Theatre at St. Luke’s bringing “Little Mermaid” to stage

A new twist on the classic Disney film “The Little Mermaid” is hitting the stage at Theatre at St. Luke’s, and Steve MacKinnon is excited to present this unique interpretation to the community.

“(In) this creative re-telling of Disney’s classic musical … Ariel finds her voice, follows her calling to discover her true identity, and works for her family's understanding and acceptance,” said MacKinnon, the senior artistic director who is codirecting the show with Ke’Lee Pernell.

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, in the Dr. Phillips area, is known for selecting shows that correlate with what’s going on in the world today, MacKinnon said.

The Rev. Dr. Jennifer Stiles Williams, lead pator, emphasized the importance of choosing productions that touch hearts and ignite meaningful conversations.

“At St. Luke’s, we believe in using the power of the arts to illuminate relevant issues in our community,” she said. “The Little Mermaid reminds us of the universal longing for acceptance, love and the courage to pursue our dreams, no matter the obstacles we face. Through this production, we hope to spark conversations about the importance of embracing diversity and fostering inclusivity.”

Auditions were held for the stage production, and because the church is located in the heart of the entertainment community, many in the cast work for local theme parks.

“We all kind of work in the arts around here,” MacKinnon said. “Everything is based around tourism and entertainment, and people around here have a heart for it. We have professionals, amateurs, kids, retirees, Disney performers (and) first-timers. It’s really exciting … the people who show up for this program.”

This is the church theater’s 12th season. He said some of the performers have performed for several summers to continue their craft.

The cast of 45 — which ranges from ages 8 to 80 — includes Mekiah Thomas as Ariel, Calistenes Fuguet as Prince Eric, Mosi Arthur as Sebastian, Jake Gatsby Reid as Flounder, Quentin Avery Brown as King Triton, Jake Aboyoun as Scuttle and Daisy McCarthy Tucker as Ursula. An ensemble and a full, 12-person orchestra made up of both professionals and amateurs complete the performances.

The creative team includes Joe Klug, scenic design; Alyx Jacobs, lighting design; Mindi French, costume design; and Anthony Narciso, sound. MacKinnon said the crew includes professional designers and volunteers who helped build and paint the set.

Tiffany Meadows-Green will lead the production as the stage manager, and Kim Ball is in charge of choreography.

“It takes a village to put on the summer show,” MacKinnon said. “It’s pretty epic all the people we’ve collaborated with to bring it together.”

In addition to the big stage show each summer, Theatre at St. Luke’s provides smaller plays and special events, pop-up shows with live entertainment or improv, youth shows and youth camps.

The team of MacKinnon and Pernell have produced close to 15 shows together. As with all their productions, “The Little Mermaid” is a labor of love. And love is at the core of the show’s message.

“It’s a message about acceptance and people living into their purpose and calling into the world,” MacKinnon said. “Discovering themselves and families learning to let go and accept their children as they are. And we were excited to tell the story through a lens that would reach all people.

“It reflects who we are as a church and who we are and what we stand for — and we’re trying to reflect that through the awesome theater program,” he said.