"The Little Mermaid" with the SMSO

The Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra (SMSO) invites you under the sea for an underwater musical adventure! In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney's The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. With music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and a compelling book by Doug Wright, this fishy fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs including "Under the Sea," "Kiss the Girl," and "Part of Your World. Perfect for the whole family! Be a part of the under the sea experience by dressing the part. All little mermaids, princes, princesses and any other underwater characters are encouraged to wear costumes. Join the SMSO on Saturday, June 25, 2016, 7:30pm at Shadowland Pavilion on Silver Beach in St. Joseph, MI.

"I can well remember when my son was little and used to so enjoy this Disney story and Alan Menken's lovely music. For me, and I suspect for many in the audience, this production will be a sweetly nostalgic trip down memory lane." - SMSO Music Director, Robin Fountain.

Tickets

Beach Series (In Advance)

*Beach concert tickets are $5 higher the day of*

Lawn Seating: $15 Adults / $5 Children (12 & under)

Bring a chair or blanket for the ultimate outdoor concert experience!

Reserved Seating Area: $25 for all ages

We provide chairs in a reserved section; the hassle-free and worry-free way to go!

Reserved Table: Available in advance for $300

Includes ten tickets and 2 VIP parking passes.

Beach Pass: $50

Mix & Match! 4 lawn tickets to all orchestra beach concerts.

No coolers, food or drink carry-ins. No alcohol allowed.

Beer, wine, water, pop and food will be sold. Food and beverage at beach concerts provided by Classic Catering & Events.  Includes assorted grilled items, sandwiches, chips, popcorn, candy, soft drinks, and water.

Wine and beer provided by Bud Distributing.

If you don't have a reserved table, please bring a blanket or lawn chair!

Please visit www.smso.org for park rules at each concert.

Musical Petting Zoo

Want to see what an orchestra instrument looks like close up? This is your opportunity! The Curious Kids Museum will be providing a variety of musical instruments for concert goers to handle and touch. The musical petting zoo will be available starting at 6:15pm. They will be located along the sidewalk leading to the stage and viewing area. Make sure to listen and watch during the performance to see if you can point out the instruments you have seen!

Face Painting

Be a part of the underwater experience! Little mermaids and princesses are encouraged to wear a costume! Two professional face painters, Jenni Bush and Gina Newsum, will be painting faces beginning at 6:15 when the gates open. They will be located along the sidewalk leading to the stage and viewing area. Be a part of the under the sea story by dressing the part. All little mermaids, princes, princesses, and any other underwater characters are encouraged to wear costumes. Everyone is welcome to have their face painted for free!  

Musical Numbers

Act I

Overture

The World Above……………………………………………..…………………………….Ariel

Fathoms Below………………………….……………….…Pilot, Sailors, Prince Eric, Grimsby

Daughters of Triton……………………….…………………………………………..Mersisters

If Only (Triton’s Lament)………………………………….………………………...King Triton

Daddy’s Little Angel………………………………..…………………..Ursula, Flotsam, Jetsam

Part of Your World…………………………………..…………………….……………….Ariel

The Storm…………………………………………………..Pilot, Sailors, Prince Eric, Grimsby

Part of Your World (reprise)…………….…………………………………………………Ariel

She’s In Love………………………….……...........................Mersisters, Mercousins, Flounder

Her Voice………………………………………………………………………….…Prince Eric

Under The Sea…………………………………..……………………..Sebastian, Sea Creatures

If Only (Ariel’s Lament)……………………………………………………………………Ariel

Sweet Child……………………………………………………………………  Flotsam, Jetsam

Poor Unfortunate Souls…………………………………………………………………..Ursula

Act One Finale……………………………………………………………………..Ursula, Ariel

15 minute intermission

Act II

Entr’acte

Positoovity……………………………………........................................................Scuttle, Gulls

Beyond My Wildest Dreams………………….………………………….Ariel, Maids, Grimsby

Les Poissons.…………………………………………………………………………Chef Louis

One Step Closer………………..………………………...................................Prince Eric, Ariel

Daddy’s Little Angel (reprise) ……………...…………….…………....Ursula, Flotsam, Jetsam

Kiss The Girl……………...…………….…………..............................Sebastian, Pond Animals

If Only (Quartet)……………...…………….…………..................Ariel, Eric, Sebastian, Triton

The Contest……………...…………….………….......................................Grimsby, Princesses

Poor Unfortunate Souls (reprise) ……………...…………….…………..........................Ursula

Finale Ultimo…...…………….…………...................................Triton, Ariel, Eric & Ensemble

Bios

Paul Mow (Stage Director)

This is the 7th summer in a row that Mow will have directed/produced the SMSO summer musical offering. Past summers included: Carousel, The Secret Garden, The Music Man, Shrek: The Musical, Sondheim on Silver, and Oklahoma!

Paul Mow (Stage Director/Producer) was on the roster of the New York City Opera for five years, performing both leading & secondary roles in a multitude of productions. Mr. Mow has also enjoyed several engagements at Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City.  Mr. Mow has performed dozens of other leading tenor roles in the operatic repertoire. In addition to NYCO, he has performed domestically with dozens of opera companies as well as internationally with the Folks theater Rostock in Germany. Mr. Mow has won numerous competitions and awards, most notably the George London Award for the Kirstin Flagstad Memorial Prize and the Eastern Regional of the Metropolitan Opera Competition in New York City.  In the spring of 2013, he was appointed Director of Theatre at Southwestern Michigan College, where he also taught Applied Voice. Acting, & Improv. At SMC, he directed Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest”, Webber’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, Jason Robert Brown’s “Parade”, Thornton Wilder’s “The Matchmaker”, Sondheim’s “Into The Woods”, as well as Disney's "The Little Mermaid". In addition, he founded the Down State Left Musical program here at SMC in 2013 with their inaugural offering of “The Phantom of the Opera" as well as "Oklahoma!" in 2015. Paul also serves as Vice-President of the board at Twin City Players, where he most recently directed a fantastic cast in a production of the Pulitzer Prize winning musical "Next to Normal". This fall Paul will direct "Peter & The Starcatcher" at Twin City Players.

Madeline Schrock (Ariel)

Madeline Schrock, 17, will be a senior at SJHS in the fall.  She has been studying voice for 10 years with Lorie Kraus and Nicholas Loren.  Stage credits include the leading roles of Ariel in Southwestern Michigan College's production of The Little Mermaid; Ghost of Christmas Past, A Christmas Carol, First United Methodist Church; Marie/Fairy Godmother, SJHS production of Cinderella; Laurey, in Downstate Left's production of Oklahoma!; Cinderella in Southwestern Michigan College's production of Into the Woods; Millie Dillmount, SJHS production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Madeline has been a member of the SJHS Choir since 2010 is an honor student and was recently selected to participate in Classical Singer competition in Boston, MA.  She is thrilled to again reprise her role as Ariel in this production with the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra and work with Jonathan Beyer, Brandon Cedel, Paul Mow and Liz Coulston.  Madeline wishes to thank Paul Mow and SMSO for this amazing opportunity.  

Lauren Kunkel (Ursula)

Soon to be a senior at St. Joseph High School, Lauren Kunkel has been performing in musicals since 2013, when she took part in the ensemble of Shrek the Musical and fell in love with the stage. Since then, she’s played Little Red Riding Hood in SMC’s production of Into the Woods and Natalie in Twin City Player’s Next to Normal. She also plays piano and sings in shows at her school and the Box Factory. Currently, she studies voice with Paul Mow and takes voice, guitar, and piano lessons with Mike Koch.

Cameron Hampton (Sebastian the Crab)

Cameron Hampton of Saint Joseph, Michigan, is a student at Lakeshore High School. Cameron has appeared in several productions such as Shrek the Musical starring as “Donkey”, and The Little Mermaid with CMW and Southwestern Michigan College both times as Sebastian the Crab. Cameron has also starred in the award-winning musical Parade, under direction of Paul Mow, and was featured on WNIT's “Rising Star Competition”. In addition, Cameron serves as the Assistant Minister of Music at his local church Victorious Life Christian Center in Benton Harbor, and is a proud member of the Church Of God In Christ Worldwide, under the leadership of Bishop Charles E. Blake. Cameron is also a Recording Artists, having recorded his first song with the label Trachead Productions. Cameron has been studying voice with Paul mow for over 6 years. His goal in life is to become a Professional vocal teacher, and become a Broadway performer. Cameron’s motto in life is ,“To keep God first and you will never fail’’.

Jonathan Beyer (Prince Eric)

http://jonathanbeyer.com

Beyer has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Munich Philharmonic, Dallas Opera, Netherlands Radio

Jonathan Beyer (Prince Eric): http://piperanselmi.com/portfolio/jonathan-beyer/

Jonathan Beyer has quickly established himself as a versatile performer in repertoire ranging from Count Almaviva in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro to the title role in John Adam’s Nixon in China. In 2015-16 he performed Rossini’s Figaro with Pittsburgh Opera, Marcello in a La Boheme with Boston Lyric Opera, Danilo in The Merry Widow with Lyric Opera of Chicago (cover), Dr. Falke in Die Flederemaus with Florentine Opera, and Malatesta in Don Pasquale in Naples Pior to that he performed the role of Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Company of Philadelphia and Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and debuted the Florida Grand Opera as Guglielmo in Cosi Fan Tutte, Marcello with the Dallas Opera, Ping in Turandot with the Cincinnati Opera, and Carmina Burana with the New Jersey Symphony. In 2016-17 he performs Marcello in La Boheme in Frankfurt, and performs in concert in Michigan and North Carolina. He is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.

Brandon Cedel (King Triton)

Brandon Cedel: http://imgartists.com/artist/brandon_cedel

Bass-baritone Brandon Cedel from Charleston, South Carolina, is in his third year of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. In the 2015-2016 season, Mr. Cedel makes his company debut with Boston Lyric Opera as Colline in a new production of Puccini’s La bohème, followed by his company and role debuts with the Grand Théâtre de Genève as Theseus in a new production of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and as Panthée in a concert performance of Berlioz’s Les Troyens under the baton of Charles Dutoit. He will make his company debut with Pittsburgh Opera as Don Basilio in Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, and he also returns to the Metropolitan Opera as the Sergeant in Richard Eyre’s new production of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut, conducted by Fabio Luisi, which will be broadcast on the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning Live in HD series to movie theaters around the world. Mr. Cedel will have his Bayerische Staatsoper company debut as Masetto in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Orchestral appearances in Mr. Cedel’s season feature concert performances of Strauss’Salome with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Leonard Slatkin. He will conclude this season with his company and role debut as Figaro in Mozart’s Le nozze de Figaro with the Castleton Festival. He has been heard in recital and concert with Chicago’s Music in the Loft, the William Walton Estate in Ischia, the Castleton Festival, Tri Counties Association, Longwood Gardens, the Richard Tucker Music Foundation, the Cleveland Men’s Chorus, the Haverford Singers, and the Over the Rainbow Foundation. Mr. Cedel received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music. He was also a student at the Music Academy of the West, the Chautauqua Institution, and the Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division.

The Water’s Edge Summer Music Series is underwritten by The Schalon Foundation.  The Symphony is able to perform these concerts only with support of our community.  While that support takes many forms, we are particularly grateful to The Hanson Family Foundation, Southwestern Michigan College, and 98.3 The Coast.

DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com

The Shadowland Pavilion is located at Silver Beach County Park, St. Joseph, MI 49085.

For more information, contact the Symphony office at 269-982-4030 or visitwww.smso.org

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