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The cast of the Falcon Players’ production of The Little Mermaid performs “Under the Sea” during dress rehearsal. The musical took place Mar. 6-8 in the auditorium.
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Junior Jackson Schertzer (Prince Eric) stands in a prop ship on stage with senior Shekinah Annin (Pilot) and junior Marissa Swanick (Grimsby). Schertzer and other leads were hooked up to a system that allowed them to fly across the stage during performances.
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Senior Finnley Free (Ariel) performs “Part of Your World” on stage during dress rehearsal for The Little Mermaid. Free was hooked up to a harness that allowed her to be lifted up into the air later in the song.
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Senior Finnley Free (Ariel) sings to junior Jackson Schertzer (Prince Eric) as junior Charlotte Talleur (Scuttle) kneels nearby. The scene was performed during the first act of the Falcon Players’ rendition of The Little Mermaid.
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Gazing at her broken statue, senior Finnley Free (Ariel) performs at the Falcon Players’ dress rehearsal of The Little Mermaid on March 5. Free performed the scene on stage during act one of the musical.
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Looking to the audience, senior Finnley Free (Ariel) sits in a boat on stage with junior Jackson Schertzer (Prince Eric) during dress rehearsal for The Little Mermaid. The scene took place during act two of the musical, before cast members performed “Kiss the Girl.”
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Reaching out to the audience, junior Jackson Schertzer (Prince Eric) performs Eric’s solo, “Her Voice,” at the dress rehearsal for The Little Mermaid on March 3. The Falcon Players rehearsed for months leading up to their performances.
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As their spring musical, the Falcon Players performed The Little Mermaid on Mar. 6th, 7th, and 8th. In the show, an adaptation of the Disney movie, leads used a harness system to fly above the stage.
Junior tech manager Eva Bausch said that it takes a three person team to operate the system and allow actors to fly.
“There are three rope operators: one is on lift, one is an anchor, helping lift the [actor] up because [the system]’s heavy, and the third person is traveler. They move the system from stage right to stage left, so the [actor] can move with their harness, and they all have to work together,” Bausch said.
Director Lyndal Willis said that it has been difficult to work with complicated sets and tech in the winter when many cast members have gotten sick.
“Since it is a musical that happens primarily during cold and flu season, we have unfortunately had a lot of illnesses in the cast, so it’s also been a challenge because we’re doing a lot with this show. There are quite a few set pieces, and we are also implementing a human fly system,” Willis said.
Senior Finnley Free, who plays Ariel in the musical, said that it has been difficult to fly while singing due to the core strength that it takes to use the fly system.
“My biggest challenge so far has been learning how to sing and also fly in the air, because when I’m flying in the air, I have to use a lot of my core muscles that I would usually have more relaxed when I’m singing,” Free said.
Willis said that the cast and crew’s hard work has payed off in the set and costume design, creating an immersive atmosphere for the show.
“The costumes look really cool and bring you into that world, our set has gotten done earlier than we have in the past, and a lot of the moments of the show, now that we have everything coming together, are looking and feeling really nice,” Willis said.
Junior Jackson Schertzer, who plays Prince Eric in the musical, said that the cast staying on top of their responsibilities has been helpful.
“Most of the people that are in the show are very good about getting their stuff done, having their blocking done, and all of their lines memorized,” Schertzer said.
