Sherwood Park high school presents 'The Little Mermaid' in ambitious 6-night musical production
Actors at Strathcona Christian Academy Secondary in Sherwood Park are preparing for a sold-out show the opening night of their six-night run of The Little Mermaid.
Sixty-one students – 49 actors, including 20 who fill 10 double-cast roles, and 12 tech crew members – have been working on the production since February.
Their work will debut Sunday at the Sherwood Park Alliance Church for an audience of 800.
"When I get a moment to sit in the audience and watch – stunning," Grade 11 student Petra Dueck, who plays one of two Ariels, told CTV News Edmonton on Wednesday.
Ben Slobodan, the Eric to Dueck's Ariel, added, "I watched The Little Mermaid growing up and just to see it come alive on the stage with me and all my peers in it, it's awesome."
Grade 11 students Petra Dueck, left, and Ben Slobodan, right, played Ariel and Eric in Strathcona Christian Academy Secondary's musical production of 'The Little Mermaid' in Sherwood Park May 5-10, 2024. (Nahreman Issa / CTV News Edmonton)
The school's musical theatre program has only grown since its inception more than 20 years ago, teacher and The Little Mermaid director Samantha Jones says.
She is assisted by a musical director, choreographer, assistant director, as well as an aesthetics director, Stacey Lavorato, who made most of the show's 200 costumes with help from volunteers.
The group began work even before the students, choosing a show in May and getting organized throughout the fall.
The program's size is one of the things that allows them to commit to a big ensemble show.
Plus, after two more serious productions – The Sound of Music in 2022 and Newsies in 2023 – Jones said was eager to bring back more light-hearted fun.
"When we looked at the students who had signed up, it just fit."
Owen Safronovich – who learned to tap dance in order to play Scuttle, the seagull who tries to help Ariel with his self-proclaimed expertise on humans – agrees.
"He just kind of matches my personality. He's a fun, goofy gull and I'm a fun, goofy guy."
The Grade 12 student has been performing for years and is enrolled to study musical theatre at Grant MacEwan, with the dream of one day ending up on Broadway.
"Being able to get in front of people and express yourself in ways you wouldn't be able to do normally in everyday life. It's freeing. You get to open up, show a new side of yourself every time," he said of his love for acting.
Owen Safronovich, left, played Scuttle in Strathcona Christian Academy Secondary's musical production of 'The Little Mermaid' May 5-10, 2024, in Sherwood Park. (Nahreman Issa / CTV News Edmonton)
While Dueck and Slobodan echoed the sentiment, they also cherish the time spent with their peers.
"That's why it's so sad when this is going to be over," said Dueck, who is not yet sure what kind of career she wants to pursue, "because it's such a sweet moment in my life."
According to Jones, as of Wednesday, more than 4,000 tickets had been sold for various shows.
The growing number has had little impact on the performers' nerves, she said.
"They are such a talented group of students. They are like these little mini professionals. They blow me away every day. They are just so excited."
Tickets to the roughly two-hour show were still available as of Friday afternoon. Prices for children and seniors are $12 and adults $20.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Nahreman Issa
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hackers release corporate data stolen from London Drugs
Retailer London Drugs says cybercriminals who stole files from its corporate head office last month have released some of the data after it refused to pay a ransom.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Approximately 50 Montreal-area students — the vast majority of them female — were suspended Wednesday after their school deemed the shorts they were wearing were too short. On Thursday, several students staged a walk-out to protest what they believe is a "sexist" dress code that unfairly targets girls.
McDavid scores in 2OT to lift Oilers over Stars in West Final opener
Connor McDavid tipped Evan Bouchard's shot from the boards past Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger 32 seconds into the second overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 3-2 win in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final..
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
What is 'slapped cheek disease' and should parents be concerned?
Despite its rough name, experts say most cases of 'slapped cheek disease' are mild and not a cause for concern.
American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory
American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a nine-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory.
Unknown Newfoundland soldier from the First World War heads back home from France after 100 years
Canadian soldiers and government officials arrived in northeastern France this week for a historic mission: returning an unknown Newfoundland soldier back home.
Calgary Philharmonic takes action following investigation into 'deeply troubling' comments by 2 musicians
The Calgary Philharmonic has confirmed its taking action after controversial online comments made by two members of the orchestra.