ORWIGSBURG - The Schuylkill Ballet Theatre will present "The Little Mermaid" this weekend at the Blue Mountain High School auditorium.
Performances will be at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students and $6 for children 3 to 10 years old. They are available by calling 570-622-2286 or online at www.schuylkilballet.com. Adult tickets purchased online or at the door will include a free ticket for a child.
"We are using a lot of music from the Disney version," said Sarah Schimpf, assistant director and choreographer of the Schuylkill Ballet Theatre.
The original "The Little Mermaid" was written by Hans Christan Andersen in 1837. Information about the author can be found online at www.andersen.sdu.dk.
Each year, the ballet performs two shows for the public, "The Nutcracker" in the winter and another show in the spring.
Dancers said they wanted to do "The Little Mermaid," Schimpf said.
Last year, "The Lion King" was done in the spring. It was so popular that it was done twice, said Jill Krewson, vice president of the ballet theatre.
"Our spring show every year is very child-centered. Disney is perfect for that," Schimpf said.
She said she does not know if they will perform "The Little Mermaid" a second time.
Between 250 and 300 tickets have been sold for the event so far.
About 33 cast members are in the show and ages range from 9 to 25.
Those in the ballet practice Sundays in Vivian's Dance Studio, Schuylkill Haven.
Of the ballet, Schimpf said, "It's a very visually appealing show."
The lead character, Ariel, a mermaid, is played by Meredith Krewson, a Blue Mountain freshman.
Schimpf said Krewson has four costume changes in the show.
Those watching the ballet can be inspiring.
"You're always inspired, and you don't know what little boy or girl is getting inspired too," Jill Krewson said.