Spotlight Community Theatre Prepares to Bring Disney Magic “Under the Sea”

Spotlight Community Theatre is preparing to bring one of Disney’s most beloved stories to the stage this summer as The Little Mermaid opens July 30 and runs through August 2.

Directed by Spotlight founder Courtney Wisely, the production marks a bright, colorful turn for the theatre after last summer’s large musical, Fiddler on the Roof. Wisely said that show was dramatic and weighty, so this year felt like the right time to lighten things up.

“I thought this was the year to lighten things up and do something more fun,” Wisely said.

For Spotlight, The Little Mermaid is also part of a bigger season full of Disney magic. The theatre has already taken audiences under the sea once this year with Finding Nemo Jr., and the experience helped the team prepare for the larger world of The Little Mermaid. Wisely said that was intentional, noting that some underwater set pieces and creative elements could be reused between productions.

Building the World Under the Sea

That kind of planning matters in community theatre, where every dollar and every volunteer hour counts. Wisely said people may not realize how expensive theatre can be, especially when it comes to licensing, sets, props, costumes, and technical effects.

Still, the challenge is part of the excitement.

The show will require Spotlight to create stage moments the theatre has not attempted before. One major scene Wisely is especially looking forward to is when King Triton destroys Ariel’s grotto.

“We have to make that happen on stage,” Wisely said. “That’s a challenge that we are excited to face this year.”

She said the production will be full of color, especially during the underwater scenes. Thanks to work already done for Finding Nemo Jr., Spotlight has a strong starting point for creating an undersea world. Wisely described the look of the show as “a fabulous, colorful, wonderful explosion on stage.”

While the audience will see the finished magic, Wisely said the real work happens because of the team behind the scenes. She credited stage managers Jenny Ditto and Zane Moore, assistant director Dana, music director Debbie, and the costume, prop, set, technical, and volunteer crews with keeping the production moving.

Wisely compared the structure of Spotlight to a company with departments, each led by people who know their area and communicate constantly. That allows her to focus on directing the actors while others are watching for details, solving problems, and making sure the production comes together safely and smoothly.

“Have amazing people surrounding you,” Wisely said. “Honestly, that’s the easy answer.”

A Community Cast

The cast has also impressed her early in the process. Wisely said every Spotlight production seems to bring new talent, even in a small-town community. Just as important, she said, is the way cast members support one another.

“They’re there because they wanted to be a part of something special,” Wisely said. “They want to be a part of a community. They wanted to make new friends and have fun.”

That sense of community is one of the things Wisely loves most about Spotlight. The cast of The Little Mermaid includes performers of all ages, which creates a unique environment where younger actors can learn from seasoned performers, teens can observe adults taking the craft seriously, and adults can be reminded of the joy of creating something together.

For young performers, Wisely hopes the experience leaves them feeling proud.

“I want them to feel like they just got to do something that most kids don’t get a chance to do, which is share the stage with incredibly talented adult performers,” she said.

For adults, she hopes the show gives them something just as important: a break from the weight of everyday life.

“I hope that the adults in this show forget about what’s happening in the world for just a minute,” Wisely said. “Just remember what the true meaning of life is, so to say, which is just to find joy in everything you do and to surround yourself with people that love you.”

Bringing Familiar Characters to Life

Audiences can expect the familiar story they love, but with Spotlight’s own personality. Wisely said she enjoys finding humor in scripts and letting actors bring their own ideas into rehearsals. She does not want to change the heart of the story, but she does look for moments where the cast’s natural chemistry can make the production even more fun.

One area where she already expects big laughs is with Ursula and the eels. Wisely said the performers playing those roles are already “hysterical together.”

Ursula herself may be one of the production’s biggest moments. Wisely said the actor playing Ursula, Colleen, first caught her attention during a “dream role mic check” long before Spotlight knew it would be doing The Little Mermaid. Colleen stepped forward and sang “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” and Wisely immediately thought that if Spotlight ever did the show, she had found her Ursula.

Now, that moment has come.

“She absolutely crushed it,” Wisely said of Colleen’s audition. “I think she’s more Ursula than the Ursula on the movie.”

Wisely said she is also excited for the costume and stage presence of the character, hoping for something big, impressive, and over the top, with long, free-flowing tentacles that move with the performer.

But beyond the costumes, sets, lights, and familiar songs, Wisely believes The Little Mermaid offers something special for Jefferson County families.

“I think that this show is one that transcends just a love of theater,” she said. “It is a magical story that everyone is familiar with and an entire generation adores.”

For many adults, it is a story they grew up watching. For children, it is a chance to see that story come alive right in front of them. Wisely said live theatre creates an experience that is completely different from watching a movie at home.

“You can’t go to this show and not leave with a smile on your face,” she said.

Ready to Bring the Magic

Wisely hopes that when the curtain opens, the audience feels enchanted. More than anything, she wants people to be transported away from the troubles of the world and into the colorful, joyful world under the sea.

She also hopes the community sees what Spotlight is really about.

Spotlight does not charge people to participate, something Wisely said is important because it keeps the theatre accessible to everyone. Whether someone wants to perform, build sets, sew costumes, work props, run lights, help backstage, or volunteer at the front of house, there is a place for them.

“No matter what your talents are, there is a place for you at Spotlight,” Wisely said. “If you don’t know how to do anything, we’ll teach you.”

That spirit is what makes The Little Mermaid more than a summer musical. It is a community project, built by people who want to create something joyful together and share it with Jefferson County.

As Wisely put it, Spotlight is ready to do what it does best: “bring the magic to the community.”

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