riches, servants and aquatic friends, Ariel yearns to live beyond the waves, on land world with him. Now, she can make that possible by defying her formidable father King Triton and making a witchcraft deal with evil sea witch Ursula to gain her legs.

Journey "under the sea" with Ariel and her aquatic friends in Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr as presented by the Bosque Arts Center Tin Building Theatre’s Rising Stars youth summer camp. The youth perform the musical in four performances next week, Aug. 1-2 at 7 p.m. and Aug. 3-4 at 3 p.m. Tickets are only $5 per person and are available through the Bosque Arts Center website at: Bosqueartscenter.org/tickets.aspx or by calling 254-675-3724.

Coming from Clifton, Cranfills Gap, Meridian, Valley Mills and Waco, the 20 TBT summer campers ranging from second through sixth grade practiced with experienced and talented musical minds all throughout July. Their journey under the sea started June 25 and 26 with auditions.

Urging the youth to their absolute best performances, Stage Director Beth Fry comes well known for being Clifton Cubs Elementary Choir’s conductor and the tireless director of the annual, hugely popular Clifton Elementary School’s fifth grade musical. Assisting her are Kassidy Cardona, who also helps manage the CES musicals, First Presbyterian Church Choir Director Belinda Honea and First FPC choir member Danielle Ybarra.

Behind the scenes, “Miss Jo” Joanne Grelle, Debbie Elwell, Debbie Rollins, Sally Bekkens and Skye Baker see to the stage design, making props, adapting a slew of colorful costumes and ensuring the campers receive their snacks and beverages on time. It is a considerable commitment for both campers and volunteers to work on the production every day from 3-6 p.m. for a entire month.

Each day, Fry focusses on one or more scenes to practice. And when she asks the youth whether they’re still having fun, they still answer “Oh, Yeah! This is so cool!” And in the process, this production reinstates the TBT summer camps in a big way – both in the duration and the execution.

“This has been a dream for me,” Grelle said as she showed off the array of costumes. “I am so excited about this production,” I want to fill the theatre with people supporting these kids; they worked so hard. And I’m so proud of all the volunteers and the work they have done.”

Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories and the book by Doug Wright, Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr looks at the sacrifices made for love and acceptance, with the colorful and magical deep sea backdrop. The musical is adapted from Disney's Broadway production and the 1989 animated motion picture – featuring the enormously popular Academy Award-winning music by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater.

Will love’s true kiss save Ariel on time? Come find out – be part of this under water adventure and love story. Marvel at the singing talents of youth as they portray favorite Disney characters like angel-voiced Ariel and her BFF Flounder, the not-so-knowledgeable Scuttle Gulls, Tentacle, evil Witch Ursula with her loathsome lisping lackeys, eels Flotsam and Jetsam, as well as composer Sebastian the Crab with his fun Caribbean accent.

Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized materials are supplied by Music Theatre International. Broadway Junior and MTI’s Broadway Junior Collection are trademarks of Music Theatre International.