The Little Mermaid at the BCPA

Bloomington, Ill. – Fifty-five local children have discovered the roles they’ll be performing in the Missoula Children’s Theater (MCT)’s “The Little Mermaid” at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts this Friday, August 3 at 7 pm. The children, who range in age from 5-17, are rehearsing the show at the BCPA daily from 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

The performance features Hannah Nippe as the title character, Celia. Celia’s three sisters, Delia, Amelia, and Ophelia, will be played by Kathy Grimes, Jennifer Stewart, and Cheyenne Bowers. Gil, the Merboy next door, will be played by Michael Braun. Megan Clark will play the Queen, Zach Taylor the King, and Connor Kahle has been cast as the Prince. The snoopy Seasiders will be played by Julea Buob, Meg Deneen, Kate Harris, Madilyn Maschoff, Emma Maubach, Rachel McBeath, Bryn McDonald, Angel Miller, Mikki O’Neal, Morgan Peterson, Oscar Schmidt, Riley Simpson, and Daphne Whittaker. McKenna Ehrmantraut, Quinn Johnson, Cozy O’Neal, and Grace Perry will appear as the poetic Town Criers. The dynamic Sea Scouts include Katie Appel, Olivia Bratcher, Christopher Braun, Paige DeCicco, Alexandria Lovel, Lindsay Nolan, Candace Parrott, Laine Perry, Megan Riley, Claire Satkamp, Gretchen Scheidenhelm, and Karina Steidinger. The galloping Seahorses will be played by Abby Carter, Lucas Dahmm, Ellie Deneen, Olivia Frank, Chloe Holmes, Mackenzie Jones, Jordan Kaehlert, Megan Maschhoff, Tess Maubach, Carly McBeath, Riley McDonald, Bett O’Neal, Bree O’Neal, Josephine Schmidt, Reagan Simpson, and Claire Talbott. Andrew Fulling and Alex Perry will serve as Assistant Directors throughout the week.

Two touring MCT actor/directors are in Bloomington to rehearse the local cast members for the performance. They auditioned the children for specific roles on Monday, July 30. All of the participating children registered for the show through Bloomington Parks and Recreation’s summer programs catalog.

The MCT is the nation’s largest touring children’s theatre. The company has been touring extensively for over three decades, and will visit nearly 1,200 communities this year with 43 teams of actor/directors.

Based on the classic children’s story, the play tells the story of a little mermaid named Celia who is allowed to leave her home in the salty waters of the Sassafras Sea to visit the World Above with her sisters. In addition to learning the secrets of life on dry land, they encounter ferocious dragons, advancing armies and, of course, a handsome Prince Charming.

Tickets for The Little Mermaid are $15.50 for adults and $10.50 for youth. Tickets are available online at www.artsblooming.org, or by calling the BCPA Box Office at 309-434-2777; toll-free at 866-686-9541. Tickets may also be purchased at the BCPA Box Office, located within the BCPA at 110 E Mulberry Street in Bloomington. Box Office hours are 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, with additional hours two hours prior to the show.

EVENT AT A GLANCE:

Event:

Missoula Children’s Theatre, The Little Mermaid

Date & Time:

Friday, August 3, 7:00 pm, with a free hour of family-friendly activities prior to curtain.

Prices:*

$15.50 for adults and $10.50 for youth

*All tickets include a $.50 building restoration fee.

Tickets:

Online: www.artsblooming.org

Phone: 309-434-2777

Toll-free 866-686-9541

By fax: 309-434-2791

At BCPA Box Office:

Monday-Friday 10am-5pm

On show day 10am-7pm

Location: