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Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ on tap to make a splash at Uniontown’s State Theatre

By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger 3 min read
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Prince Eric (Dylan Pal), Scuttle (Breanna Deutsch) and Ariel (Paulina Neuschwander) rehearse for this weekend’s performance of “The Little Mermaid” at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown.

Every little child who’s been enraptured by Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” film is likely to be entranced by the play that will bring the animated characters to life beginning on July 12 and running through July 14 at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown.

The beloved classic, presented by the Main Street Theatre Company, will transport families to another dimension under the sea with its realistic set designs, skilled performers and colorful costumes crafted by Angie Miller. John Wagner-Malia, artistic director for the Main Street Theatre Company, said that his team rose to the challenge of creating the under-the-sea feeling with large groups of people.

“What we had to keep in mind was how the creatures would be moving in the water,” he said.

Wagner-Malia said that this year’s family-friendly event promises to be fun for guests of all ages and that the main character, Paulina Neuschwander, who plays Ariel, will wow audiences with her charisma and a beautiful voice to back it up.

“Ariel’s a bit of a troublemaker under the sea and is longing to be somewhere else, so we had to choose wisely to cast the correct person for the part,” Wagner-Malia said.

Neuschwander said that she’s thankful for the opportunity, calling it her “dream role.”

“The movie and the music have been special to my mom and me since I was very young when we listened to ‘Part of Your World’ on repeat in the car,” she said, adding that seeing the story go from a movie to the stage made it even more captivating.

Neuschwander credits Sierra Boggess, who played the role of Ariel on Broadway, for bringing the animation to life.

“She did it in such a magical and perfect way, which has filled me with so much joy,” said Neuschwander.

Matt Mlynarski, director, said that the live orchestra, led by musical director Michael Rozell, just adds to the professionalism of the performance. This is Mlynarski’s first time directing for the State Theatre, and he said that he is happy for the opportunity to see the play from both a performers and director’s standpoint.

“I’ve worked before in ‘Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ as an actor and became interested in directing because of acting,” he said.

Mlynarski said that the technical aspects of the play are especially impressive.

“They’ve gone all out on the technical end of things, spending money on all the high-end stuff to make it really spectacular,” he said, adding that the cast is also “phenomenal.”

Mlynarski said that he loves a show led by a female, but that the message is also important. “It’s, in my opinion, a story of perseverance and pursuing what you really want,” he said.

Neuschwander said that audiences can expect to see an enchanting production.

“Cast members have put their hearts into bringing their characters to life so wonderfully. I think it’s the passion and love for the story that the cast and creative team share that is going to make the show so magical,” she said, adding that there are added songs in the stage version that aren’t in the movie. “A couple of those are some of my top favorite musical theater songs in general, so I believe this is definitely a show that is not to be missed,” she said.

For times, tickets and more, visit the State Theater website at https://statetheatreuniontown.showare.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=51.

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