Broadway Musical, Disney's The Little Mermaid Shines a Denver Star

Now this Broadway musical could be a part of your world.

Disney's, "The Little Mermaid" has come to wow the Denver audience with dozens of talents to wow and inspire an audience of all ages. The play portrays the movie in a similar way, and the props, cast, and crew are phenomenal. The ability for everyone to transform a stage into an underwater scene has to be one of the most challenging projects for plays, but these actors conquer.

With the luminous, rippled water-like effect, and bubbles on the stage, it looks like the ocean. Suddenly, the 'water' seems to move down, when an enormous ship appears, carrying sailors, Grimsby, & Prince Eric aboard as they sing, "Fathoms Below". It is then where they speak of mermaids and sirens, when suddenly they hear an enchanting singing voice of a woman. Prince Eric is desperate to find the woman, and orders the crew to follow the direction of where he believes it is coming from. The ship disappears when we are pulled back beneath the ocean, to find numerous fish gliding back & forth on the stage.

So how are the actors able to glide as if they are under water? Child's play: they are all wearing "Heely's" shoes, moving backwards, sideways, forwards, & stopping with ease, much like how you see the kids do regularly. It is here, when the audience is introduced to King Triton, played by Norm Lewis, at a party where his daughters are singing to the kingdom for introduction of their youngest sister, Ariel. The mermaids glide around the stage, with their tails bobbing around when it is apparent that Ariel is not there. Our star is now about to be revealed on the next act.

Born and raised here in Denver,Colorado, 25 year old Sierra Boggess, floors everybody with her remarkable voice. For her, learning to swim in the big pond was nearly a natural process.

In an interview conducted by the "Applause Magazine, she talks about how she discovered her passion of performing in theater arts at a young age."I was an ice skater, and grew up skating at the ice-rink at DU. I realized doing competitions and stuff is what I loved, and doing things in front of people. I love being the center of attention, and having people cheer for me." That was why she went to the Denver School of Arts. As talented as her singing was, her voice coach felt that she needed to see someone who could help her specialize a technique of belting a song.

Which is exactly what she does in the Little Mermaid.

The audience, (including myself) were completely astounded by how Ms. Boggess sounds nearly identical to actress Jodie Benson, (Ariel in the Little Mermaid, Tour Guide Barbie in Toy Story 2). Singing the classic, "Part of Your World". It is after this song where Ariel sees the prince for the very first time, and rescues him from drowning. Not only is the audience watching, but here comes the diabolical villain of the show, Ursula.

Played by the beautiful Sherie Rene Scott, it is obvious how the Broadway make up artists tried their best in making her look repulsive. With white, wild hair she resembles a Cruella DeVil if she didn't have the tentacles. It is here where she ties some of the story in a little more than the Disney movie. In this act, she sings about how her brother, King Triton, and banished her from the kingdom forever. Now, with her eels by her side, (played by Tyler Maynard, and Derrick Baskin) she plots her revenge.

To snap Ariel back into reality, the King's trusted assistant, Sebastian the crab, (played by Tituss Burgess) tries reasoning with her in a well known musical number, "Under the Sea". He doesn't quite sound like actor Samuel E. Wright, but his voice was extremely talented. It is his character that helps provide the humor, and assists with the storyline.

We also meet another friend of Ariel's, named Flounder, ( young J.J. Singleton) Out of all of the characters, he has the least props for his costume, where his hair had been frosted a blue color, and he wears a large yellow shirt & pants, with blue spots, and yellow heely's. This young actor has a very talented voice, and looks incredibly adorable as well.

Eventually, Ariel trades her voice to the sea witch/aunt and becomes a silent human. With the help of her sea gull friend, Scuttle, (Eddie Korbich) they get her to lure Prince Eric's attention, (Sean Palmer) and he is so certain that Ariel was the woman who had rescued her, however, she can't speak. It is here when he takes her dancing, and spends time with her in the boat. Sebastian, Flounder, and Scuttle begin another musical number, "Kiss the Girl", when Ursula's eels zap the boat.

Instead of having Ursula dressed as a human, the story has Eric's helper, Grimsby, organize a contest for all of the women in the kingdom to come and sing so Eric can find the woman who had rescued him. Many maidens show, and and sing with their pitch perfect, golden voices, but there was no match for Eric. Here is where Sebastian leaves with Flounder to inform King Triton about everything.

The confrontation between King Triton and Ursula revels how love conquers all, and that is when King Triton gives his blessings to Ariel and Eric. Remarkably, Ariel has her voice back once again, says her goodbyes to her whole family, and returns to Eric, where they wed. From the beginning to the end, it was a remarkable, outstanding performance.

With credits such as "The Phantom of the Opera", and "Les Miserables", it was inspiring to see this young actress, (Sierra Boggess) moving up with her career. A young woman who was raised in Denver has moved up to working with incredible Broadway actors, and is now starring in a show of her own, her performance promises a show you wouldn't regret seeing.

Sources:
Applause Magazine
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
www.denvercenter.org/