Lea Michele to Play Ariel in Live 'Little Mermaid' 30th Anniversary Show
Disney animated classic "The Little Mermaid" is turning 30 later this year, and to celebrate, the film is staging a splashy concert special event in Hollywood this summer.
The Hollywood Bowl announced on Monday that it will host The Little Mermaid: An Immersive Live-to-Film Concert Experience over a span of two nights in August. The unique production will feature a screening of the original 1989 film, accompanied by an all-star cast performing its iconic songs (plus several from the Broadway show) live, backed by a full orchestra. Special projection mapping technology will be used to turn the Bowl -- rechristened the Hollywood Fish Bowl for the occasion -- into what organizers are calling "living scenery."
As if that weren't exciting enough on its own, the cast itself is killer. It stars:
- Lea Michele as Ariel
- Harvey Fierstein as Ursula
- Cheech Marin as Chef Louis
- Peter Gallagher as King Triton
- Leo Gallo (Netflix musical reality series "Westside") as Prince Eric
- Ken Page ("The Nightmare Before Christmas") as Sebastian
And the film's Oscar-winning composer, Alan Menken, will also appear. He's being billed as a "special guest," so audiences will have to wait and see what role he plays in the performance.
If this event is even half as epic as past Bowl-Disney collaborations (including last year's equally star-studded "Beauty and the Beast" concert), attendees are in for a real treat. The Little Mermaid: An Immersive Live-to-Film Concert Experience is set for August 17 and August 18. More information can be found here.