Northwest to debut first fall production with The Little Mermaid

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - Broadway may be officially back in New York City, but it might not hold a candle to Northwest High School’s musical of The Little Mermaid.

The musical is coming to the stage and bringing with it many different elements from previous productions, one of them including harnesses. The cast will be using them to mimic the look of flying and swimming under water. The cast had to train with professionals before getting into the real ‘swing’ of things on their own.

“We brought in the professionals and we had really intense onsite training. And then they left and now we have our crew here that works with them. We have five people who get to wear the harnesses and you get to see them floating and swimming throughout the stage. So it makes it a lot of fun,” said Director Jeff Vyhlidal.

A fall production season is new for the school as they usually hold their musicals in the spring. But Vyhlidal said the kids seem more refreshed and excited to get things started, compared to the end of the year when things are winding down.

“The kids are fresher. They haven’t gotten through the testing and the figuring out where they’re going to college. By the end of the year they are a lot of times a little tired. So I think the kids are a little more excited to get their year started this way,” he said.

Audiences will also get to enjoy a newly renovated auditorium. Crew worked over the summer adding in new seats with a center aisle, as well as new paint and lighting.

Shows run Thursday at 7 p.m. then Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets are available on the schools website here.

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