Kierra Jarratt, hoping she would get a supporting part in The Little Mermaid, never considered the possibility she could play the lead role of Ariel.
So the 16-year-old was shocked when she was offered the part.
"I am so over the moon. I was not expecting this," she said. "I guess they saw something in me that I didn't see, which is so awesome that they can do that. And it's nice to have people with expertise that know you better than you know yourself."
The Little Mermaid is the 38th annual summer youth theatre program at The Capitol Theatre, where young actors, dancers, singers and technicians are given the opportunity to work with professional directors, choreographers, music directors, stage managers and lighting professionals.
One of those professionals this year is director Jesse Greenaway. He understands the young cast members of the summer productions because for several years, more than 20 years ago, he was one of them.
"This is instant nostalgia," he said. "I watch what the kids are going through, and it triggers memories from from those days. Every day, multiple times, I'm remembering Joseph (and the Technicolor Dream Coat), Oliver, Grease – those ones from a long, long time ago now."
Greenaway, who recently began teaching high school drama in New Westminster, has returned to Nelson as assistant director for several recent productions, and is now in the director role for the first time.
The Little Mermaid is based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson and was made into popular Disney movies in 1989 and again in 2023. This musical theatre version was first produced in 2007.
It's the story of the mermaid Ariel, King Triton's youngest daughter, who rescues a human prince from drowning. She falls for him and longs to visit him in the human world, against her father's wishes. Mermaids are forbidden to to interact with humans, but Ariel makes a deal with the sea witch Ursula, and an adventure ensues.
The production, which has 35 cast members and 11 youthful technical trainees, creates an underwater world through imaginative lighting and undersea creatures represented by puppets.
"We have an extravaganza of costumes, puppets, and set pieces," said Greenaway. "Visually, we've put a lot of work into it, and I'm really proud of where it's going.
"It's a story about parents and children and their relationships. I think it's a really valuable story about growing and about empathy for your parents and empathy for your children."
Jarratt says she can relate to Ariel because they are both ambitious teenagers. Jarratt's ambition is to have a theatre career.
"Actually, I had my eye on theatre before I ever had done a theatre production," she said. "I've always been super into singing and I've danced my entire life. And I thought, theatre is just a mix of everything that I love."
Jarratt says the play will be enjoyed by children because "it's very colourful and bright. And for me it's super fun because I know that there's going to be some little kids in the audience that are super excited to see all the colours and even the bright hair and the super, super intricate costumes that the wonderful costume team has put together."
She said she also wants kids to see young, passionate actors on the stage as role models for their futures.
Jarratt thinks adult audiences will enjoy the show for the same reasons. She also hopes the actors, singers, and dancers will counteract certain stereotypes about teenagers by showing a stage full of passionate, focused, talented young people.
"There are many things in the community that bring together youth like this, like sports, but theatre is a really great place to see it on stage where youth are really putting their effort into something, especially like an intensive [experience] in the summer that requires a lot of dedication."
In addition to Greenaway, the production team includes musical director Malaika Horswill, choreographer Jodie Edmunds, and stage designer Adriana Bogaard, along with many youthful helpers. Bogaard and Horswill are both veterans of the program, with youthful Horswill having appeared onstage in eight productions, and in nine more as an adult in backstage and directorial roles.
The Little Mermaid runs at 7 p.m. on July 25, 26, and 27, and at 2 p.m. on July 27 and 28. Tickets are $22.60 for adults and $17.50 for students, available at capitoltheatre.ca or at the box office.
