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Read
Free Script Sample, Hear CD Sound Cues, See Cast List
"The Little Mermaid
is
the third play of yours we have produced! Each play has been a treasure."
Laree
Ott, Drama Teacher, St. Anthony Middle School, Kailua, Hawaii
"I was very happy with the results of your Little Mermaid script
a few years ago and had a great time with that show."
Scott
Nelson, O'Gorman High School, Sioux Falls, SD
"We
just finished performing The Little Mermaid, and I must say that was
another amazing play you have written!"
Mary
Ellen Herder, Take A Bow Productions, Chatham, Ontario
"My Drama Club performed the Little Mermaid last year. It
was a huge success!"
Deb
Dominic
The School Play Package gives you the freedom
to adapt the script to your needs. Add characters, lines,
songs, dances. You also have the rights to make a DVD/Video of
your special performance!
"We
had so much fun with The Little Mermaid and what makes it extra
special is the CD with sound effects and songs!"
Jennifer
Black, Director, Children's Theatre Company, Goderich, Ontario
Teachers, this musical children's
play The
Little Mermaid
is written just for you and your students. It is a faithful telling
of the story you know so well,
simplified for young performers. Best of all, it's lots
of fun for everyone!
"Thank-you so much for your time and the work that you do to
support children's development in the arts."
Heather
Robertson, Pike Lake School, CA
"We have performed your plays four times and I am never disappointed."
Jane
Moores, 5th grade teacher, Crisafulli School, Westford, MA
"We love your easy to use scripts and short lines
for
kids to memorize!"
Julie
Echelmeier, Higginsville Theatre Company Youth Theatre Academy
"I am so grateful for all the wonderful ArtReach scripts I have
been able to use over the years. Bless you!"
Jennifer
Pryor, Inland Leaders Charter School, Yucaipa, CA
"My school performed one of your plays last year and we
absolutely loved it! Thank you so much for creating these plays!"
Katelyn
Cognetti, Mayfield, PA
Fun and easy lyrics are set to familiar tunes such as Blow the Man
Down, Brahms Lullaby and Alouette. The CD of background music
and sound effects gives it a professional touch!
"It
was a complete success!!! The students had a blast! Students
and teachers could not get enough of the play, they love it!"
Blanca
Muniz, Teacher, Ramey School, Puerto Rico
"The kids and parents loved it! We will continue to come
to you for our all our children's plays!"
Karen
Dougherty & Nancy Lockhart, Jackson School, Lawrenceville, GA
This School Play, Children's Musical Play,
The Little Mermaid requires no professional experience in theatre. It
is written in simple terms with lots of practical suggestions.
Open staging! Your gymnasium, cafeteria or any other large room is
perfect for a staging of The Little Mermaid.
Recommended
for Grades 1 and Up!
The Little Mermaid has lots of humor, fun and helpful directing tips.
A beautiful musical soundtrack:
The Little Mermaid has a
backing track CD with familiar tunes. Songs are easy for
children to learn and perform.
"The script for The Little Mermaid was so much fun and easy to perform."
Scott
Nelson, O'Gorman High School, Sioux Falls
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The Little Mermaid
Musical
Play for Young People, Kids to Perform! |
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Cast
List
CD
Soundtrack Cues
Script
Sample
THE
LITTLE MERMAID
CAST
LIST
Running Time:
About 45 minutes
Flexible Cast
of About 24-39
(39 roles
listed below - 10 Female, 7 Male, 23 F/M
*NEPTUNE
(King of Mermen) (M, 39 lines)
NEPTUNE #1 (M,
18 lines)
NEPTUNE #2 (M,
21 lines)
*MARLIN
(Marquis) (M/F, 41 lines)
MARLIN #1 (M/F,
29 lines)
MARLIN #2 (M/F,
12 lines)
NEPTUNE'S
COURT:
GILL (M/F, 20 lines)
OCTO (M/F, 20 lines)
MACK (M/F, 20 lines)
FLOW (M/F, 20 lines)
PEARL (M/F, 20 lines)
SEAL (M/F, 20 lines)
*ODESSA
(Queen of Humans) (F, 42 lines)
ODESSA #1 (F,
23 lines)
ODESSA #2 (F,
19 lines)
SLITHERY
SIRS:
CECIL (M/F, 11 lines)
SNICKER (M/F,
10 lines)
SNEAK (M/F, 10 lines)
*ARUBA
(Flamingo) (M/F, total 67 lines)
ARUBA #1 (M/F,
27 lines)
ARUBA #2 (M/F,
25 lines)
ARUBA #3 (M/F,
15 lines)
*FINNY
(Fish) (M/F, total 65 lines)
FINNY #1 (M/F,
21 lines)
FINNY #2 (M/F,
27 lines)
FINNY #3 (M/F,
14 lines)
*ANNABELLE
(Mermaid Princess) (F, total: 47 lines + song)
ANNABELLE #1
(F, 10 lines)
ANNABELLE #2
(F, 6 lines)
ANNABELLE #3
(F, 14 lines + song)
ANNABELLE #4
(F, 14 lines)
ANNABELLE #5
(F, No lines, very significant movement.)
ANNABELLE #6
(F, 3 significant lines, movement)
SAILORS:
CALICO JACK
(M/F, 19 lines, sings)
CAPTAIN SLAPPY
(M/F, 19 lines, sings)
BILLY BONES
(M/F, 18 lines, sings)
SCURVY DOG
(M/F, 17 lines, sings)
*PRINCE
EDWARD (M, 35 lines)
PRINCE #1 (M,
20 lines)
PRINCE #2 (M,
15 lines)
DUKE of
CHARLESTON (M, 23 lines)
ISLAND
CASTLE SERVANTS:
PHILIPPE (Chef)
(M/F, 13 lines + song)
MISS CALLALOO
(F, 14 lines)
GINGER (F, 13 lines)
NUTMEG (F, 12 lines)
REV GUMBO
(Preacher) (M/F, 8 lines)
*PERFORMERS
(M/F, 21 lines)
*ANNABELLE is
broken into 6 parts because you will probably have lots of girls
who'd like to be the Little Mermaid. These parts may be
combined for a smaller cast.
*NEPTUNE,
MARLIN, ODESSA & PRINCE are fairly large roles that can be
divided into two parts, as suggested, if necessary. However, if
you want to retain larger roles for particularly advanced players you
may choose to have these played by just one actor.
*PERFORMERS are
young people seated in the front row that surrounds the playing
area. They are always involved and often sing, speak together
and play percussion instruments as part of the production, as
indicated in the script. They may also be assigned to play the
above characters in addition to their participation as PERFORMERS.
*ARUBA and
FINNY may be represented by puppets: ARUBA, the flamingo, may have a
hat like headpiece with a super long pink neck that snakes above his
head with a stick attached at the throat/neck. The performer uses the
stick to turn the bird's head when he speaks. The performer uses a
kazoo and toots on it whenever ARUBA is excited or needs to show
emphasis. FINNY, the fish, may be represented by a windsock on
a pole. The performer hovers the windsock overhead during
conversation and sails and swoops through the air, as if swimming,
when excited.
Easy
to Adapt for Your School or Theatre!
 
Old Rochester Regional Jr High
School, VT
The School Play Package gives you the rights to adapt the
script, add characters, lines, songs! You also have the rights
to make a Video/DVD of your special performance!
SONGS:
New lyrics are
set to these familiar tunes:
"Blow the
Man Down" (SAILORS) - Traditional sea shanty.
"Brahms
Lullaby" (ANNABELLE) - Classical composition.
"Alouette"
(PHILIPPE) - Traditional French folk song.
"Wedding
March" (GINGER, NUTMEG, PERFORMERS) - Traditional.
THE
LITTLE MERMAID
WHY
IS THIS PLAY BEST FOR YOUR SCHOOL?
Written
especially for young people to perform.
While you may
find large cast plays from other publishers, most of those were
originally written for adults or
professional actors to
perform. They often contain difficult dialogue, unfamiliar or
complex language, and speeches too long for young children to
memorize. They may even contain jokes, innuendos and subject matter
that may not be appropriate for children.
Easy
to understand and memorize.
Dialogue is
simple, fresh, quick and humorous, keeping the action flowing without
stops and starts between scenes. This keeps young people and young
audiences engaged throughout the performance - no awkward pauses, no
dead-time, no wiggles!
Everyone
participates!
All children
are involved throughout the performance. This builds confidence,
promotes team spirit and eliminates rehearsal rowdiness. The audience
is often asked to join in the fun, and action often spills into the
aisles! All of our SCHOOL PLAYS give suggestions on how to divide up
large parts (such as Dorothy in Wizard of Oz) among several
performers so that no one child is the "star".
Familiar
stories with upbeat endings.
The story line
stays as close as possible to the familiar story the kids already
know. While some authors feel the need to "improve"
the story, our SCHOOL PLAYS stay as close to the familiar narrative
as possible, making it easier for children - and your audience - to understand.
Feel
free to edit! Go ahead and tape it!
Most publishers
insist that no changes may be made to their scripts. We know
that your
goal is to engage every child in the most meaningful way and that
your needs are unique. Cut, eliminate, re-assign lines, or add
as much as you like! Also, there are no restrictions on video
tapes. Parents want a tape or DVD to remember their child's big
moment. Go ahead and tape away!
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Kathryn Schultz Miller
is one the most prolific and most produced playwrights for
children. Her script, A THOUSAND CRANES, won the National
Endowment for the Arts Playwright Award (and countless others) at a
time when plays for children were not considered serious works. Now,
many of her published scripts are considered classics for young
audiences. When teachers voiced their need for great plays that
kids can perform Ms. Miller responded with ArtReach’s School
Plays: “I never dreamed I’d write for anyone other
than professionals. But writing for child performers has been
the most profound and rewarding experience of my life”. |
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THE
LITTLE MERMAID
A
NOTE FROM THE PLAYWRIGHT
In
the past few years we've seen a
tremendous increase of confidence in the teachers we hear from.
Most are finding it easier to let the process flow and worry less
about the final product. I firmly believe that the experience
will be best for all when you keep a few things in mind:
Free
yourself from worry about
whether or not it's "good". No one is paying big
ticket prices; no one expects a Broadway success. The key to
making this project meaningful is to put the emphasis on process;
realize that rehearsal and practice are as much a part of the
experience as the actual performance. Encourage fun and you
will free the children from embarrassment and stress. If the
kids can't learn the lines let them carry a script or use their own
words to convey the character's message. If they seem to wander
the stage, let them explore where they want to go - they might
surprise you with a wonderful idea. In every aspect of the
process give them the wings to create and think. Give them a
comfortable, supportive place to go and their confidence and
self-expression will soar!
Above
all else, make sure you are
having fun. If you've never directed a play before, don't
worry. It's all just pretend -- you can't do it wrong!
The quality of your experience is every bit as important as that of
the children. You need the joy of self-expression too, that
doesn't go away when we grow up. So give yourself a break.
And when all else fails, laugh!
Thank
you so much for choosing The
Little Mermaid.
I hope you and your young friends have as much fun performing this
play as I did writing it.
- KSM
Great Roles for Lots of Kids!
 
Lindsey Elementary,
Chesterland OH - Old
Rochester Regional Jr High VT
"I
did this play by myself with 32 kids meeting for an hour a week
during the school year. Everyone said it was our best play ever
and I believe it is because of your script."
Keith Wagner, Saint Paul
School, Leesburg, FL
THE
LITTLE MERMAID
CD
SOUNDTRACK CUES
Cues, sound
effects, background music (traditional-classical)
The CD
Soundtrack contains special sound effects and background music
(public domain traditional-classical) that may be used to greatly
enhance the performance. It also contains simple music to accompany
the performers as they sing to three familiar melodies - "Blow
the Man Down", "Brahms Lullaby" and
"Alouette" (song cues shown below in red).
It does not contain music and songs from the popular animated film
or Broadway musical. Cues have 10 seconds of silence at the end -
times shown below include silence.
[ Click on [sample]
to hear a short sample of the indicated cues ]
1.
OCEAN, UNDERWATER, THUNDER (1:10) [sample]
2.
SINGING, BABY CRY, SINGING (0:51)
3.
ODESSA'S MANIACAL LAUGH (0:22)
4. BABY
CRY, WHOOSHING WATER (0:35)
5.
OCEAN, SAILORS, BLOW THE MAN DOWN
(2:08) [sample]
6.
THUNDER, STORMY SEA (1:40) [sample]
7.
FANFARE, UNDERWATER (1:24) [sample]
8.
THUNDER, STORM, UNDERWATER (2:21)
9.
WAVES, BRAHMS LULLABY (1:07) [sample]
10. ODESSA'S
LAUGH (0:21)
11. ODESSA'S
LAUGH (0:21) [sample]
12. CRASH,
LAUGH, CHAOS, ETC. (1:05)
13. ALOUETTE
(2:14) [sample]
14. NEPTUNE'S
STORMY ENTRANCE (1:00)
15. SINGING, BRAHMS
LULLABY (1:02) [sample]
16. WEDDING
WARM-UP MUSIC (0:41)
17. WEDDING
MARCH (1:34) [sample]
18. MAGICAL, BRAHMS
LULLABY (0:42)
19. BLOW
THE MAN DOWN (4:25) [sample]
20. ALOUETTE
(Curtain Call Finale) (1:59) [sample]
Note: Some
teachers choose familiar songs, obtain sheet music and insert these
songs into the play. We recognize that each school has a wide
variety of educational needs to fulfill and we invite you to be
creative in your use of our scripts; including changes or additions
that are appropriate for your students. As author/publisher of our
own creative works, we do ask that you obtain proper copyright
permission for any additions you might make - that responsibility is
up to you.
Music
& Sound Resources Available on the Internet
( Sheet
Music, Song Books, CDs, DVDs, Sing-along,
Karaoke, Sound
Effects )
Internet
Music Resources: Karaoke
CDs & Sheet
Music
    
Click
to search Internet for karaoke cds or sheet music
Easy
for Kids to Learn, Perform & Enjoy!  
George J. Mitchell School, Egg
Harbor NJ
"The
children loved The Little Mermaid and so
did
the audiences! I cast 26 children in the roles and they loved
it and we had full houses. We had so much fun with it and what
makes it extra special is the CD with sound effects and songs!"
Jennifer Black,
Director, Children's Theatre Company, Goderich
THE
LITTLE MERMAID
SCRIPT SAMPLE
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The
Little Mermaid, Annabelle, wants to become human to marry the
Prince. Odessa, the evil Queen of Humans, tricks Annabelle and steals
the Little Mermaid's voice.
(Script
pages 25-28) |
ODESSA: Human?
HUMAN????? Ha-ha! Did I hear someone say they want to be
a... human????
ARUBA & FINNY: (Terrified,
pushing ANNABELLE forward.) She did.
ANNABELLE: Yes, I
said it. And I'm not ashamed of it. I do want to be human.
ODESSA: Of course
you do. Ah-ha! Of course you do! And that's
why I'm here, dear child.
ANNABELLE: But what
can you do?
SLITHERY SIRS: SSSSSSsssilencessssss!
CECIL: You Sssspeak
when Sssssspoken to!
ODESSA: That's all
right, Cecil. I can see this is a very good little
mermaid. Brave and lovesick... Just like her father.
ANNABELLE: Do you
know my father?
ODESSA: But of
course. We're old friends, my dear. I met him when you
were very young.
ANNABELLE: But I've
never seen you before.
ODESSA: I've been
keeping just out of sight. Watching, waiting. And I have
lots of patience.
SLITHERY SIRS: ("Patience.")
Passsshhencesss.
ODESSA: Now come to
me child. Tell Odessa what's wrong.
ANNABELLE: Well,
there was this human in the water and he was drowning...
ODESSA: Ah, a sad story.
ANNABELLE: Yes, but
I saved him you see and then well, I guess I fell in love...
ODESSA:
LOVE!!!! Ha-ha! Now where have I heard that word before?
(SLITHERY SIRS snicker with her.)
So I suppose you'd like me to
make you human, hmm?
ANNABELLE: You can
do that?
ODESSA: That is my specialty.
ARUBA: No, Annabelle!
FINNY: Come
on, Annabelle. Let's go!
ODESSA: (Angry.)
Let the little mermaid speak! (Suddenly kind.)
Go on, my dear.
ANNABELLE: Please
make me human. I'll do anything you ask.
ODESSA: Anything?
SLITHERY SIRS: (Thrilled.)
Anything?
ARUBA & FINNY: (Horrified.)
Anything?
ANNABELLE: Anything!
ODESSA: I thought
so. Slithery Sirs, bring me the magic pot!
(SLITHERY SIRS hiss and
scramble and return with a flower pot.)
Now, my dear. The only
thing I need from you is a seed.
ANNABELLE: A seed?
ODESSA: In this
case. Your voice.
ARUBA & FINNY: (Gasp!)
Her voice?
ODESSA: It's a very
small price don't you think? (Hums.) Just a little
tune. I'll plant it right in here.
ANNABELLE: Well, I
guess I could give you my voice.
ODESSA: Come,
come. Hand it over.
(ANNABELLE sings softly,
repeating lullaby she sang to the PRINCE.)
ANNABELLE: (Sings.)
Oh the sea's dark and deep
But for now you may sleep
You are safe here in my arms
I will keep you far from harm.
(ANNABELLE takes it from her
mouth like a seed.)
PERFORMERS: No,
Annabelle, no!
ANNABELLE: (To PERFORMERS.)
But if it will make me human.
ODESSA: I'm waiting...
(ANNABELLE hands it to ODESSA.)
Ah!
(ODESSA plants it in pot.
SOUND CUE #12:
Sudden crashing music, ODESSA's laughter.
SLITHERY SIRS dance, hissing
with triumph!. SOUND CONTINUES.)
At last King Neptune! If I
cannot have your hand I will have your daughter! And when I am
done the Kingdom of the Sea will be mine!!! MINE!
(ODESSA and SIRS dance as
ARUBA and FINNY slump in sorrow and defeat.)
But don't tell your father what
I've done.
(ANNABELLE begins to speak but
nothing comes out.)
Oh, that's right!
Ha-ha! You can't!
(SOUND CONTINUES:
Loud chaos, drums, laughter.
PERFORMERS use percussions and
cymbals. ODESSA and SLITHERY SIRS laugh and hiss demonically as
they twirl in victory! COURT enters with silk flags that twirl
all around playing area. During the chaos they remove
ANNABELLE's tail. ODESSA, SLITHERY SIRS and COURT exit.
SOUND CUE ENDS.
OPTIONAL TRANSITION:
ODESSA #1 exits, ODESSA #2 enters at next entrance and continues
through the end of the play.)
Note:
This is a sample from the actual script. To review the entire
play, order the PERUSAL SCRIPT (online instant download). Or
to save 20% on the full production kit and royalty for one
performance, order the SCHOOL PLAY PACKAGE (below) and start
rehearsals today!
SCHOOL
PLAY PACKAGE (Everything)
One payment for
everything you need to perform the play at your school or
organization. No need to purchase multiple scripts, no royalty quote,
no separate royalty payment. Order the School Play Package and you're
done -- start rehearsals immediately!
The
SCHOOL PLAY PACKAGE Includes:
1. Master Script ($9.95)
2.
Teachers Guide ($9.95)
3. CD
Soundtrack ($29.95)
4.
Performance License ($60.00)
(License:
Rights to copy script, Royalty
for one performance)
Get
Everything ($109.85
value) - Only $99.95
(
SAVE MORE $$$ WITH FULL
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