By Linda Harkcom

Published: Wednesday, March 6, 2013, 7:15 p.m.
Updated: Thursday, March 7, 2013

This weekend, the stage and the Frazier High School Auditorium will be filled with singing mermaids and other sea creatures when the Frazier High School Drama Club presents “Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr.”

“This show is fun for the participants. The audience is familiar with the songs, and kids will know the material. I like to do shows that the audience will enjoy at the same time, enabling the students to experience being in a show,” said director Vince Rafail.

The show, with book by Doug Wright, is based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film about a mermaid princess who falls in love with a human prince and trades her voice for the chance to become human for a short time.

“I think the audience will enjoy the show since it is ‘Disney's Little Mermaid Jr.' I also think they will enjoy seeing the students, their friends or kids, performing the parts,” Rafail said.

The show features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater with music adapted and arranged by David Weinstein. Songs the students will perform such favorites as “Part of Your World,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Under the Sea.”

Sydney Marks, 17, of Grindstone will play the little mermaid, Ariel. This is the fourth show for Marks who has had the lead in all but one of them.

“I like the group effort. I like when it all comes together in the end,” she said.

While the role of Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” was her favorite, Marks likes each role she has had for different reasons.

“I like Ariel because she is young and adventurous,” she said.

Annika Erdel, 15, of Perryopolis plays the role of the Sea Witch Ursala.

“She's evil, and I love being evil. Evil characters are my favorite to play. She is just so big and out there, and I am not big and out there,” Erdel said.

While this is the freshman's first show with the high school, Erdel has performed in 10 shows over the past four years with the middle school, California University of Pennsylvania and the Mon Valley Performing Arts Academy. She has been training with the goal of majoring in musical theater in college by taking voice and acting classes at the academy.

“It's fun. I just love doing it. I just love being someone else because you get to show a different side of yourself,” Erdel said.

Rafail said the club is excited to have some new audio equipment to use with this year's show and is looking forward to improving the lighting next.

“So we encourage the people to come see our show and help us raise money for the program and the products needed,” he said.

The show will be presented at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission for the show is $8 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets will be available at the door.

Harkcom is a freelance writer.

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