The Little Mermaid JR

August 4, 2023
4:00PM & 5:30PM

About the Show:
Journey "under the sea" with Ariel and her aquatic friends in Disney's The Little Mermaid JR., adapted from Disney's Broadway production and the motion picture (featuring the enormously popular Academy Award-winning music and delightfully charming book and lyrics). Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories, Disney's The Little Mermaid JR.is an enchanting look at the sacrifices we all make for love and acceptance.

In a magical underwater kingdom, the beautiful young mermaid, Ariel, longs to leave her ocean home — and her fins — behind and live in the world above. But first, she'll have to defy her father, King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, and convince the handsome Prince Eric that she's the girl whose enchanting voice he's been seeking.

Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater
Book by Doug Wright

Based on the Hans Christian Andersen Story and the Disney Film produced by Howard Ashman & John Musker and written & directed by John Musker and Ron Clements.

Directed by Megan Stacey
Music Directed by Taylor Grupinski
Choreographed by Peyton VanDerheyden
Scenic Design by Charles J.I. Krawczyk

Disney's The Little Mermaid JR.

Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

CASTING INFORMATION: Ryan Coburn stars as Ariel, with Ben Ridler as Prince Eric, Trudy Keith as Ursula, Liam Donaldson as Sebastian, Luke Snyder as King Triton, Addy Lewis as Flounder, Lucas Nolan as Scuttle, Evie Clary as Flotsam, Austin Coburn as Jetsam, Jack Erbe as Grimsby, Conteya Starteri as Carlotta, and Jaxsen Hunt as Chef Louis. The Mersisters/Princesses are played by Sophia Shaw (Student Dance Captain), Charlotte Rishell, Phoebe Ziehm, Bella Cary, Kyla Tellstone, and Cora Hodgkinson. Will Ridler plays the pilot with Bently Wilson as Seahorse. Gulls are portrayed by Jacob Armstrong, Landon Sullivan, and Chris Quartarara, with alternate Gulls Landon Shaw, Leah Valigorsky, Henry Rischell and Leonard Bambard. Sailors/Chefs are brought to life by Kiara Ayera, Simon Hickland, Theo LeBlanc, Henry Rischell, and Leonard Bambard, with Sea Chorus/Merfolk friends Leah Valigorsky, Landon Shaw, Fiona Malonoy, Jacob Armstrong, Anna Foster, Charlie Ceglowski, TJ Lewis (Student Production Assistant), and Sam Russo (Student Production Assistant). Additional roles are to be determined through the coming rehearsals. 


Fort Salem Theater productions are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Meet the Creative Team

  • Megan Stacey (Director)

    Megan is a local Director, Performer, Artist, Educator, and Professionally Fun woman based out of Saratoga, NY who recently directed FST’s You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. After receiving degrees in New Media and Theatre and Performance (with a concentration in Directing) from Purchase College, she has taken her love for digital arts and performance across the creative fields, and the country. From serving as the Artist in Residence at the Billings Public Library in Montana, to helping develop new curriculum as a Theatre Instructor at SPAC, to devising immersive and site-specific performances at Historic Huguenot Street as the Arts and Interpretation Manager, she has found a way to foster creative communities wherever she can- and she is delighted to be part of the wonderful community here at the Fort Salem Theater! Previous directorial efforts include: She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen, Stop Kiss by Diana Son, The Skriker by Caryl Churchill, No Strings by Richard Rogers, True West by Sam Shepard, and Macbeth (by the Bard). This list does not include the wide world of original works she has assisted in developing and staging, including her original devised children's musical: A Robot Wrote This! Authored entirely by the GPT3. You may have caught her onstage in March as Martha in Spring Awakening at the Fort Salem Theater, or at venues such as Dixon Place in NYC, the Park Theatre, Cohoes Music Hall, Spa City, as well as your favorite bars with her duo act Pat and Meg Live! Oh, and she would like to thank her parents, because she always forgets to.

  • Peyton VanDerheyden

    Peyton VenDerheyden (Choreographer)

    SHE/HER | Peyton is thrilled to be choreographing Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr. at FST! She has been performing for over a decade in many cabaret shows, plays, and musicals in the Albany area. Performance credits include: Bright Star (Florence), Into the Woods (Granny), Grease (u/s Marty), Footloose (Vi Moore), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Ms. Flannery), My Fair Lady (Lady Boxington), amongst various others. Last year, she began working on the other side of the production table with directing, choreographing, set design, and lighting. This year, Peyton expanded into producing, stage managing, costuming, and hair/makeup design. Production credits include: The Nether, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Dig, Spring Awakening, The Addams Family, The Agony & The Agony, Disney’s Frozen Jr., I Love You, Because, and Disney’s Newsies. In her free time, Peyton works on even more theatre by writing for BroadwayWorld, and taking Tap/Jazz classes with Freddy Ramirez.

  • Taylor Grupinski (Music Director)

    Taylor graduated from Shenendehowa high school in 2011 and The College of Saint Rose in 2016 with a BS in music education K-12. Music has always been her passion and really helped her achieve academically. Taylor took many years of voice lessons and a few years of piano. After graduating, She worked in customer service and from home while focusing on taking care of her family and son after he was born. Taylor's son, Theo, was born in 2019 and his father proposed to her in NYC during Christmas time that same year! Taylor has been so happy to be the elementary music teacher in Salem CSD this year. She says, "The students I work with are so talented and intelligent, it’s such an honor to be able to grow and learn with them! Working with Zach Eastman has been so amazing, he teaches me so much every day and we share many laughs through our crazy days. I am so thankful for this opportunity to extend my time here with him and the kids in Salem."

    Some of Taylor's hobbies are (obviously) singing and playing the piano as well as kayaking, swimming, playing video games, anything Star Wars, and going to the ocean.