What happened to “Voyage of the Little Mermaid"?
The original live show, “Voyage of the Little Mermaid”, shut down at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 15, 2020, with the closure of all the Disney parks. Being a live show, it was expected to take longer to reopen, but even after other live shows, like “Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage”, came back, there was still no word of a reopening. Disney maintained the outdoor signage for the show, but filled the queue with seating. Up till now, this led to mixed ideas for what was to come of this space.
How is the new show different from the previous?
In the official Disney Parks Blog post, Disney states that the new show is “inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic”, leading one to believe that it will not be based on the 2023 live action re-make.
The post also says that the show will feature “stunning new set pieces, cutting-edge effects, and a bold new design that captures Ariel’s imagination and emotions through her unique view of the world around her”. This doesn’t give much to go on in terms of story, but does reinforce the fact that the stage show will be presented with more modern effects. Projection mapping will most likely be fair game, due to how prevalent it has become throughout the park’s new attractions.
In terms of music, both “Part of Your World” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls” are going to be carried over to the new show. The “Kiss the Girl” scene from the original animated film is set to appear in the new show. This was both stated in the blog post, as well as presented in the concept art.
The concept art shows not only the new scene that will be included, but also hints at what type of design work may be seen in the upcoming show. Intricate framing around the stage is presented in the artwork. This is much more detailed than the previous frame around the stage, which previously had an underwater, rock aesthetic. The seashell pictured at the top of the artwork appears to be a continued design from the previous show.
When is “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” going to premiere?
The blog post states that the new show is set to premiere in the Fall of 2024. Disney, as of late, has had a record of delaying its projects past originally posted dates. Hopefully this project is the exception.
Follow the link here to the Official Disney Blog post announcing the project.
Finally, after almost four years since its closure, the Animation Courtyard Theater, in Hollywood Studios, is set to reopen with a “reimagined theatrical production” of “The Little Mermaid”. This new show is replacing the previous “Voyage of the Little Mermaid” and will be called “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure”.