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Sunday, July 14, 2013

The Little Mermaid at Norvell Theater in Salisbury NC

Norvell Theater in Salisbury NC © Katrena
I think the summer of 2013 will go down in the history books as one of the wettest summers ever. Indoor activities can be a great plan on any agenda because they are not likely to be rained out!

Fun Things to do in Rowan County © Katrena
My children love to see theatrical plays, and Salisbury, a city in the Piedmont of North Carolina, offers great entertainment opportunities through their Norvell Theater. The theater is located at 135 East Fisher Street and very near the Meroney Theater found on Main Street.

The Little Mermaid Play at Norvell Theater © Katrena
Some folks in and near the Rowan County area may have never heard of the Norvell Theater. It is fairly new, opening on May 20, 2010 with 251 seats as audiences may enjoy five youth productions each season. We've had seats front and center as well as in the back corner, and all seats were great for viewing the show. My kids know all of the songs from Disney's Little Mermaid movie, so I figured this would be a great one for them to enjoy. Those who wish to see The Little Mermaid for the 2013 season may still be able to purchase tickets for the shows scheduled for July 18, 19, and 20.

Ariel, Prince Eric, and Cast in The Little Mermaid © Katrena
The Norvell Theater is a youth theater. The cast members are young, but many of them are veterans of the stage. Quite a few of the actors and actresses have performed in a wide range of productions such as Grease, 13, Romeo & Juliet, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat (the first production at Norvell), Beauty & the Beast, and Comedy of Errors, just to name a few.

William Clark Plays Sebastian in The Little Mermaid at Norvell © Katrena
William Clark, who played the comical character of Sebastian, is just one of those seasoned actors. He mentioned that the plays keep getting better and better through the years. I am impressed with how smoothly the production went as everyone worked well together and on cue.

Fun Ways to Support the Arts © Katrena
The small details and personalities were especially fun in The Little Mermaid. My girls decided they would try to mimic Ursula's (played by Alexa Hendrickson) scowl after the show! Several younger kids had speaking roles...a detail that didn't escape my kids who love the stage too.

Lizzie Medlin Plays Ariel in The Little Mermaid at Norvell © Katrena
Lizzie Medlin, who played the lead role of Ariel, was gracious enough to stay on stage long after the play was over to pose for pictures along with quite a few of the other cast members. My girls loved the beautiful dress she wore at the end. Although I am sure the dress had numerous hot layers, Ms. Medlin kept a smile on her face.

Susannah Dixon Plays Scuttle in The Little Mermaid at Norvell © Katrena
All of the costumes seemed to fit the cast members very well and added quite a bit to the ambiance of the scenes. Susannah Dixon, who played the role of a funny bird named Scuttle, had a delightful sense of humor as some of her feathers detached and floated to the floor after the show. "I'm molting!" she remarked with a grin as she blew them away.

Michael Jones Plays King Triton in The Little Mermaid at Norvell © Katrena
The props were well done. I can imagine it would be difficult to create scenes that are supposed to be underwater, but they did a great job with black lights, fluorescent lighting, and a variety of interesting scenery. Quite a few young people helped to make the various props come alive as they moved with the music sporting black outfits that covered them from head to toe...or perhaps fin to tail!

Norvell Youth Theater in Salisbury NC © Katrena
Like many theaters, the Norvell depends on community support and many volunteers. Attending one of the many productions or offering financial support are greatly appreciated. Visit the Piedmont Player Theatre's official web site for information about their season, a seating chart, youth programs, and more.

Performing Arts in the Piedmont © Katrena
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