By Aaron Brand
Texarkana Gazette
ASHDOWN, Ark. -Ashdown High School drama students ride the wave of a mermaid tale with young Ariel's rebellious quest for love dramatized in "The Little Mermaid."
Community performances for the musical, which is based on the beloved Disney movie of the same name, will be held at both 6 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Ginger Hillis, Ashdown High School's drama teacher, is directing her young thespians and theater crew in this production. As Hillis sees it, the lesson of the "Little Mermaid" story is to be true to yourself. They're performing the Broadway junior version of the show, which has a few changes.
"For the most part the story line is the same, but they add in a few new songs. Most all the main characters have solos or some sort of singing part, so that's a little bit different, and the kids are doing really really good with it," Hillis said. They're excited to present this to the school and to the community.
The musical explores the dramatic events when a teenage mermaid falls for a prince who, unfortunately, doesn't live in the sea. Instead, this is a human prince living on land. When Ariel saves him after he falls overboard in a tempestuous sea, she falls in love, and as is the way of these things much trouble ensues before a happily ever after can be found.
Hillis has a large cast and crew under her wing for the show. "I have about 50 students total," the director said. Some are behind the scenes, working on sets and lighting. "Almost all the kids are actually performing on stage."
It's a challenge, but having so many students participating is satisfying. "The Little Mermaid" is a bit before these students' time, but it's also a Disney classic. "Most have seen it. There was a few who hadn't," Hillis said. They reviewed the film before sailing into their own rehearsals.
"They all really took with it. What's so exciting for me is all the main characters really fit their roles so good. It's like they're perfectly made for each one, and that helps. That helps bring it to life, too, when they can really portray the character like that," Hillis said.
A musical like this requires extensive props and set work to make the underwater world come to life.
"We have a lot of scene changes, which we're working on right now, getting a smooth transition," Hillis said early this week. The back curtain has ocean scenery.
"We have a sea chorus in this play, and that's actually the Ashdown High School Choir. The sea chorus are the ones who come out and do all the set changes. They'll actually be dressed like fish and different kinds of sea life," Hillis said.
This is her first year back teaching in Ashdown after taking time off, and she enjoys working with her teenage students to create this musical on stage. Her students are able to take on new responsibilities that they couldn't do at a younger age.
"They're old enough that they're able to do plays like this and learn their lines, and they're responsible and they can get a lot done," Hillis said. "But at the same time they are still kids. It's a good age."
(Admission: $5 for adults, $3 for students. Ashdown High School is located at 171 S. Locust St. More info: 870-898-3562.)