The Little Mermaid

The MAC Players at the Middletown Arts Centerpresent Music by ALAN MENKENLyrics by HOWARD ASHMAN & GLENN SLATERBook by DOUG WRIGHT Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film produced by Howard Ashman & John Musker and written & directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. Originally Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions Conceived by REBECCA FELDMAN Director BAILEY DUMLAOMusical Director LAURYN BOYLEChoreographer NJELAMA DACAS JOHNSON 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.” ARIEL – Felicia RussellERIC – Arron LittleSEBASTIAN – Javier CossFLOUNDER – Megan RaffertySCUTTLE – Lizzy StefanicURSULA – Evan CerqueiraFLOTSAM – Emily EliasJETSAM – Eva DemskyKING TRITON – Randy HurstCHEF LOUIS – Brittany AhrGRIMSBY/ENSEMBLE – Samantha UstPILOT/ENSEMBLE – Sean KearnsMERSISTER – Ella ManganoMERSISTER – Juliette SkvareninaMERSISTER – Caitlyn KaiserMERSISTER – Haley Bella SedaMERSISTER – Evelynn KnoxMERSISTER – Gloria Licona KleinENSEMBLE/WINDWARD – James FreedleyENSEMBLE/LEEWARD – Gabrielle Kendrick FELICIA RUSSELL (Ariel) has been practicing to be Ariel since the age of 3, so she’s incredibly excited to be playing her favorite little mermaid. She loves working both on and offstage—acting, working in the lighting booth, costumes, stage management, and even playwriting. Two of her original works, And at the Hour and Mary, Mary, have been performed as staged readings, with the former winning Brookdale College’s Global Citizenship Award. Other favorite past roles include Anya in Anastasia, Maria in The Sound of Music, Amalia in She Loves Me, and Molly in Peter and the Starcatcher. Endless thanks to Bailey, Kathy, and the entire cast and crew. She’s so grateful to call the MAC her home, and, of course, to her loved ones—thank you for your love and support. This experience has been “beyond my wildest dreams.” ARRON LITTLE (Prince Eric) is very excited to be appearing in his second production with The MAC Players! He was previously seen this past winter in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as Leaf Coneybear. Additional theater credits include Rent (Collins) , Something Rotten! (Nigel Bottom) , A Chorus Line (Paul) , and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Schroeder) . He would like to thank this phenomenal cast, director, and production staff for all of their hard work, as well as his family and friends for their continued support. Enjoy the show! JAVIER COSS (Sebastian) is thrilled to be playing Sebastian in this magical production! This is his first time taking on a featured supporting role. Previous credits include Ensemble in Sweeney Todd, Carlos/Kiki in Legally Blonde, Pat(rick) /Ensemble in Kinky Boots, Jeter in Footloose, Judah in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Shark Ensemble in West Side Story. He loves the magic of storytelling through performance and feels grateful to share this experience with such a talented cast and crew. A huge thank-you to his friends and family for their constant love and support! MEGAN RAFFERTY (Flounder) is thrilled to be making a splash as Flounder in The Little Mermaid! This marks her fifth production with The MAC Players, and she couldn’t be more excited to dive under the sea with this incredible cast. Previous The MAC Players credits include SpongeBob the Musical (Mrs. Puff/Dance Captain) , Legally Blonde (Serena) , Hairspray (Ensemble/Dance Captain) , and Urinetown (Robby the Stockfish/Dance Captain) . When she’s not swimming alongside Ariel and Sebastian, Megan works as a high school Acting and English teacher and serves on the production staff for Central Regional High School’s Theater Company, where she most recently choreographed and stage managed Chicago: The Musical. A huge thank-you to her friends, family, fellow cast members, and the production staff for their support and encouragement. She is so grateful to be part of this wonderful world and to share it with all of you. Thank you for helping this little fish believe that anything is possible—as long as you just keep swimming… even if that’s technically the wrong movie. LIZZY STEFANIC (Scuttle) is thrilled to be back with The MAC Players for her third production, following Jesus Christ Superstar (King Herod) and Legally Blonde (Paulette) . Lizzy’s favorite hobby is talking and thinking about what to say next. This is not Lizzy’s first time in a production of The Little Mermaid. She played Carlotta in her senior year musical—a role that no longer exists in the stage version (criminal) . Lizzy would like to thank the production team, her family, friends, moms, dads, Sean, and, of course, Cher for their love and support. EVAN CERQUEIRA (Ursula) is making her MAC debut in a bucket-list role and couldn’t be more thrilled! Previous performance credits include Avenue Q (Lucy) , The Vagina Monologues, Dogfight (Mama) , The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Jeannie) , Children of Eden (Mama Noah) , Baby (Arlene) , It Shoulda Been You (Jenny) , Beauty and the Beast (Mrs. Potts) , Little Shop of Horrors (voice of Audrey II) , Head Over Heels (Pamela) , Seussical (General Genghis Khan Schmitz) , and Angels in America (The Angel) . Evan is also a director and music director, having worked on productions of Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, and Maury Yeston’s Titanic, which was nominated for several Perry Awards. This November, she will direct the new play December Roses at StageWorks 237. Follow Evan at evanmakesmusic.com. She would like to thank Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Divine, Pat Carroll, Glen Keane, Rob Minkoff, and Ruben A. Aquino for bringing Ursula to life in all her glory. Beijinhos to Armie and Chaplin. EMILY ELIAS (Flotsam) is thrilled to be appearing in her second production with The MAC Players. This is her third time performing in The Little Mermaid, so she’s excited to cross a few more songs off her bingo board! A 2024 graduate of The College of New Jersey, Emily works as a middle school math teacher during the school year and a theater camp counselor in the summer. She also coaches middle school field hockey and serves as assistant director for her school district’s spring musical. Some of Emily’s favorite credits include Hairspray (MAC, Brenda) , Into the Woods (TCNJ, Jack’s Mother) , Puffs (TCNJ, Susie Bones/Others) , and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (JMHS, Florika) . Emily would like to thank her family and friends for their unwavering support. She is also grateful to everyone at the MAC for helping bring this story to life. Break legs to the cast and crew of The Little Mermaid! EVA DEMSKY (Jetsam) is excited to be making her first appearance with The MAC Players in The Little Mermaid! Some of her favorite previous roles include Cinderella in Into the Woods, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Alice in The Addams Family, and Margot in Legally Blonde. Eva would like to thank the creative team for believing in her, as well as her friends and family for their constant love and support. She is grateful to be part of this production and hopes you enjoy the show! RANDY HURST (King Triton) has spent more than a decade serving as a musical director and, in recent years, has enjoyed stepping into the spotlight as a performer. His recent roles include Callahan in Legally Blonde (Spotlight Players) and Baldy in A Man of No Importance (Stone Church Players) . Randy is thrilled to be making his debut with The MAC Players and is grateful to the entire production team for giving him the opportunity to be part of one of his favorite musicals. He hopes you enjoy the show! BRITTANY AHR (Chef Louis) is absolutely thrilled to be a part of her fifth production with The MAC Players. Past credits include Once Upon a One More Time (Cinderella) , A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Sibella) , The Prom (Mrs. Greene) , The Wedding Singer (Linda) , and The Addams Family (Grandma) . When she’s not onstage, Brittany enjoys directing at Main Street and traveling whenever she can. A big thank-you to Bailey and the entire production team for this fin-tastic show. This performance is dedicated to her siblings, who were her very first audience and the people she always tried to make laugh, and especially to Ashley, who gives the performance of a lifetime whenever “Les Poissons” comes on. Brittany hopes she does Chef Louis justice! SAMANTHA UST (Grimsby/Ensemble) is thrilled to be part of The MAC Players’ production of The Little Mermaid, having been a lifelong fan of the beloved story. Sam has performed locally in the Middletown area in a variety of recitals and productions throughout their life. In New York City, they have performed at 54 Below Goes Horror at 54 Below. Sam has also been a member of the Brookdale Concordia Chorale for more than ten years. Through the chorale, they have performed multiple times at Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall and have toured internationally, including performances in Canada, Ireland, China, Portugal, and a residency at England’s Exeter Cathedral. Sam is grateful for the opportunity to be part of this magical production and hopes you enjoy the show! ELLA MANGANO (Mersister) is honored to be part of The Little Mermaid, marking her first performance with The MAC Players. Her recent credits include a professional performance as Louise in Sunday in the Park with George. Ella has also appeared as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Matilda in Matilda, Annie in Annie, Kathy Cratchit in Scrooge, Electric Skate in The SpongeBob Musical, Bird Girl in Seussical, and Taylor in Mean Girls. Ella is the recipient of the Count Basie Award for “The Future of Theater” for her performance as Annie. She would like to thank the entire cast and crew for making this experience so enjoyable. Most of all, she extends her deepest gratitude to her family for their unwavering support and for inspiring her passion for musical theater. JULIETTE SKVARENINA (Mersister) is thrilled to be making her community theater debut with The MAC Players in The Little Mermaid! Favorite credits include Gretchen in Mean Girls, Pinocchio in Shrek, Mrs. Brill in Mary Poppins, and Electric Skate in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical. Juliette sends so much love to her friends and family, as well as the amazing production team and cast of The Little Mermaid. Special thanks to her parents and sister for their endless support. See you under the sea! @julietteskvarenina CAITLYN KAISER (Mersister) is thrilled to be part of this production of The Little Mermaid. A lifelong lover of theater, Caitlyn enjoys performing, singing, and bringing characters to life on stage. This is her second production with The MAC Players, where she previously appeared as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. Caitlyn would like to thank the cast, crew, and directors for their hard work and dedication, and she hopes you enjoy the show! HALEY BELLA SEDA (Mersister) is excited to be returning to the stage in The Little Mermaid at the Middletown Arts Center. A graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, she trained at New Studio on Broadway and the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. TV/Film credits include NBC’s Chicago P. D., Breath of the Mountain, and Juniper’s Playbook (proof of concept) . Recent stage credits include Somalia the Musical at The Tank (NYC) , Charcoal on Paper at 59E59 (LAByrinth Theatre Company) , You on the Moors Now (Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute) , and Macbeth (New Studio on Broadway) . Her original television pilot, Juniper’s Playbook, is currently on its festival run and has been recognized by the New York International Film Awards, Big Apple Film Festival, Chicago Script Awards, and New York Script Awards. Haley is immensely grateful to reconnect with her musical theater roots and to be part of a community that keeps live, accessible theater thriving. EVELYNN KNOX (Mersister) is thrilled to be part of this wonderful cast and crew. Theater credits include Rebecca/understudy Emily in Our Town (Asbury Park Theater Company) ; Celia in As You Like It and Gonzala in The Tempest with A Little Shakespeare at Two River Theater; Emily in Our Town (Count Basie Award recipient) ; Miss Lynch in Grease (Pegasus Productions) ; Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and Cinderella in Cinderella (Red Bank Theater for Young Audiences) ; and Ms. Winx in Between the Lines (Count Basie Center for the Arts) . Evelynn has participated in master classes with casting director Tara Rubin, Kerry Butler, Lane Napper (Axelrod Performing Arts Center) , Daniel Reichard (Theater for Young Audiences) , and Elliot Roth (Two River Theater, 2024–25) . She had the privilege of studying with voice teacher Celeste Simon and currently studies voice with Cynthia Balme. In addition to theater, Evelynn is the 2025 New Jersey State Champion of the Poetry Ourselves Competition, the 2026 New Jersey Poetry Out Loud State Runner-Up, and the 2025–26 New Jersey Poetry Out Loud Regional Champion. She was also honored to participate in the New Jersey Theatre Alliance’s Curtain Call 2026. GLORIA LICONA KLEIN (Mersister) is thrilled to be back at the Middletown Arts Center for her third production with The MAC Players, this time portraying Andrina in The Little Mermaid! Previous credits include Peggy in Godspell (Brookdale Performing Arts Center) , Little Sally in Urinetown (MAC Players) , and Marcy Park in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (MAC Players) . Gloria is delighted to help bring this magical story to life and hopes it inspires a sense of wonder in everyone in the audience. Enjoy the show! JAMES “JIMMY” FREEDLEY (Ensemble/Windward) has been performing in musicals and plays since sixth grade and is excited to be part of The Little Mermaid. Some of his favorite past roles include Chip in Beauty and the Beast and Eugene/Teen Angel in Grease, among others. Jimmy has performed in school productions, local theater, and showcases with his vocal coach, Jody Joseph. He is grateful for every opportunity to share his love of performing and hopes you enjoy the show! GABRIELLE KENDRICK (Ensemble/Leeward) is excited to be making her debut with the Middletown Arts Center as Leeward/Ensemble in The Little Mermaid! Other theater credits include Rapunzel in Once Upon a One More Time, Ensemble in The SpongeBob Musical, Courtney/Ensemble in Legally Blonde, Homeless Man/Ensemble in The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals, and Jungle Animal/Who Person in Seussical. Gabrielle would like to take this opportunity to thank her family and everyone who has supported her throughout her theater journey. She hopes you enjoy the show! SEAN KEARNS (Pilot/Ensemble) is awash with excitement to help tell this tale of the bottomless blue! Sean was previously seen with The MAC Players in Legally Blonde (Nikos/Lowell) . Other recent credits include Mary Poppins(Phoenix Productions) and School of Rock (Playhouse 22) . When not acting, Sean sings with New York’s Riverside Choral Society, performing in historic venues such as the Church of St. Mary the Virgin and Carnegie Hall. Much love and gratitude to Lizzy, Mom, Dad, Brittany, and the entire MAC family for their incredible support. Enjoy the show! BAILEY DUMLAO (Director/Lighting Designer) is an imaginative theatermaker who is excited to return to the MAC! Directing credits include Our Town (Asbury Park Theater Company) , Sensation (Act Out, Diva! Fest) , Lewiston/Clarkston, Significant Other, Sanctuary City, and the world premiere of Lindsay Partain’s The Way You Made Me (UAB) . Associate and Assistant Directing credits include Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Asolo Rep) ; the world premieres of Tony Meneses’ A Thousand Maids, Hansol Jung’s Romeo and Juliet, Kate Hamill’s The Scarlet Letter, and Mando Alvarado’s Living & Breathing; as well as acclaimed productions of Two Sisters and a Piano, Hair, August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean, and A Little Shakespeare: The Tempest and As You Like It (Two River Theater) . Bailey also serves as Artistic Co-Director of the Act Out, Diva! New Play Festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey. They are a proud graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) .baileydumlao.com | @bkdumlao TRISH VIGNOLA-TYLER (Assistant Director) is thrilled to serve as Assistant Director for The Little Mermaid. She holds a B. A. in Theatre from Fordham University and an M. A. in Comedic Writing from Falmouth University, with additional training at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club and The Second City. Touring credits include Don Quixote and Four Score… (TYA) . She served as Assistant Stage Manager for Hurrah at Lastand as a Production Assistant on Side Man and The Mineola Twins with the Roundabout Theatre Company. Additional credits include the Chicago SketchFest, Philly Fringe, the Del Close Marathon, and the TBS Just for Laughs Festival. Trish also served as Assistant Director for The Second City National Touring Company (BlueCo) and interned during The Second City’s 50th Anniversary Season. As an arts educator, Trish teaches improv, sketch writing, and stand-up comedy. She lovingly dedicates this work to her son, Henry. NJELAMA DACAS JOHNSON (Choreographer) originally hails from Brooklyn, New York, and now resides in New Jersey. She earned her Ed. M. in K–12 Dance Education and her B. F. A. in Dance Performance from Rutgers University. During her studies, she had the privilege of performing works by Keith Thompson, David Parker (The Bang Group) , Kendra Portier, Marina Collard, and Summation Dance. Njelama was recently accepted into the inaugural class of the Alvin Ailey Teacher Certification Program and was a 2019 American Ballet Theatre Project Plié scholarship recipient, completing the National Training Curriculum for levels Pre-Primary through Level 3. Her choreography credits include a 2025 Google Pixel commercial, as well as high school productions of In the Heights, Urinetown, The Wizard of Oz, Pippin, and Leap of Faith. She is also a 2025 Count Basie Award nominee for Outstanding Choreography for Pippin. Njelama is ecstatic to be choreographing her first production with The MAC Players!