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Go Under the Sea at Ideal’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ (Review)

| Rachel's Reviews

I love seeing new theatre companies grow and develop over the years and through various productions. I hope as a critic and influencer I can be a tool for these companies to get the word out and build loyal audiences. One of my favorite new companies is The Ideal Playhouse in Heber. The owners Steve and Karyn Anderson (director and music director respectively) are attempting to make a difference in their community renovating both the Ideal and The Avon theaters into special gathering places all of Heber can enjoy. Their latest production is Disney’s The Little Mermaid and it’s a fun experience or the whole family even if the adaptation by Disney isn’t my favorite.

If you want to hear more of my thoughts on The Little Mermaid in all its forms check out this episode of Talking Disney Classics Podcast I do with my friend Stanford:

Suffice it to say this adaptation doesn’t add much to the 1989 animated masterpiece. Still the stuff from the original film is good so there’s a lot to recommend in The Little Mermaid.

As far as Ideal’s production goes, they do all they can in a small space to help make it feel immersive and entertaining. I particularly like how they bring the bubbles and ocean into the audience with actual bubbles and projections all along the walls. Costume designer Kara Charlesworth does a great job making every piece feel special and eye-catching (especially Ursula’s dress who she is playing!)

I had Marissa Haines as my Ariel (the only part double cast with Lizzy Ricks) and she gives a polished but sweet performance that is excellent. Charlesworth has the swagger one needs for Ursula but the real scene stealing of the night is Caden Tomlinson as Chef Louis/Jetsam. He is hilarious as Louis and brought some much needed energy to a rather dry part of that musical.

The stage is small at Ideal so this limits them in some areas of the show. For example, they only have 3 daughters of Triton and the actors are not on the wheelies I have always seen in productions of The Little Mermaid. Also they should be careful that the actors aren’t poking out of the wings on the stage. Particularly Ursula and her dress could sometimes be seen when she’s supposed to be off stage.

My favorite part production-wise is during the final conflict Ursula appears in video on the screen and we see her get taken down in big bold fashion. That was a fun touch that makes the stage not feel so small. If you are looking for a nice way to introduce your family to musical theater The Little Mermaid at Ideal Playhouse is a great option. Especially your little girls will walk away singing like Ariel and wanting to be part of the grown up world as soon as possible! It is playing through July 26th and tickets can be purchased here. I give mixed to the musical but go and see it to the production.

The Little Mermaid has music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater with a book by Doug Wright based on the classic story by Hans Christian Andersen and the 1989 animated film

If you enjoy my writing and would like me to review your production I’d love to. I also have a patreon which is a great way to support my shorter logs for shows I don’t get to review. I have some really fun perks like bonus episodes, patron polls and monthly Q&As with actors, directors and writers. Please take a look here.

UTAH THEATRE LOG 5/29/25-6/3/25 (TOOTSIE, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, DREAMGIRLS) (RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 141)

| Rachel's Reviews

Hi friends! I have a quick log to update with a few of the shows I have been seeing. It’s been a busy time for both theater and film so make sure you are following me on instagram and youtube to get all of the out of theater reactions and updates!

Just a reminder for those new to the site. These logs are quick thoughts of shows I am a patron at not a critic to do a full detailed review. I would love to review any and all of these shows. Just email me at rachelsreviews65@gmail.com. Thanks!

DREAMGIRLS- THE GRAND THEATRE, SALT LAKE

I have to admit if I am going to give a company a pass it is more than likely to be for when I feel they are pushing themselves as a company and when they are presenting me with new and exciting material. While the musical Dreamgirls could in no way be considered a new show it is not performed often in community theatre and so I admire The Grand Theatre for taking it on. Indeed I had never seen this musical previous to their performance and am grateful I had the chance to check it off my musical theatre bucket list. It is also impressive that they had a full live orchestra to back up their performers. One doesn’t expect such a production for under $40.

I do have to say now I have seen it I probably won’t be dying to see Dreamgirls again. The story is just so tired and formulaic that it’s hard to get super excited about it. It’s one of those shows that lives and dies by its lead casting and luckily at The Grand they have a terrific Effie in Quesley Soto. I wish Effie was written with more nuance and less like a soap opera character but she does what she can with the role. Darby Mest is also a standout as fellow Dreamette Lorrell. The rest of the cast is a little more mixed but they are all trying their hardest and there is a nice community spirit amongst the cast, which I appreciate.

Technically speaking Dreamgirls at The Grand is directed well by Latoya Cameron with the musical sequences having the cabaret feel needed for the numbers. However, the real standout is the incredible costumes by Shannon McCullock and her team. I wish I could have one of the sparkly dresses that Effie and the other girls are wearing!

Dreamgirls is playing at The Grand through June 14th and tickets can be purchased here.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL- BYU, PROVO

It’s hard to not be charmed by the catchy tunes and energetic nature of High School Musical whether on stage or in the film DCOM. The songs are so much fun and the production at BYU is a great time for the whole family.

What stands out the most is the production elements. The set by Marguerite Morgan looks like something you could find at Disneyland. So bright, colorful and professional. It’s also super cool that they had large screens shaped like cell phones on the side of the stage and had pre-filmed footage commenting on the events (like a Wildcat news update) filmed at the actual East High (advantage of being in Utah I suppose.) The production is directed by Geoffrey Reynolds and he seemingly thought of everything to make this a great show. The only downside is it was very warm in that theatre and some of the singing was weaker than usual for a BYU show.

Still if you are looking for an introductory show for the whole family High School Musical at BYU would be a great pick. I had a great time with it. It plays through June 14th and tickets can be purchased here.

TOOTSIE- EGYPTIAN THEATRE, PARK CITY

Like I said I really appreciate it when companies take chances with new and unique shows here in Utah. This is what got me to go up to Park City to see Tootsie at The Egyptian last week. I had heard mixed reviews of the show when it was on Broadway but I wanted to decide for myself and took the chance to go up there and see it. To my surprise I quite enjoyed the show. I’d even say it’s a little underrated amongst recent Broadway offerings (I liked it better than something highly praised like Kimberly Akimbo so go figure.)

What makes Tootsie work is it’s not afraid to have a genuinely unlikable lead character in Michael Dorsay (Jeremy Gross) and it’s not just a copy and paste from the movie like Mrs Doubtfire. I was surprised how funny I found it and a lot of that goes to the very likable cast including Gross, Caleb Parry as his roommate Jeff and Morgan Parry as Julie. This production is directed by Kyle Esposito and he trusts his talented cast to do their jobs and keeps the staging and choreography simple. I do think this show would have made more sense and been better if it was set in the 80s like the movie. So many of the elements including modern gender roles and communication (social media) do not make sense for 2025. Set it in 1982 it’s immediately funnier and more insightful.

That said, I did enjoy it more than I was expecting. Unfortunately Tootsie has finished its run but you can find out more about The Egyptian here.

Dreamgirls has book and lyrics by Tom Eyen and music by Henry Krieger. High School Musical is based on the DCOM written by Peter Barsocchini with book by David Simpatico, music adapted by Bryan Louiselle and songs by a variety of writers. Tootsie has music and lyrics by David Yazbek with a book by Robert Horn.

These logged shows I pay for out of pocket and I’d love to do that as much as possible. If you have a show you’d like me to take a look at and write a full review let me know. I also have my patreon which is a great way to support what I do and get some really fun perks. Find out more here.

UTAH THEATRE LOG 2/1-2/6 (SHREK, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR) (RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 93)

| Rachel's Reviews

Hi theatre lovers! I have 2 quick updates for you. While super busy with the Sundance Film Festival this last weekend I was able to see 2 local shows I’d like to share my thoughts on.

SHREK: THE MUSICAL- KENSINGTON THEATRE, SOUTH JORDAN

One of the big surprises for me as a musical theatre fan and critic was the first time I saw Shrek: The Musical. I am honestly pretty lukewarm on the movie so I did not expect to like the musical interpretation but I saw it back in 2021 for the first time and really enjoyed it. I recently saw it at Kensington Theatre in their black box stage and had a good time with it once again.

This production of Shrek is part of Kensington’s ABC program (Adult Boot Camp) so it is what I like to refer to as a learning company. Being in the black box this was also more stripped down than some of the other ABC productions I’ve seen (they had an Into the Woods that was one of the best versions of that show I’ve seen.) Director Toni Butler is very good at bringing the best out of her cast and helping instill a community spirit that is palpable and makes watching her shows even with flaws a real treat.

Dallin Remund is up to the task of playing Shrek including a consistent accent throughout. He also has nice chemistry with Lydia Butler playing Fiona. Jack Sheehan is a ton of fun as Lord Farquaad never failing to get the most out of his puppet legs which delivers a lot of laughs.

I honestly don’t know how I feel about the casting of a non-POC actor as Donkey. Obviously donkeys do not have a race but I feel the role is so clearly written for a Black actor in mind that it is a bit of a moral grey area. This was also the first time I saw different casting for this role so that might be part of it as well. What do you think?

That said, I still enjoyed this production of Shrek: The Musical and would recommend Kensington to anyone looking for a fun night of local theatre. Next up they have Man of La Mancha which I have never seen so that’s exciting. Tickets can be purchased here.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR- DRAPER HISTORIC THEATRE, DRAPER

It might sound crazy but sometimes I think I prefer the teen editions of popular musicals even more than the grown-up original versions. I like them because they cut away the more bloated elements of a show and leave us with the best the material has to offer. I recently saw Beauty and the Beast Jr at Draper Historic and it was a lot of fun for both teens performing and audience watching.

I saw the Enchanted cast in this double cast show and the teens are all wonderful and putting their best into the experience. When I see a youth production the most important element is the energy and sense of community spirit I sense from the performers. I know it’s not going to be perfect but that’s all part of the fun of it. Director Katie Davis has tapped into that youthful energy here and seems to have brought the best out of her young cast. I particularly enjoyed Tori Piacitelli as Belle and Rowan Morley as Gaston (Gaston is almost always my favorite in this show LOL.)

The ensemble choreography by Makayla Porter is a highlight with them packing as many kids as possible on to the stage and even pulling off a kickline for “Be Our Guest.”

Perhaps it is nostalgia talking but I do think it is a little bit of a shame to rely so much on projections in a production for youth. I have very fond memories building and painting sets in my high school shows and it’s a nice way for young actors with smaller roles to feel valued and included in the production. Nevertheless, it was interesting to see a more stripped down version of Beauty and the Beast with simple costumes and sets especially after I saw the complete opposite massive spectacle over at Hale last Fall. It just shows what a great show it is if it can be entertaining big or small.

Beauty and the Beast Jr is playing at Draper Historic until Feb 22nd and definitely worth your time. They even have audience participation in the transformation with light-up roses that was a fun touch. Draper Historic is a great deal and they have Bright Star coming up so I recommend getting season tickets. More information is available here.

Shrek: The Musical has music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics and book by David Lindsay-Abaire. Beauty and the Beast Jr has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice with book by Linda Woolverton.

These logged shows I pay for out of pocket and I’d love to do that as much as possible. If you have a show you’d like me to take a look at and write a full review let me know. I also have my patreon which is a great way to support what I do and get some really fun perks. Find out more here.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST AT HALE IS A TALE AS OLD AS TIME WITH BIG SPECTACLE (REVIEW)

| Rachel's Reviews

So much of what makes for a successful piece of community theatre is matching the right show with the right venue. And while I would never want to pigeonhole a company into only doing one type of show it is true that some material is just a good fit for certain venues. Such is the case with Disney shows and Hale Center Theatre in Sandy. Indeed, when one finds their seat at the Young Living Centre Stage it feels like we have left Utah and are temporarily in Disneyland. Nowhere was this more true than in their current stunning production of Disney’s masterpiece Beauty and the Beast. Playing now through January 25th this majestic show will delight young and all and may be the best show Hale’s done since Singin in the Rain.

Beauty and the Beast is of course based on the animated film with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice with a book by Linda Woolverton. It tells the story of our headstrong Belle who ends up as the prisoner of a cursed Beast in an enchanted castle. Can these seeming opposites find love? We all know the answer to that!

I saw the MWF cast for this production and Jessica Hudson leads the group of talented actors as Belle with Kyle Olsen as Beast. My favorite performances, however, are from Russell Maxfield as Gaston and Scott Hendrickson as Lumiere. They are both very funny and expressive in their roles.

The costumes by Jenn Taylor are unforgettable and what impressed me the most is they had actual fire coming from Lumiere’s candle! In all the times I’ve seen Beauty and the Beast on stage I have never seen that effect. They also have actual fire for the mob which helps the scene feel all the more immersive than it might otherwise be.

Director Ryan Simmons makes big time spectacle to dazzle audiences with characters like the plates and cups coming from the sky for “Be Our Guest” and an awe inspiring finale where Beast and Gaston fight it out on the roof of the castle for all of us to see. As I said, a production at Disneyland would not be better or more immersive than what Hale has achieved and that’s saying something.

While I really enjoyed the production there are a few things they could work on. The main problem is one of the platforms the action takes place on has a large railing around it, which makes it almost impossible to see what is happening with the actors. For example, the scene where Maurice first comes to the castle I couldn’t see a single thing that was happening. Fortunately they didn’t use that platform much but I wish they would remove the railing because it served no narrative purpose.

They also had some problems with the sound mix. While I know there are times when the vocals are supposed to be a bit echoey like when Belle first enters the castle but there are other times when it is unintentionally off and it sounds like the characters are speaking from inside a cave.

Nevertheless, if you want a big spectacle Disney production and you don’t want to go to Disneyland make your way over to Hale Center Theatre and enjoy Beauty and the Beast. It’s a special opportunity to be immersed in a classic story well told. You will be glad to be their guest! Find out more information and purchase tickets here.

If you enjoy my writing and would like me to review your production I’d love to. I also have a patreon which is a great way to support my shorter logs for shows I don’t get to review. I have some really fun perks. Please take a look here.

‘THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME’ IS A MIRACLE OF A SHOW AT TCT (REVIEW)

| Rachel's Reviews

Anyone who knows me knows I am very hit and miss when it comes to the Disney Broadway adaptations of their animated classics. Some I love like Beauty and the Beast and others really fall flat like Mary Poppins. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is an interesting adaptation because I’m actually not the biggest fan of the movie. It’s the rare Disney adaptation where I think the Broadway musical significantly improves on the animated film (can see my whole Disney Broadway ranking here.) We get more character motivations and the tone is more consistent. I’ve now seen this musical many times including a great production in Murray this summer (that had a live orchestra and choir!) but the current staging by Timpanogos Community Theatre may be my favorite take on the material I’ve ever seen.

This production is directed by Andrew Jeffries and he with his team seemingly thought of everything. The set by Calleb Wallengren is brilliant with 2 stories and a set of moving staircases that allow the cathedral setting to be covered and the ambiance to be quickly changed from the belltower to the tavern, to the Court of Miracles. It was seamless and so effective. It also allowed the action to be continually moving, giving room for the dance and fight choreography (Stephanie Cole) to be inventive and exciting. The lighting by Wallengren was also very impressive especially in the “Hellfire” sequence where they practically recreated the scene from the animated film. Esmeralda is dancing with the red and blue backgrounds and the choir surrounds Frollo as he sings his evil anthem.

Speaking of the choir the ensemble work throughout is outstanding with any supporting player having the voice for a lead when given the chance to sing. They could keep the choir in service and I’d attend their concerts. The harmonies were beautiful for songs like “God Help the Outcasts” and “The Bells of Notre Dame.”

Our lead cast is also very strong with Adam Moore putting his whole body and soul into the role of Quasimodo. His performance of “Out There” would inspire even the most cold-hearted in the audience. I also absolutely loved the “Made of Stone” number towards the end. Other acting highlights are Aaron Williams as Clopin particularly in “Topsy Turvy” but throughout and Teresa Jack as Esmeralda. I especially liked her in Act II as things get more desperate, and she is riveting as Frollo tries to have her burned, and she spits in his face.

The only choice I found puzzling in this production of Hunchback is they have Moore put on the prosthetic for the hunch at the beginning of the show in front of all of us and then show him in an afterlife sequence having it removed and him standing straight. I would love to talk to the creators about what their intent is with this choice because it seemed to imply Quasimodo needed to be changed when isn’t the true victory in his saving Esmeralda with his challenges? I found it an odd choice and it seemed to go back on some of the themes and lessons so carefully built up over the course of the nearly 3 hours we spent together. It’s not a dealbreaker by any means and I’m confident the intended message was different but let’s just say I found it to be distracting and unnecessary.

Other than that I thoroughly enjoyed TCT’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It was the finale of a long week of 7 shows and yet I was transfixed from beginning to end. It is playing through October 19 and tickets are $20 and under. A bargain! You can purchase tickets here. You’d be a fool to miss it!

If you enjoy my writing and would like me to review your production I’d love to. I also have a patreon which is a great way to support my shorter logs for shows I don’t get to review. I have some really fun perks. Please take a look here.

UTAH THEATRE LOG 7/24-8/1 (WAIT UNTIL DARK, MATILDA, FRINGE, AIDA, THE LITTLE MERMAID) (RACHEL’S THEATRE LOG 43)

| Rachel's Reviews

Hi theatre friends! I’ve got another quick update for you. I’ve had such a busy July it has all flown by and I certainly packed it in in this last week. Phew!

Make sure you check out my latest episode of OnStage Blog Theatre Podcast. We had director Toni Butler on and asked the tough question- is Into the Woods overrated?

Most of the other shows I saw I reviewed for UTBA but there are a few others so here is the update.

WAIT UNTIL DARK- COVEY CENTER FOR THE ARTS, PROVO

First up is Wait Until Dark at Covey Center for the Arts in Provo. As soon as I heard they were putting this on in their black box I knew it was a brilliant choice and it was. I can’t think of a show more perfect for a black box than Wait Until Dark. The only challenge is the space is small with exits oddly situated so it made the big surprise ending a little challenging but it was still a ton of fun with great performances. I haven’t seen that many thrillers on stage but I feel confident in saying Wait Until Dark is the best one ever. It builds tension so well and it’s so easy to get invested in Susan and her story. So good. You can read my full review for utba here. Wait Until Dark plays until August 17th and you can purchase tickets here.

MATILDA- DRAPER HISTORIC THEATER, DRAPER

I technically have already given my quick thoughts on this production of Matilda but it was the other cast called the Revolting Cast. With the invitation of the lead Rosie Darling I came to see the other Miracle Cast and it was super cute. It basically gives you everything you want from Matilda. Rosie is adorable in the role and I’m amazed that both of them can learn all these lines and not miss a beat. I also thought both Trunchbull’s were excellent with Boston Anglesey playing that role in this cast. I’ve realized after seeing this show so much recently my favorite number is “The Smell of Rebellion.” We don’t get many dishy villain songs any more on Broadway or in the movies and I think that’s why I really enjoy that one. I also thought it was staged very well here and they use the small stage to its full effect getting the choreography to be effective despite limited space. The adults in the other cast were probably stronger on the whole but it was still a fun time if you like Matilda (which everyone knows I have my issues with but it’s fun enough). Draper Historic is quickly becoming one of my favorite local theaters and you will definitely want to get season tickets here.

GREAT SALT LAKE FRINGE FESTIVAL- 2 SHOWS

Previous to this year I had only seen 1 play at the Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival. This year I had the opportunity to see 2 and they both proved to be a lot of fun. If you didn’t know Fringe is a workshopping festival and a chance to see new plays and theatrical experiences as they get developed by local playwrights and companies. The 2 I reviewed for UTBA are Wonderland Awaits and Hark! and the thing that makes me the most excited about these productions is I learned about 2 companies I was previously unfamiliar with- Salt Lake Children’s Theatre and the Salt Monster Theatre Company. You can read my reviews for both here and here. Fringe ends Aug 4th and you can find more information here.

AIDA- OGDEN MUSICAL THEATRE, OGDEN

I am sure there must be some explanation for why Aida is rarely done. Until they put it on at Ogden Musical Theatre (a new company to me!) I hadn’t seen it since the new Hale Center Theatre put it on in 2017 in Sandy. That’s crazy when I think of shows with similar casting requirements like Sister Act or Hairspray that are done so much. Let’s not wait 7 years to see this again!

It’s a shame because I really do love this musical. It’s such a beautiful love story between Aida and Radames- doomed love story- but honest and authentic with gorgeous songs like “Elaborate Lives” and “Written in the Stars.” I also think it balances the melodrama out well with some humor especially from Amneris and “My Strongest Suit.” If there is a weakness to the show it is in the villain and his songs like “Another Pyramid” and “Like Father, Like Son.”

At OMT they have 2 terrific leads with Alexsys Campbell and Jordan Strong as Aida and Radames. I also loved Allie White as Amneris. Some of the other casting was more mixed in both singing and acting but if the 3 leads are good that goes a long way in this musical. The sets (Marilyn Montgomery) and costumes (Stephanie Petersen) (and headpieces!) were also very impressive. The whole thing is directed by Mark Daniels and it deserves a more full house. I was so bummed to see so many empty seats. It is worth the drive to Ogden to be reminded the power of true love. Aida is playing through Aug 10th and you can purchase tickets here.

THE LITTLE MERMAID- EMPRESS THEATRE, MAGNA

If you follow my social media you know my reaction to this production of The Little Mermaid at The Empress blew up a bit. It wasn’t my favorite and even though I didn’ tag anyone involved it got seen by a lot of people. I never mean to be discouraging but I do have to be honest in my opinions- and it is just that my opinions.

The good aspects of this production is I think the Sebastian was very strong. Setu Lealaogta doesn’t try and imitate the Sebastian from the movie but gives the character their own flair and personality and I appreciate the costumes, particularly his were more of an homage to the film rather than a direct copy. It was kind of like The Little Mermaid meets Vegas which is fun. They even had aerolists performers which is ambitious for a small theater like this.

The problems came in the direction of Ariel and Eric. The program said this was Marcus Michalek’s first time acting and he is more of a dancer so I will try and give him some grace (this is why programs are very helpful!) but it was not the strongest performance. And Hannah Burke as Ariel has a decent voice but it was so rarely allowed to come forward. I was truly baffled by the decision to have her portray Ariel as a meek and softspoken rebellious daughter of Triton. I was in the first row and there were times I could barely hear her and it wasn’t just microphone problems. It was an acting choice even for her dramatic moments like “Part of Your World.” It was really strange and did not work for me and if Ariel doesn’t work it’s hard to salvage the production. I don’t even blame Burke because when she was allowed to actually sing I could hear some talent there. I guess give them credit for trying something different but it needs to be executed better than this was. But again, it’s just my opinion and every company has their misses. I look forward to The Empress’ next production of Fiddler on the Roof. The Little Mermaid plays until August 10th and you can find out more about the entire company here.

What have you been seeing? I would love to know! Aside from the shows I reviewed for UTBA I paid for all of these logged shows out of pocket. I’d love to cover as many local shows as possible but I need your help to do so. If you’d like me to review more theatre and appreciate what I do please check out the patreon here