"The Little Mermaid" Is Broadway-Bound

The denizens of the deep have been cast in Disney's Broadway-bound version of "The Little Mermaid."

Besides the already announced Sierra Boggess, who will play Ariel (the show's winsome title character), the musical will feature Sherie Rene Scott as the evil Ursula and Norm Lewis as King Triton.

Scott recently starred on Broadway in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and was in Disney's "Aida." Lewis currently is playing Inspector Javert in the Broadway revival of "Les Miserables."

Sean Palmer will portray Prince Eric, the mermaid's love interest. Also in the cast are Tituss Burgess as Sebastian, Eddie Korbich as Scuttle, Jonathan Freeman as Grimsby, Tyler Maynard as Flotsam and Derrick Baskin as Jetsam. Cody Hanford and J.J. Singleton will alternate in the role of Flounder.

Based on the hit Disney animated feature and Hans Christian Andersen tale about a young mermaid who yearns to live on land, "The Little Mermaid" will open Dec. 6 in New York at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Preview performances begin Nov. 3.

The musical, directed by Francesca Zambello, will try out at Denver's Ellie Caulkins Opera House July 26-Sept. 9. An opening is set for Aug. 23.

"The Little Mermaid" has a book by Doug Wright, author of the Tony Award-winning "I Am My Own Wife." The score will feature songs from the movie by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, who died in 1991, as well as new material by Menken and lyricist Glen Slater.