The Little Mermaid To Swim Into Middle PAC

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP — Auditions are finished, the performers have been cast and rehearsals will soon begin for a big innovative musical that will be presented at the Performing Arts Center of Middle Township this summer.
Director Kay Aspell has announced that a cast of 59 youngsters will present the Broadway musical, “The Little Mermaid.” Eighteen of them will have speaking roles and the others will be singing and dancing.
In leading roles will be Skyla La Monico of Cape May, and the following from Cape May Court House: Justin Camp, Logan Thomas, Gianna Balestriere, Josh Hettenbach , Sophia Lomax and Jordan Severino.
The production, on Aug. 14, 15 and 16, will be part of the third-annual Shore Productions summer theater camp for youngsters between the ages of seven and 18. The camp will run from June 30 to August 16 and will conclude with four performances at The PAC.
“This will be the largest and most ambitious production we have yet staged at the summer camp and it will showcase the young talent in our area as well as give others an opportunity to perform in our state-of-the-art theatre,” said Aspell. “It also will include some special effects that will surprise the audiences.”
The accent is entirely on theater at the summer camp as the staff teaches the campers everything from how to run a box office to how to make a stage colorful. One of the highlights of the camp will be a visit to New York to see “Newsies” on Broadway.
“The Little Mermaid,” based on a 1989 Disney animated film, ran on Broadway from Jan. 10, 2008 to Aug. 30, 2009, and has been popular in regional theaters and schools throughout the nation. Its story, adapted from a Hans Christian Andersen classic, is about a mermaid who dreams about the world above the sea and gives up her beautiful voice to find love.
Tickets are $10/adults and $8/children, and may be reserved at the PAC box office by calling 463-1924. Performances on Aug. 14 and 16 are at 7:30 p.m. and on Aug. 15 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.