June 3, 2024 – Caleb’s Creek Elementary School hopes to make a big splash on Tuesday night when they unveil their months-in-the-making production of The Little Mermaid.
Inspired by the Disney musical of the same name, The Little Mermaid follows the mermaid princess Ariel as she tries to find love above the ocean’s surface and overcome the evil plots of the sea witch Ursula. It’s a familiar story for most students at Caleb’s Creek, and it’s one that a record number of students are excited to be a part of. Between the main cast and chorus, approximately 160 students are set to take the stage in this week’s production.
“The last show we put on had maybe a third as many kids as this,” said Caleb’s Creek PE Teacher Phillip Williams. “This is going to be the biggest show we’ve ever had.”
Rehearsals have been going on since February, and even four months is a tight schedule for the amount of work that’s gone into the production. The play features carefully crafted sets and costumes, requires numerous transitions between locations and songs, and has dozens of first-time actors and singers learning a daunting number of lines and lyrics. The process has pushed students out of their comfort zones, but Director and Music Teacher Ashlie Kiger has been impressed with the resilience they’ve shown in the pursuit of a performance they can be proud of.
“They’ve had a goal in mind this whole time that they’ve been working really hard to accomplish,” Kiger said. “It’s fulfilling for them to know that they’ve made it this far.”
There are a lot of moving pieces to coordinate in a show this large, but everything seemed to be coming together swimmingly during a dress rehearsal at Glenn High School on Monday morning. Taking the bus to the high school and getting onto a big stage in costume drove home the scope of the occasion for students who have been slowly building up anticipation for opening night. It will be a night of many firsts, and the cast and crew can’t wait to show the crowds what they’re capable of.
“They’re all so excited about it,” said Kindergarten Teacher Liane Verkest. “It’s something new to them and they’ve been looking forward to it so much.”
Theatre is a unique opportunity to immerse students in the arts, even from this early of an age. From acting to singing to dancing to costuming to running lights and sound, there’s something for everybody to explore as an avenue for both self-expression and contributing to a team. For students with a rainbow of different interests, theatre is an important investment in a well-rounded education that Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is always excited to make.
“He likes the arts,” said Kellen Parrish, a Caleb’s Creek parent who’s looking forward to seeing his son’s performance. “He likes singing and dancing, and it’s awesome that he has this opportunity to learn more about theatre.”
The curtain rises on The Little Mermaid at Glenn High School on Tuesday, June 4 at 6:30 pm.