PSST! Presents Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” July 3-19

VALDOSTA — Peach State Summer Theatre will take children of all ages on a “splashy” adventure when it presents Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” July 3-19. Tickets are on sale now.

Featuring music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, “The Little Mermaid” is based on Hans Christian Anderson’s classic story and Disney’s 1989 animated film. It is described as “a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages,” according to Music Theatre International, and features such popular songs as “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World” and such loveable characters as Flounder the fish, Sebastian the crab, and Scuttle the seagull.  

“Set under and above the high seas, ‘The Little Mermaid’ tells the story of Ariel, an adventurous young mermaid who’s got a thing for disobeying the rules and following her heart,” according to Broadway.com. “Ariel’s fascination with the human world often leads her to the sea surface, a zone that’s designated as ‘off-limits’ by her father, Triton, the sea king. One day, while sneaking to the surface, Ariel witnesses a shipwreck and rescues Prince Eric, with whom she becomes instantly smitten. Furious at Triton’s inability to understand her love for the prince, Ariel runs away and strikes a deal with Ursula, Triton’s evil witch of a sister, to experience the life she dreams of on land.”

Directed by Jacque Wheeler, Peach State Summer Theatre’s production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” will enjoy a 13-performance run — 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 3; 2 p.m. Saturday, July 4; 3 p.m. Sunday, July 5; 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 8; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 9; 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 10; 2 p.m. Saturday, July 11; 3 p.m. Sunday, July 12; 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 15; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 16; 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 17; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 18; and 3 p.m. Sunday, July 19. All performances will be held in Valdosta State University’s Sawyer Theatre, which is located on the first floor of the Fine Arts Building, at the corner of Oak Street and Brookwood Drive. 

Peach State Summer Theatre, or PSST!, is Valdosta’s premiere professional summer stock theatre. Each summer, dozens of singers, dancers, technicians, managers, and creators gather on the campus of Valdosta State University for 10 weeks, and during that time, they rehearse, build, and present three musicals. The 2015 season includes “Always … Patsy Cline,” which runs through July 18.

The 2015 Peach State Summer Theatre season marks the 26^th year of VSU producing professional theatre for the city of Valdosta, the state of Georgia, and beyond. From 1990 to 2004, VSU produced the Jekyll Island Musical Theatre Festival. In 2005, the summer theatre program was relocated to the university and renamed PSST!

The Georgia Legislature designated Valdosta State’s summer stock theatre program the Official Musical Theatre of the State of Georgia.

VSU’s Jacque Wheeler serves as the artistic director of Peach State Summer Theatre. H. Duke Guthrie is the managing director.

Individual admission is $31.28 for adults and $25.93 for students and senior citizens, including taxes and fees.

The Peach State Summer Theatre Box Office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays. It is located on the first floor of the Valdosta State University Fine Arts Building and can be reached by calling (229) 259-7770.

Visit www.valdosta.edu/psst for more information.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/vstatenews?ref=hl to view additional photos, as well as a cast list and more.

On the Web:

https://www.valdosta.edu/colleges/arts/communication-arts/peach-state-summer-theatre/welcome.php

NOTE: Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” is rated G and is presented in two acts with one 15-minute intermission.