After watching this video, all I gotta say is; Wow, I can’t believe Disney swept this gem under the rug. The Little Mermaid and Tarzan deserve to be revived. Not to mention, they deserve the same legacy as The Lion King
A lot of people hated the sets. They were definitely weird and not Disney enough. I think of the set design has been better it would have had a longer life.
The actors were honestly the best part. Disney found amazing talent. But there were major things that caused significant problems with suspension of disbelief and would cause a lot of issues with watching the show. The skating wasn't a good decision, as not everyone was at the same skill level with it and putting so much attention on balance took away from being able to focus on singing. The weird double-tails on the merpeople was also an odd costuming decision, and it's not a surprise that those were never used again. Staging a show that's supposed to be underwater comes with a lot of creative and logistical difficulties.
I've done this show twice and played two different roles. When kids fill the house, the looks in their eyes...it's truly magical. This show deserved better.
The musical that made me fall in love with musicals in first place. The Little Mermaid will always hold a place in my heart. Fun fact the actor who played Flounder; Brian D’Addario now has band with his brother Michael called The Lemon Twigs. Their music is amazing and should really give them a listen.
I purchased tickets to this show for its broadway debut as soon as they went on sale. I was an out of towner that had to fly and book a hotel room in the island to attend a performance with the original cast. A decision I would never regret. Because of the strike, the performance I had purchased turned out to be two weeks before opening day instead of two weeks after. The cast was pure perfection that evening. I hadn't seen an ensemble of actors so tight before or ever since on a Broadway stage. Their voices were breathtaking. The sound design was sharp and clear. The casting was spot on for every character as well as the artistic costumes and set design choices. Sierra Boggess WAS Ariel. Wow! What a magical performance she offered! Ms. Sherie Rene Scott stole every scene she was on. People around me couldn't believe how amazing her voice was. They thought it was a pre-recorded track every time she sang. In my humble opinion, witnessing how the creative team solved the problem of having a mute musical mermaid for half a show is pure genius. The song "One Step Closer" just convinces the audience that it is possible for Erik and Ariel to fall in love without saying one single word ( a question I always had from the animated classic ). She had her looks, that is true, but we wanted more out of these two, right? The most important part of the Little Mermaid on Broadway was that it expanded its original story without forgetting its animated roots. The only problem I had with the show was the ending. It felt confusing and rushed. It felt as if the team wasn't sure how to end the story on stage. Because I was watching the performance two weeks before opening day, I was hoping they could find the right balance to end such an amazing production. History has made me assume that the creative team was not able to find the right tone for the end of this story. I truly believe that people didn't give this show a chance. However, I am hopeful to see that a national tour has brought this show back to life hoping that this unappreciated jewel can find its legs this time around.
Sierra boggess was beautiful as Ariel and next to Jodi Benson she's my fave version of her. Wish i'd seen her live, she blew me away and when i saw her in costume i saw Ariel as if she'd come out of the movie. magical xx
I’ve just finished watching it! Wow so this is such an insightful video, I always knew that Little Mermaid ‘flopped’ on Broadway but I had no idea about how many challenges it went through. Staging a Broadway show is just so crazy, had it not opened during a recession who knows the life that it could have had on Broadway. I find the contributions from the cast members so fascinating, especially the point that a third of the cast was black and their amazement at that! Thanks again for your hard working on creating this, the love, attention and care that you’ve put into it for random people on the internet is so evident - we are not worthy! 🙌
I found that really sad. Maybe I'm just desensitized to the concept cause I grew up watching Brandy and Whitney Houston's Cinderella where it worked so perfectly! it's actually rather disheartening to realize how rare it actually is... to me a 'Diverse' cast shouldn't be considered 'new' or 'groundbreaking let alone a "selling point" I thought we were past that. 'Colorblind casting', meaning whoever gives the 'best' audition and the most chemistry with everyone else should be getting the role by default.
I was in the audience of one of their first nights on Broadway. As Disney/ Bway fans, we left feeling it was lackluster and awkward. Also I will never forget that Prince Eric's voice cracked during his big sustained belting note- like a kid going through puberty voice crack. I guess they're human after all! I still enjoy seeing all the work that went into this show and can see why others appreciated it!
This musical means the absolute world to me. Long story short, The Little Mermaid as an entity really brought me out of a rough time as a kid and changed the course of the rest of my life for the better, which was also around the time the musical came out. My family didn't have the money to travel and see the show, but I was still so impacted by the music, the cast, & the storytelling in ways beyond what I can even begin to describe. It's because of this show that I'm the performer that I am today. I remember seeing all the negative reviews and being so confused. As a child, I had a pretty varied palette of theatrical favorites (A Chorus Line, The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, West Side Story, The Last 5 Years, and Les Miserables were some non-Disney musicals I also adored back then and still love to this day), I didn't understand how the same critics who liked the other shows that I liked could be so harsh towards this one just because it was a Disney Princess show. It's not perfect by any means, but it's still so special to me years later, and I think it deserves a revival and can be improved further! (I am pretty iffy about some of the changes made in subsequent productions domestically and internationally as well as the MTI version that is the definitive version to be used for licensing - I think some changes made were definite improvements, but some really detracted from the story at hand, but I digress). And thank you for interviewing a few of my favorite cast members from the show! I loved hearing Zakiya and Derrick's firsthand input from their time in the show! I really love that this show paved the way for more representation of BIPOC in Disney properties - there's still a long ways to go, but it's really great that we now have an incredibly talented and stunning Black woman playing Ariel in the new live action film adaptation, Halle Bailey! 🧜🏾♀️
This was actually the first Broadway show I’ve ever seen- but I was 5 years old so I barely remember it- I wish I somehow could of because Sierra Boggess is now one of my favorite performers!!!
I've seen the Little Mermaid at tuacahn twice. The effects with the sheets of water and fly system are insane. Ariel swimming up to the surface behind a curtain of water- absolutely incredible effects!!
This was the musical that got me into theater when I was like three or four. We used to live up in New Jersey, so my mom had wanted to take me to the Broadway show, but it closed before we got a chance, so she promised me that she'd take me whenever it came around on tour. We moved to NC, and on the entire drive, I insisted that we listened to the soundtrack, and only the soundtrack, which needless to say, drove my family crazy. It finally came around in 2017, and I got to see it for the first time 10 years later.
These 30 minutes passed by QUICK. So well constructed and interesting, I adored this show as a kid and wish the national tour planned would’ve happened!
Flop or not, I went see it with the original cast. I loved it! It was the first musical I saw on Broadway. The movie is my favorite animated Disney film, and I've got a decent-sized Ariel collection. My bedroom is decorated with my collection. I love Ariel so much that I got a tattoo of her!
The first Disney musical I saw was the 1st production of "Hunchback" in Berlin in 1999. I LOVED how "European" and adult they made it and how they even had the courage to give it a tragic ending. I know there is a cultural difference in how we perceive these (fairy) tales over here in comparison to the US and neither one nor the other is better or worse. But I think it would have served this show very well to give it the Hans C. Andersen treatment with a more "grown-up" twist to it. When I imagine the sea I see dark and subtle colors, mysterious and beautiful, but also frightening. Especially at the depth the story takes place at. I would love to see this re-imagined with a bit more serious and bittersweet undertones, closer to the original tale. I guess as a kid I would have adored the Broadway version, but I do see what some critics are saying with the eyes of an adult. Anyway, I fell for Sierra Boggess because of this play and everything it went through was worth it just for hearing her. Great and beautifully researched video!! :)
Omg I love the original Broadway production but I really wish I could’ve seen what Matthew Bournes production would’ve looked like. I imagine it being polarizing but also super imaginative and artistic at the same time.
amazing video! thank you for focusing on the angle of these two great black actors -- i remember how bold the casting of this was considered back when it came out. it feels specially relevant now, with the live action being in production and known to feature a black ariel. it is such a special show and i am glad it has continued to live on outside of broadway. hope it gets a second chance in the future!
This was such a fascinating video! I was in a community theater production a few years ago, and it was one of my favorite theater experiences! I had no idea about the effort needed to get this show up and running. Maybe the show just needed to take some time and wait for the right moment to be appreciated.
I saw this musical for my sixteenth birthday instead of having a big party and I don't regret it at all, it was incredible, gorgeous, colorful, extremely fun songs
I saw the National Tour when it came through my state and became absolutely enamoured with this show. The music especially, I think it's possibly the Broadway Disney soundtrack I listen to the most. And when I started finding clips of the original show... Well I can see why they changed some things. My one complaint is probably how they handled the climax. I know they wouldn't have the budget or effects for anything like the fight from the movie but seeing how they handled BatB and TLK's stage adaptations of the climax, having Ariel and Ursula sort of talk it out and then suddenly we slay the witch seems like they really could have done *more* with it, you know? This is fascinating to find out the history of the show though.
This is one of my favorite musicals. To this day, the only musical I’ve seen with the Original Broadway Cast. Tyler & Derrick as Flotsam & Jetsam reinvigorated my love of theatre which helped me decide to get my degree in theatre! Will always always love this show ❤️
This show holds such a special place in my heart, as I got to see the original cast for my 16th birthday (Jan 29) in 2008, after leaving a sticky note for my mom every morning for a year - begging and pleading to go to New York to see The Little Mermaid on Broadway (I had never been to NYC, and bargained several Birthday’s and Christmases if I could go). When Christmas 2007 rolled around, I was opening gifts, and opened a framed print of Ariel with a sticky note which read, “you said you wanted to see The Little Mermaid.” Ha-ha, mom. Later, I opened another framed print - this time, of Ursula, with another sticky note. Towards the end of the evening, my mom pulled another gift for me to open - it wound up being a framed confirmation of my Little Mermaid ticket for my 16th Birthday. I was utterly silent. Even though the show was panned across the board, it didn’t matter to me (though, I still would have kept the workshop version with Vanessa rather than the whole contest portion)- the show was, and remains, a special experience for me. The cast was phenomenal, and made my Birthday one I will never forget. 💙
It was announced that Little Mermaid was beginning previews right as I was starting high school. I was in love with this musical from the "Virtual Opening Night" recordings and little sound bites from the cast. I hate that it left Broadway so soon, especially with how often it has been performed in schools/local theater level productions afterwards. I had a definite period (spanning YEARS) where I fantasized about being "apprentice cephalopod diva" with a colorful cast of creatures around me on stage. I still revisit that fantasy from time to time.
I've seen the disney production in the Netherlands years ago, it was till this day one of the best production I've ever seen (and i frequent the theater a lot). What they did with the hair was so awesome. The under water scenes were with wigs that stood right up as if their hair was floating and on land the hair was just normally down. It was so creative and such great songs
I worked as a Sub-Usher at the Lunt-Fontanne during "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Summer". I asked a few long time workers what their favorite show was at that theatre and they all said "Beauty and the Beast, we all had jobs when that was here." Despite all that happened with Little Mermaid, I do wish I got the chance to see it LIVE on Broadway.
Wallace Phillips The Lunt-Fontanne has definitely seen it’s fair share of shows come and go since Beauty and the Beast closed! But luckily it’s such a popular theatre that even when a show closes, the theatre doesn’t stay empty for long! So cool you got to be an usher for those shows! I saw Charlie, but unfortunately missed Summer. I saw “Tina” there right before everything shut down! Awesome show!
@@BehindTheMagic Yes. I worked for Nederlander and mostly worked at "Hamilton". Lunt-Fontanne is my favorite Nederlander owned theatre though. I also saw "Finding Neverland" and "Tina" there. I wish I had seen "Beauty and the Beast" there, that is the #1 Broadway show I regret not seeing LIVE. All I've seen are bootlegs and they don't do justice to the LIVE experience.
I saw this when I was ten back in 2017 when they did the tour. I don’t remember a ton but that I liked it. Then I found the og performance vid and fell in love with the show and cast. Some people hate it and that’s ok but I personally love it the way it is/was! :)
I come back to this video after last year/I also commented about how I wish it would come to the uk and the little mermaid has only recently started touring in the uk in small scale theatres. Hopefully it gains enough notoriety that a major theatre will take it under their wing 🥰💖🌸
I love the little mermaid, and I am so sad I never got a chance to see it live. I genuinely think the Broadway production was perfect (from watching ALL the bootlegs) and it is the exact screen to stage adaption I wanted it to be. I hate the new productions where the mermaids fly and the horrible costumes and wigs they have to make that possible. I want the original little mermaid production to transfer to the west end, because it would be an absolute dream come true to see it live, in all its glory!
This was so much fun to watch. I am a high school play director and I directed this musical in 2019 - I will say that my company and audience enjoyed this show so much. I also got to see "The Little Mermaid" at the Tuacahn Theatre in Utah in September 2019. Such a fun production!
I only knew a small chunk of the tragedies that happened during TLM. It’s my favourite Disney show, and I’ll always be devastated it didn’t get a longer run. I would have loved to have seen it in Australia.
I am so interested in hearing more about the fight against racism on broadway, if you make any more content around that I am here for it (no pressure tho)
I like Disney on Broadway. Their shows employ working theater artists and technicians and you know they’re going to run and keep them employed. And you know there’s going to be National Tours as well. That should be seen as a net positive for the industry. But I miss when Disney used to take real risks. Lion King and Aida were very ambitious and conceptually, so was Little Mermaid. Critics are always going to hate commercial shows. Like, Ben Brantley didn’t like Wicked. Most of them are purists about the “artform of the theater” or whatever. But that’s their job. It’s almost like they hate to see shows make money.
So happy you covered this I honestly want the little mermaid to come back to the stage 😔💕💖🌸 since I never got to see it I live in the uk so it didn’t become popular enough to come to the west end
I saw this Debut in Denver as it was working out the kinks before it landed on Broadway in the beginning of my musical obsession and I thought it was magical and amazing! At the time, I had no idea I was watching some big time broadway stars which was pretty cool. I think they will revive this show and bring it back, it’s too popular not to.
Tuacahn Amphitheater did an amazing job. I’ve seen it a few times they did it and they made so many improvements to the show. The show had so much potential for huge success.
The Broadway adaptation of my favorite Disney film is such an odd entity in my book. I love a few individual things about it (Sierra's rendition of "Part of Your World," a few new songs, etc.) but all around it doesn't rank high among the Disney shows for me. Almost every character is weaker in the stage show than they are in the movie, and the writing jumps over the realm of "childlike" and straight into juvenile at times. The retooled show only doubled down on this, what with the SpongeBob references and the like. It's the same kind of mentality that made (in my opinion) the "Beauty and the Beast" remake so unlikeable to me. THAT ALL SAID . . . I really appreciated this video. You got a lot of insight from those video interviews with Derrick and Zakiya that I'd honestly never known before. This was absolutely eye-opening for a show on which I considered myself an expert. Nice work.
Seeing Sierra on here I can't help to ask, can you PLEEASE do Phantom? Love it or hate it, you gotta admit that the only thing that stopped that show was this fucking pandemic, and that is saying something. 🤣 💜
I had the privilege of seeing the show 3 times on Broadway. On a cool sidenote, I also got to see a production in White Plains, New York back in 2014. They decided to cast a male as Ursula, as a nod to the character being based on drag queen Divine. Not only that, but the person they cast, John Treacy Egan, originated the role of Chef Louis in the original Broadway show. Some other productions have also cast men as Ursula. Here's a video of John Treacy Egan singing "Poor Unfortunate Souls" at a concert, to give you an idea: ua-cam.com/video/z9enD4cRHA4/v-deo.html
0:09 Awesome Behind The Scenes Look About Disney's The Little Mermaid The Broadway Musical And The Original Disney Animated Blockbuster Movie As Well. I've Can't Wait To Watch This Awesome Disney Animated Blockbuster Movie On Sky Cinema Disney Channel This Year. Wish Me Luck. Thanks Behind The Magic Mate. X
I remember seeing Adrian Bailey in Smokey Joe's when I was just a teenager in love with theater. He was incredible! So charming and his voice! I fell in love.
I’m new here, these videos you are putting together are brilliant. I could listen to your voice all day. Really interesting, best new channel relating to musicals. Good luck 😊
I got to watch this on broadway in New York back in like 2007 I think. It was AMAZING! Both the show and the everything the people did with the set. I’m so sad they haven’t revived it. I would do anything to see again. It was also the last broadway show I got to see with my mom. She passed in 2016. So there was quite some years between but I just remember how much we loved seeing this show.
Thank you for making so many great behind the scenes videos! I’m really enjoying this behind the scenes Broadway series! It’s interesting to learn that critics are very harsh in general with Disney, I wasn’t aware of that. I thoroughly enjoyed the production as a whole and the cast when I saw this show in New York during its run.
I loved this please talk about newsies next which I think is the most popular Disney musical besides lion king and I would love to learn the history of the show and why it closed
The Broadway production was absolutely mesmerizing. Ive never seen so much beautiful color on a stage. Everything was shining. Ive also seen the Dutch production and I hated that. Would give alot to see the Broadway production again.
Thanks for this video! I saw this musical when I was about 11 (I'm 25 now). I loved it then. Looking back on the added music and the costumes, I don't know if it holds up. But the cast was stunning, and I can't believe I saw SB and TB without realizing at the time what talent I was seeing live.
"The Little Mermiad" was the first Broadway show I saw. and the first Broadway show I loved it was also the first Disney Broadway musical i saw and loved They should revive this and "Tarzan" on Broadway
I'm glad to be able to watch this here in Manila through a local production in 2011. Rachelle Ann Go starred as Ariel and this is her very first theater role. Now, she's famous in West End 💖🧜🏼
@@BehindTheMagic yes she is! She's really consisted, like a young girl in a candy store! Hahaha! Her performance reminds me of Sierra's. Rachelle Ann is a famous pop singer and a high belter. Her transformation as a theater actress was stunning!
Whoa I just watched this whole video and then saw how few views and how few subscribers you have! I thought for sure this must have been a bigger channel than it was! Great video! ❤️
@@BehindTheMagic I really appreciate this video. I linked to your video at the end of my favorite lesser-viewed Little Mermaid performances. ua-cam.com/video/lNCx6CKn9z8/v-deo.html
So glad you enjoyed! When I started working on the “strike” section, that snippet of music popped into my head, so I knew I had to use it in the video! 😂
Very insightful video .. my own issue was that I obtained the workshop score cd early on and listened to it intently ( I still do .. All Good Things Must End is fantastic ) .. I loved it and the actors that sang on it .. then a lot of my favourite songs ( which helped tell and move the story forward ) were cut or changed .. the voices I was used to changed completely and I did try to listen to the new soundtrack but it had lost some of its heart for me.
This is interesting, because you get to see a Broadway version of The Little Mermaid which is based on the fairytale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen. Musicals made by Disney rock big time. I saw Beauty & the Beast and The Lion King with my grandparents when I was much younger at a theater somewhere in the Bay Area. 🧜🏼♀
I have a few ideas for future episodes: TV: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show, Sing Me a Story with Belle (most episodes are lost media), the Disney Channel Game Shows of the 90's (Off the Wall and Mad Libs), and the Wild Life Shows (Going Wild with Jeff Corwin and Omba Mokomba) Movies: Geppetto (2000 made for TV Movie Musical), Tower of Terror (1997), and Freaky Friday (1995 made for TV Remake) Musicals: Mary Poppins (Stage Adaptation) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Radio City Musical Hall Production, 1980)
After watching this video, all I gotta say is; Wow, I can’t believe Disney swept this gem under the rug. The Little Mermaid and Tarzan deserve to be revived. Not to mention, they deserve the same legacy as The Lion King
It definitely deserved better! I’m sure we’ll see a revival someday!
here in germany you could still watch tarzan the musical. How it is when the sh.. show is over i don`t know
A lot of people hated the sets. They were definitely weird and not Disney enough. I think of the set design has been better it would have had a longer life.
The actors were honestly the best part. Disney found amazing talent. But there were major things that caused significant problems with suspension of disbelief and would cause a lot of issues with watching the show. The skating wasn't a good decision, as not everyone was at the same skill level with it and putting so much attention on balance took away from being able to focus on singing. The weird double-tails on the merpeople was also an odd costuming decision, and it's not a surprise that those were never used again. Staging a show that's supposed to be underwater comes with a lot of creative and logistical difficulties.
The script is soooo cheesy. A little more time tightening the writing would have paid huge dividends.
Anything with Sierra Bogges I'm down for. 😍😍
Agreed
I've done this show twice and played two different roles. When kids fill the house, the looks in their eyes...it's truly magical. This show deserved better.
Which roles did you play?
I was wondering and was just about to comment the same thing
@@kathrynnpetersen8876 I played Sebastian and Flotsam!
@@ihvojd Sebastian and flotsam!
The musical that made me fall in love with musicals in first place. The Little Mermaid will always hold a place in my heart. Fun fact the actor who played Flounder; Brian D’Addario now has band with his brother Michael called The Lemon Twigs. Their music is amazing and should really give them a listen.
I love this musical with all of my heart.
Madeline Wright It’s pretty darn wonderful!
I wanna know how the ship set piece worked
I purchased tickets to this show for its broadway debut as soon as they went on sale. I was an out of towner that had to fly and book a hotel room in the island to attend a performance with the original cast. A decision I would never regret.
Because of the strike, the performance I had purchased turned out to be two weeks before opening day instead of two weeks after. The cast was pure perfection that evening. I hadn't seen an ensemble of actors so tight before or ever since on a Broadway stage. Their voices were breathtaking. The sound design was sharp and clear. The casting was spot on for every character as well as the artistic costumes and set design choices. Sierra Boggess WAS Ariel. Wow! What a magical performance she offered! Ms. Sherie Rene Scott stole every scene she was on. People around me couldn't believe how amazing her voice was. They thought it was a pre-recorded track every time she sang.
In my humble opinion, witnessing how the creative team solved the problem of having a mute musical mermaid for half a show is pure genius. The song "One Step Closer" just convinces the audience that it is possible for Erik and Ariel to fall in love without saying one single word ( a question I always had from the animated classic ). She had her looks, that is true, but we wanted more out of these two, right? The most important part of the Little Mermaid on Broadway was that it expanded its original story without forgetting its animated roots.
The only problem I had with the show was the ending. It felt confusing and rushed. It felt as if the team wasn't sure how to end the story on stage. Because I was watching the performance two weeks before opening day, I was hoping they could find the right balance to end such an amazing production. History has made me assume that the creative team was not able to find the right tone for the end of this story.
I truly believe that people didn't give this show a chance. However, I am hopeful to see that a national tour has brought this show back to life hoping that this unappreciated jewel can find its legs this time around.
Sierra boggess was beautiful as Ariel and next to Jodi Benson she's my fave version of her. Wish i'd seen her live, she blew me away and when i saw her in costume i saw Ariel as if she'd come out of the movie. magical xx
I’ve just finished watching it! Wow so this is such an insightful video, I always knew that Little Mermaid ‘flopped’ on Broadway but I had no idea about how many challenges it went through. Staging a Broadway show is just so crazy, had it not opened during a recession who knows the life that it could have had on Broadway. I find the contributions from the cast members so fascinating, especially the point that a third of the cast was black and their amazement at that! Thanks again for your hard working on creating this, the love, attention and care that you’ve put into it for random people on the internet is so evident - we are not worthy! 🙌
Thank you, thank you, thank you! You’re too kind! So happy you’re enjoying them! 😊
I found that really sad. Maybe I'm just desensitized to the concept cause I grew up watching Brandy and Whitney Houston's Cinderella where it worked so perfectly! it's actually rather disheartening to realize how rare it actually is...
to me a 'Diverse' cast shouldn't be considered 'new' or 'groundbreaking let alone a "selling point" I thought we were past that.
'Colorblind casting', meaning whoever gives the 'best' audition and the most chemistry with everyone else should be getting the role by default.
This makes me want to see snippets of Matthew Bourne's vision. That version might have been a critic's darling. Very interesting video!
The way they did the mermaid tails in this show is absolutely genius
I was in the audience of one of their first nights on Broadway. As Disney/ Bway fans, we left feeling it was lackluster and awkward. Also I will never forget that Prince Eric's voice cracked during his big sustained belting note- like a kid going through puberty voice crack. I guess they're human after all! I still enjoy seeing all the work that went into this show and can see why others appreciated it!
This musical means the absolute world to me. Long story short, The Little Mermaid as an entity really brought me out of a rough time as a kid and changed the course of the rest of my life for the better, which was also around the time the musical came out. My family didn't have the money to travel and see the show, but I was still so impacted by the music, the cast, & the storytelling in ways beyond what I can even begin to describe. It's because of this show that I'm the performer that I am today. I remember seeing all the negative reviews and being so confused. As a child, I had a pretty varied palette of theatrical favorites (A Chorus Line, The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, West Side Story, The Last 5 Years, and Les Miserables were some non-Disney musicals I also adored back then and still love to this day), I didn't understand how the same critics who liked the other shows that I liked could be so harsh towards this one just because it was a Disney Princess show. It's not perfect by any means, but it's still so special to me years later, and I think it deserves a revival and can be improved further! (I am pretty iffy about some of the changes made in subsequent productions domestically and internationally as well as the MTI version that is the definitive version to be used for licensing - I think some changes made were definite improvements, but some really detracted from the story at hand, but I digress). And thank you for interviewing a few of my favorite cast members from the show! I loved hearing Zakiya and Derrick's firsthand input from their time in the show! I really love that this show paved the way for more representation of BIPOC in Disney properties - there's still a long ways to go, but it's really great that we now have an incredibly talented and stunning Black woman playing Ariel in the new live action film adaptation, Halle Bailey! 🧜🏾♀️
This was actually the first Broadway show I’ve ever seen- but I was 5 years old so I barely remember it- I wish I somehow could of because Sierra Boggess is now one of my favorite performers!!!
This was the first cast recording I ever purchased as a kid 💗 Love this show so much!
Awwww, I love that! My first cast recording was WICKED, and I’ve been in love with Broadway ever since! 😊
I've seen the Little Mermaid at tuacahn twice. The effects with the sheets of water and fly system are insane. Ariel swimming up to the surface behind a curtain of water- absolutely incredible effects!!
This was the musical that got me into theater when I was like three or four. We used to live up in New Jersey, so my mom had wanted to take me to the Broadway show, but it closed before we got a chance, so she promised me that she'd take me whenever it came around on tour. We moved to NC, and on the entire drive, I insisted that we listened to the soundtrack, and only the soundtrack, which needless to say, drove my family crazy. It finally came around in 2017, and I got to see it for the first time 10 years later.
These 30 minutes passed by QUICK. So well constructed and interesting, I adored this show as a kid and wish the national tour planned would’ve happened!
So glad you enjoyed it! 😊
Flop or not, I went see it with the original cast. I loved it! It was the first musical I saw on Broadway. The movie is my favorite animated Disney film, and I've got a decent-sized Ariel collection. My bedroom is decorated with my collection. I love Ariel so much that I got a tattoo of her!
So I am guessing that ariel is your all time favorite Disney princess?
The first Disney musical I saw was the 1st production of "Hunchback" in Berlin in 1999. I LOVED how "European" and adult they made it and how they even had the courage to give it a tragic ending. I know there is a cultural difference in how we perceive these (fairy) tales over here in comparison to the US and neither one nor the other is better or worse. But I think it would have served this show very well to give it the Hans C. Andersen treatment with a more "grown-up" twist to it. When I imagine the sea I see dark and subtle colors, mysterious and beautiful, but also frightening. Especially at the depth the story takes place at. I would love to see this re-imagined with a bit more serious and bittersweet undertones, closer to the original tale. I guess as a kid I would have adored the Broadway version, but I do see what some critics are saying with the eyes of an adult. Anyway, I fell for Sierra Boggess because of this play and everything it went through was worth it just for hearing her. Great and beautifully researched video!! :)
Omg I love the original Broadway production but I really wish I could’ve seen what Matthew Bournes production would’ve looked like. I imagine it being polarizing but also super imaginative and artistic at the same time.
amazing video! thank you for focusing on the angle of these two great black actors -- i remember how bold the casting of this was considered back when it came out. it feels specially relevant now, with the live action being in production and known to feature a black ariel. it is such a special show and i am glad it has continued to live on outside of broadway. hope it gets a second chance in the future!
This was such a fascinating video! I was in a community theater production a few years ago, and it was one of my favorite theater experiences! I had no idea about the effort needed to get this show up and running. Maybe the show just needed to take some time and wait for the right moment to be appreciated.
Awesome! I’m so glad you loved performing it! And I agree, I think in a different year, people would’ve responded to the show more positively!
I saw this musical for my sixteenth birthday instead of having a big party and I don't regret it at all, it was incredible, gorgeous, colorful, extremely fun songs
I definitely loved it when I saw it sitting 3rd row center on Broadway.
I saw the National Tour when it came through my state and became absolutely enamoured with this show. The music especially, I think it's possibly the Broadway Disney soundtrack I listen to the most. And when I started finding clips of the original show... Well I can see why they changed some things. My one complaint is probably how they handled the climax. I know they wouldn't have the budget or effects for anything like the fight from the movie but seeing how they handled BatB and TLK's stage adaptations of the climax, having Ariel and Ursula sort of talk it out and then suddenly we slay the witch seems like they really could have done *more* with it, you know? This is fascinating to find out the history of the show though.
Great interview from Derrick Baskin and Zakiya Young! ❤️
Aren’t they wonderful? I’m so thankful they agreed to be interviewed!
Behind The Ears Zakiya’s smile warms my heart.
My 2 year old sleeps to this soundtrack every night. We both love it. I got to see a college perform it a few years ago and it was great
I was lucky to have seen the musical on August 12 2009, 18 days before it closed on Broadway. I enjoyed it very much!!!!
Using heelys was truly ingenous, I would never have expected to see them used in that way.
Please do Hunchback, I love these videos!!
This is one of my favorite musicals. To this day, the only musical I’ve seen with the Original Broadway Cast. Tyler & Derrick as Flotsam & Jetsam reinvigorated my love of theatre which helped me decide to get my degree in theatre! Will always always love this show ❤️
Saw this on Valentine’s Day in NYC with a guy I adored. It was so much fun! ♥️
What happened to your date?
@@RedaDoodles We decided to just be friends. Both of us are married to other people now and all is well.
i'm happy that this happened, but i'm sad about how it ended >
This show holds such a special place in my heart, as I got to see the original cast for my 16th birthday (Jan 29) in 2008, after leaving a sticky note for my mom every morning for a year - begging and pleading to go to New York to see The Little Mermaid on Broadway (I had never been to NYC, and bargained several Birthday’s and Christmases if I could go). When Christmas 2007 rolled around, I was opening gifts, and opened a framed print of Ariel with a sticky note which read, “you said you wanted to see The Little Mermaid.” Ha-ha, mom. Later, I opened another framed print - this time, of Ursula, with another sticky note. Towards the end of the evening, my mom pulled another gift for me to open - it wound up being a framed confirmation of my Little Mermaid ticket for my 16th Birthday. I was utterly silent. Even though the show was panned across the board, it didn’t matter to me (though, I still would have kept the workshop version with Vanessa rather than the whole contest portion)- the show was, and remains, a special experience for me. The cast was phenomenal, and made my Birthday one I will never forget. 💙
Wow! Such a great story! So glad you got to see it!
BRING IT BACK BRING IT BACK!!!!!!! It needs to replace the one there is on Disney plus ASAP
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Sierra looked like Ariel
I got to see this opening night and it was one of the best days of my life
Wow, that’s so cool!
Thank you for sharing this! As a broadway fan this needs a revival!!!
Thanks for watching! And I agree, this show definitely deserves a second chance on Broadway!
@Vesa Yeah. This, Beauty and the Beast, and Tarzan deserve to be revived
Maybe the upcoming Live action remake could drum up interest
I love that you have interviews! So great to hear from people right from the show 🤩
Beauty and the beast was my first broadway musical and it was AHHMAZING. I hope they bring it back
It was announced that Little Mermaid was beginning previews right as I was starting high school. I was in love with this musical from the "Virtual Opening Night" recordings and little sound bites from the cast. I hate that it left Broadway so soon, especially with how often it has been performed in schools/local theater level productions afterwards. I had a definite period (spanning YEARS) where I fantasized about being "apprentice cephalopod diva" with a colorful cast of creatures around me on stage. I still revisit that fantasy from time to time.
WOW this was everything! And amazing watch! Great study!
I've seen the disney production in the Netherlands years ago, it was till this day one of the best production I've ever seen (and i frequent the theater a lot). What they did with the hair was so awesome. The under water scenes were with wigs that stood right up as if their hair was floating and on land the hair was just normally down. It was so creative and such great songs
I worked as a Sub-Usher at the Lunt-Fontanne during "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Summer". I asked a few long time workers what their favorite show was at that theatre and they all said "Beauty and the Beast, we all had jobs when that was here."
Despite all that happened with Little Mermaid, I do wish I got the chance to see it LIVE on Broadway.
Wallace Phillips The Lunt-Fontanne has definitely seen it’s fair share of shows come and go since Beauty and the Beast closed! But luckily it’s such a popular theatre that even when a show closes, the theatre doesn’t stay empty for long! So cool you got to be an usher for those shows! I saw Charlie, but unfortunately missed Summer. I saw “Tina” there right before everything shut down! Awesome show!
@@BehindTheMagic Yes. I worked for Nederlander and mostly worked at "Hamilton". Lunt-Fontanne is my favorite Nederlander owned theatre though. I also saw "Finding Neverland" and "Tina" there. I wish I had seen "Beauty and the Beast" there, that is the #1 Broadway show I regret not seeing LIVE. All I've seen are bootlegs and they don't do justice to the LIVE experience.
I saw Summer twice I love that show I also sW Motown the musical at that theater 🎭
As of today (January 10th 2021) it is the 13th anniversary of The Little Mermaid’s Broadway debut 🧜🏼♀️
Indeed it is! Happy Anniversary to Broadway’s THE LITTLE MERMAID!
Happy 13th anniversary little mermaid
I saw this when I was ten back in 2017 when they did the tour. I don’t remember a ton but that I liked it. Then I found the og performance vid and fell in love with the show and cast. Some people hate it and that’s ok but I personally love it the way it is/was! :)
I come back to this video after last year/I also commented about how I wish it would come to the uk and the little mermaid has only recently started touring in the uk in small scale theatres. Hopefully it gains enough notoriety that a major theatre will take it under their wing 🥰💖🌸
I saw this show when I was 9 (I’m 20) and to this day still belt it in the car. It so interesting knowing more about it!
I worked on the sets for our community theater production of the Little mermaid back in 2017. It was a lot of work but it was worth it.
I love the little mermaid, and I am so sad I never got a chance to see it live. I genuinely think the Broadway production was perfect (from watching ALL the bootlegs) and it is the exact screen to stage adaption I wanted it to be. I hate the new productions where the mermaids fly and the horrible costumes and wigs they have to make that possible. I want the original little mermaid production to transfer to the west end, because it would be an absolute dream come true to see it live, in all its glory!
I definitely prefer the designs on Broadway to any other Little Mermaid production!
This was so much fun to watch. I am a high school play director and I directed this musical in 2019 - I will say that my company and audience enjoyed this show so much. I also got to see "The Little Mermaid" at the Tuacahn Theatre in Utah in September 2019. Such a fun production!
I only knew a small chunk of the tragedies that happened during TLM. It’s my favourite Disney show, and I’ll always be devastated it didn’t get a longer run. I would have loved to have seen it in Australia.
I liked this show from the cast recording but now I have a whole new appreciation
I am so interested in hearing more about the fight against racism on broadway, if you make any more content around that I am here for it (no pressure tho)
i saw this original broadway run and i am BAFFLED as to why it closed, yet aladdin survived and transferred to London. This show was far superiour!!
Fun fact: Brian D'Addario also played Gavroche in a revival of Les Misérables!
I like Disney on Broadway. Their shows employ working theater artists and technicians and you know they’re going to run and keep them employed. And you know there’s going to be National Tours as well. That should be seen as a net positive for the industry.
But I miss when Disney used to take real risks. Lion King and Aida were very ambitious and conceptually, so was Little Mermaid. Critics are always going to hate commercial shows. Like, Ben Brantley didn’t like Wicked. Most of them are purists about the “artform of the theater” or whatever. But that’s their job. It’s almost like they hate to see shows make money.
Baskin’s role as Otis Williams from Ain’t too proud lead me here.
Wasn’t he incredible in that show??? His performance mesmerized me! It was such an honor getting to talk to him!
So happy you covered this I honestly want the little mermaid to come back to the stage 😔💕💖🌸 since I never got to see it I live in the uk so it didn’t become popular enough to come to the west end
I saw this Debut in Denver as it was working out the kinks before it landed on Broadway in the beginning of my musical obsession and I thought it was magical and amazing! At the time, I had no idea I was watching some big time broadway stars which was pretty cool. I think they will revive this show and bring it back, it’s too popular not to.
Tuacahn Amphitheater did an amazing job. I’ve seen it a few times they did it and they made so many improvements to the show. The show had so much potential for huge success.
The Broadway adaptation of my favorite Disney film is such an odd entity in my book. I love a few individual things about it (Sierra's rendition of "Part of Your World," a few new songs, etc.) but all around it doesn't rank high among the Disney shows for me. Almost every character is weaker in the stage show than they are in the movie, and the writing jumps over the realm of "childlike" and straight into juvenile at times. The retooled show only doubled down on this, what with the SpongeBob references and the like. It's the same kind of mentality that made (in my opinion) the "Beauty and the Beast" remake so unlikeable to me.
THAT ALL SAID . . . I really appreciated this video. You got a lot of insight from those video interviews with Derrick and Zakiya that I'd honestly never known before. This was absolutely eye-opening for a show on which I considered myself an expert. Nice work.
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 😊
Seeing Sierra on here I can't help to ask, can you PLEEASE do Phantom? Love it or hate it, you gotta admit that the only thing that stopped that show was this fucking pandemic, and that is saying something. 🤣 💜
I had the privilege of seeing the show 3 times on Broadway. On a cool sidenote, I also got to see a production in White Plains, New York back in 2014. They decided to cast a male as Ursula, as a nod to the character being based on drag queen Divine. Not only that, but the person they cast, John Treacy Egan, originated the role of Chef Louis in the original Broadway show. Some other productions have also cast men as Ursula. Here's a video of John Treacy Egan singing "Poor Unfortunate Souls" at a concert, to give you an idea: ua-cam.com/video/z9enD4cRHA4/v-deo.html
I’m so glad I got to see this on Broadway!
0:09 Awesome Behind The Scenes Look About Disney's The Little Mermaid The Broadway Musical And The Original Disney Animated Blockbuster Movie As Well. I've Can't Wait To Watch This Awesome Disney Animated Blockbuster Movie On Sky Cinema Disney Channel This Year. Wish Me Luck. Thanks Behind The Magic Mate. X
I remember seeing Adrian Bailey in Smokey Joe's when I was just a teenager in love with theater. He was incredible! So charming and his voice! I fell in love.
He’s an incredible performer! So glad they recorded Smokey Joe’s Cafe for DVD!
subscribed! OMG THIS CHANNEL IS UNDERATED
I’m new here, these videos you are putting together are brilliant. I could listen to your voice all day. Really interesting, best new channel relating to musicals. Good luck 😊
Thank you so much! So happy you’re enjoying the videos! 😊
I got to watch this on broadway in New York back in like 2007 I think. It was AMAZING! Both the show and the everything the people did with the set. I’m so sad they haven’t revived it. I would do anything to see again. It was also the last broadway show I got to see with my mom. She passed in 2016. So there was quite some years between but I just remember how much we loved seeing this show.
They need to bring this show back on Broadway
Totally agree
I’ve watched it on Broadway and it was amazing.💕
Maria Falcón That’s awesome! I would’ve loved to see it on Broadway!
Amazing video/channel ! Can´t wait for more videos.
I saw the Denver Pre-Broadway run, thought it was really fun !
this is incredible! tysm and WOW the one in 2012 Sage Entertainment is so beautiful!
I've watched all of your videos and Im so gald I found your channel . Can't wait to see other videos you have planned .
Thank you so so much for watching and subscribing! So glad you’re enjoying the videos! 😊
@@BehindTheMagic will you be making videos about more classic Disney shows ?
Thank you for making so many great behind the scenes videos! I’m really enjoying this behind the scenes Broadway series! It’s interesting to learn that critics are very harsh in general with Disney, I wasn’t aware of that. I thoroughly enjoyed the production as a whole and the cast when I saw this show in New York during its run.
I’m glad to find this in my recommendations!
I loved this please talk about newsies next which I think is the most popular Disney musical besides lion king and I would love to learn the history of the show and why it closed
These videos are SO good and I cannot believe you haven't taken off yet! Thank you for this content!
You’re too kind! Thank you so much for watching! 😊
Sierra!!!
The Broadway production was absolutely mesmerizing. Ive never seen so much beautiful color on a stage. Everything was shining. Ive also seen the Dutch production and I hated that. Would give alot to see the Broadway production again.
This was insightful.
Thanks for this video! I saw this musical when I was about 11 (I'm 25 now). I loved it then. Looking back on the added music and the costumes, I don't know if it holds up. But the cast was stunning, and I can't believe I saw SB and TB without realizing at the time what talent I was seeing live.
"The Little Mermiad" was the first Broadway show I saw. and the first Broadway show I loved it was also the first Disney Broadway musical i saw and loved They should revive this and "Tarzan" on Broadway
I remember this movie and it's on Disney plus but it's also in theaters as a live action movie.
I'm glad to be able to watch this here in Manila through a local production in 2011.
Rachelle Ann Go starred as Ariel and this is her very first theater role. Now, she's famous in West End 💖🧜🏼
Wow! That’s so awesome that you got to see her play Ariel! She’s an amazing performer!
@@BehindTheMagic yes she is! She's really consisted, like a young girl in a candy store! Hahaha!
Her performance reminds me of Sierra's. Rachelle Ann is a famous pop singer and a high belter. Her transformation as a theater actress was stunning!
Wish the little mermaid musical was still on broadway
Your videos are amazing! Just started working my way through them, keep up the good work. xo
Thank you so much! So glad you’re enjoying them! 😊
Whoa I just watched this whole video and then saw how few views and how few subscribers you have! I thought for sure this must have been a bigger channel than it was! Great video! ❤️
Thank you so much! That really means a lot to me. Spread the word! 😊
@@BehindTheMagic I really appreciate this video. I linked to your video at the end of my favorite lesser-viewed Little Mermaid performances. ua-cam.com/video/lNCx6CKn9z8/v-deo.html
@@stumhasey8264 Oh wow! That’s awesome! Thank you so much! 😊
I am playing Jetsam in our school’s production
Now I am mad to learn they cut Jetsam’s scenes 😠
Awe this was such a nice surprise to find after work. Loved the video and the editing with newsies made me laugh.
So glad you enjoyed! When I started working on the “strike” section, that snippet of music popped into my head, so I knew I had to use it in the video! 😂
I love your videos so much, so excited to watch this 💕
Very insightful video .. my own issue was that I obtained the workshop score cd early on and listened to it intently ( I still do .. All Good Things Must End is fantastic ) .. I loved it and the actors that sang on it .. then a lot of my favourite songs ( which helped tell and move the story forward ) were cut or changed .. the voices I was used to changed completely and I did try to listen to the new soundtrack but it had lost some of its heart for me.
I had a bootleg CD of the workshop cast in high school... what happened to "All Good Things Must End"?? It was the PERFECT song.
This is interesting, because you get to see a Broadway version of The Little Mermaid which is based on the fairytale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen. Musicals made by Disney rock big time. I saw Beauty & the Beast and The Lion King with my grandparents when I was much younger at a theater somewhere in the Bay Area. 🧜🏼♀
The Little Mermaid currently plays aboard the Disney Wish twice a week.
I have a few ideas for future episodes:
TV: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show, Sing Me a Story with Belle (most episodes are lost media), the Disney Channel Game Shows of the 90's (Off the Wall and Mad Libs), and the Wild Life Shows (Going Wild with Jeff Corwin and Omba Mokomba)
Movies: Geppetto (2000 made for TV Movie Musical), Tower of Terror (1997), and Freaky Friday (1995 made for TV Remake)
Musicals: Mary Poppins (Stage Adaptation) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Radio City Musical Hall Production, 1980)
FANTASTIC suggestions! Thank you!
this one best i own cd
I love the CD too!
ARBENDER ROBINSON 😭🤩🥰