When I was six I was sure I was going to grow up to be a mermaid and not just any mermaid, Ariel herself. Unfortunately, I still have legs and I look better as a blonde. Fortunately, I also followed a career path that allows me to bring my childhood dreams to life. And what a career it has been so far.
Directing The Little Mermaid has been a dream come true. With an exceptional score, energetic choreography, and a comedic but heartfelt script, there is so much to love. Even more, we've been able to bring mermaids, sea witches, and colorful sea creatures to life! The Little Mermaid is a show that allows the creative team to be imaginative - even if the underlying message isn't as imaginative as it seems. Sure, none of us have fins and a sea witch hasn't ensnared us with the help of her eel minions, but we've all been stubborn teenagers who didn't want to listen to our parents; we've all been desperate to experience something new, or to prove people wrong. As much as I wanted to grow up to be a mermaid at age six, I didn't realize that I'd have so much in common with Ariel as I grew up. If you asked my dad he'd probably tell you I gave him just as many headaches as Ariel gave her father, King Triton. This story may be a fairy tale, but there is nothing farfetch'd about a headstrong teenager learning from her mistakes.
Speaking of headstrong teenagers, I couldn't be more proud of the performers on this stage. Each and every perfomer has poured so much of themselves into this show and they all deserve to be praised for their hard work and dedication. Bravo, students.
Finally, this year is special to me. The seniors in the cast before you have never experienced a year of high school where theatre wasn't available to them. My first year in Dundee was a whirlwind as I resurrected a theatre program that had died more than fifteen years prior, with many of these seniors having been included in our debut show, Disney's High School Musical. In the past four years, I have had a front row seat in the lives of these performers. I've watched them as they navigate successes, struggle through moments of growth, and even as they have failed. Theatre has been a saving grace for many of them - sometimes it was the only reason they came to school that day. Much like Ariel, they were headstrong and had to learn from their mistakes. For these seniors, what you see today is the final chapter in their high school theatre experience. It is my hope, that just like Ariel, they have grown into better versions of themselves through the lessons theatre has taught them.
Please enjoy our production as we head "Under the Sea..."
Musically,
Mrs. Megan Sinclair
