Wheaton Drama is happy to announce auditions for Disney’s The Little Mermaid”
Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater, Book by Doug Wright. Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film produced by Howard Ashman & John Musker and written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements.
Performances and Showtimes
September 12 through October 5, 2025. Showtimes: Thu/Fri/Sat at 7:30 p.m; Sun at 2 p.m.
Auditions
Auditions will be held Sunday and Monday, July 13 and 14, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the theater, 111 N. Hale Street, Wheaton.
Auditions are by appointment and will be in groups of eight, in one-hour intervals. To reserve an audition time, click here.
Please fill out an audition form, available here:
Auditions will include:
- A one- to two-minute monologue showcasing your storytelling ability
- Dance: please come dressed to move, and bring either jazz or ballet shoes. If you don’t have either, please wear shoes you are comfortable turning in. (Dancing in stocking feet is NOT encouraged). Also, be prepared to potentially work with props during auditions.
- Singing: 32 bars (or about a minute of music) in the style of the show. Yes, please show us you can sing, but put energy and focus into conveying meaning and telling a story on a theatrical scale.
Callbacks
Callbacks, as necessary, will be Wednesday, July 16, 2025, from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Synopsis
Dive under the sea with our enchanting stage production, based on the beloved Hans Christian Andersen tale and the iconic Disney film. This timeless story follows Ariel, a curious and spirited young mermaid who dreams of living in the world above. When she falls in love with the human Prince Eric, Ariel makes a daring deal with the sea witch Ursula, trading her voice for the chance to walk on land.
Filled with unforgettable songs such as Part of Your World, Under the Sea and Poor Unfortunate Souls, Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a heartwarming journey about love, identity, and finding one’s own voice. With vivid characters and dazzling music, this production promises to delight audiences of all ages.
Casting
Director Nathan Dittemore will be casting 24-28 actors: 10 named lead characters; 8 featured actors, and an ensemble including both adults and actors age 10-17. Actors of all races and gender identities are encouraged to audition.
- Leads(10): Ariel, Eric, Grimsby, Flounder, Scuttle, Triton, Sebastian, Flotsam, Jetsam, Ursula
- Featured(8): Mersisters (6) Pilot, Chef Louis
- YP Roles Flounder, Windward/Leeward, Gull Flock, Under the Sea Creatures, Flotsam/Jetsam
- YP Actors may also land in “Adult” cast
Character descriptions
Ariel (Feminine Presenting; Age: 18 to 25)
Vocal range: Ab3-Gb5
A mermaid and King Triton’s youngest daughter. She is infantilized by EVERYTHING about the human world and dreams of becoming a part of life above the water. Though sometimes hard headed or naive, she is also kindhearted and ambitious and holds her head high as she moves toward her dreams.
Director’s Note: Ariel is a seeker. Restless, imaginative, and full of emotional intelligence, she moves through the world with a deep longing not just to see more—but to be more. Her curiosity isn’t surface level; it’s spiritual. She is drawn to unknown spaces, unasked questions, and unspoken truths. Though young, Ariel has an intuitive sense of injustice. She pushes against expectations not just out of rebellion but because she feels when something isn’t right. She knows, instinctively, that a better world is possible—even if she doesn’t yet know how to build it. She’s impulsive, stubborn, and sometimes reckless, and these traits WILL lead her to make mistakes. But she is also visionary, courageous, and grounded by love. She permits others to grow simply by being herself. Her voice—whether spoken or silent—disrupts, challenges, and transforms.
Ariel is not trying to escape who she is. She’s trying to discover it.
Prince Eric (Masculine Presenting; Age: 20-30)
Vocal range: B2-G4
A human monarch who has NO interest in claiming his crown. A handsome, affable lad with a buoyant, adventurous nature. After a mysterious stranger saves his life, he becomes obsessed with finding her and hearing her voice once more.
Directors note: Far from a perfect monarch-in-waiting, Eric is shy, soft-spoken, and deeply reserved. He doesn’t quite fit the mold of royal authority, and he knows it. Beneath the formalities is someone warm, loyal, and full of quiet wonder—but also someone who feels deeply lost. Trapped by expectations he never chose, Eric is adrift, unsure of who he is or where he belongs. It’s only out on the open sea—or in the rare presence of someone he truly trusts—that he begins to let go and show his true self.
He’s not the bold, swashbuckling prince of fairy tales but something more human: someone who listens before he speaks, who leads with kindness rather than command. His journey is about discovering that his uncertainty is not weakness—and that his gentleness might be the very thing that sets him apart.
Grimsby (Masculine Presenting; Age: 40+)
Vocal range: C3- C4
Prince Eric’s (British) guardian. Droll, stuffy, and constantly urging Eric towards his royal duties, specifically marriage.
Directors note: Grimsby is a kind and caring figure in Eric’s life—perhaps the only person who sees him as a person rather than simply a monarch. Though he does expect Eric to marry and eventually take up the crown, he genuinely hopes the young man can do so in a way that brings him true happiness. As a father figure, Grimsby often struggles to understand Eric’s emotional and social needs fully. But even so, he does his utmost to support and care for him.
Flounder (Masculine Presenting; Age:10-15)
Vocal range: (A2- G4)
A fish and smitten with Ariel, his best friend. Rambunctious but cautious, fearful of the dangers that lurk in and above the water.
Directors note: Flounder begins his journey as a shy and fearful character but one who is deeply curious and unshakably supportive. Throughout the story, he learns to take braver steps—facing his fears not only for the sake of his best friends but eventually for himself. His growth is quiet but powerful, and it speaks to the courage found in kindness and loyalty.
Casting Note: Our production will cast 2 Young Performers in the Flounder track; the two performers will alternate between the Flounder and a shared Ensemble Track
Scuttle (Masculine Presenting; Age: 25+)
Vocal range: C3-G4
A disheveled seagull and “expert” in human artifacts. Loudmouthed, optimistic, and a bit ignorant despite his supposed expertise.
Director’s Note: Scuttle isn’t necessarily dumb—just misinformed. He runs his business and trades using the tools and knowledge life has handed him. While he often gets things hilariously wrong, his heart is always in the right place. Scuttle shares a unique bond with Ariel, seeing her as a kindred spirit—someone who, like him, doesn’t fully belong to either the world of land or sea. Because of this, he’s fiercely protective of her in his clownish way. They may not be related by blood, but they are very much a chosen family. Scuttle also represents a third element—air—existing apart from both land and sea. In the original Little Mermaid tale, the mermaid is transformed into a daughter of the air after choosing selflessness over vengeance, given a second chance to earn a soul. Something is compelling in the connection between these sky spirits and Scuttle as a seabird—something meaningful to explore. We may not know exactly what that is… yet. But together, we’ll discover it in our process.
Casting Note: Please note that Scuttle will interact frequently with the Young Performer Gulls. Therefore, we are looking for someone who is enthusiastic about collaborating with younger artists and can foster a positive, supportive environment for performers who, like us all, are still developing their craft.
Triton (Masculine Presenting; Age:35+)
Vocal range: Ab2- F4
King of the Sea and Ariel’s father. Beneath his imposing presence and commanding nature lurks a single father who will do anything to protect his daughters. The death of his wife has also given him an irrational fear of humans.
Director’s Note: King Triton is a Fey creature of godlike descent. As a non-mortal being, he has always struggled to relate to those he considers lesser lifeforms. While this perspective may have softened somewhat through the influence of his mortal wife and daughters, it’s clear he still has a long way to go. Triton’s journey is one of unlearning superiority and embracing vulnerability—not just as a ruler but as a father. When afraid or overwhelmed, Triton instinctively falls back on the behaviors that have defined his long life—superiority, fear, and an intense need for stability and control. These reactions are NOT rooted in cruelty but in survival. The challenge for Triton is learning that true strength may lie in letting go, listening, and allowing space for change—even when it scares him.
Sebastian (Masculine Presenting; Age:35+)
Vocal range: Bb2-C5
Ethnicity: Black/Caribbean
A crab and advisor to King Triton. A musical virtuoso who is constantly distraught from keeping after Ariel. Despite his paranoia, he can’t bring himself to stand in Ariel’s way.
Director’s Note: Sebastian is, first and foremost, a court composer and a high-ranking diplomat in King Triton’s court. So, when he’s assigned to look after Ariel, it feels like a demotion—he resents being reduced to a glorified babysitter. He’s not exactly a stickler for the rules, but he knows his place—and he does what he’s told. He’s spent his life navigating the delicate balance between politics, tradition, and loyalty, and he understands that keeping the peace often means keeping your head down. At first, he sees Ariel as a whiny, impulsive child—someone to contain, not understand. But as he witnesses her passion, curiosity, and longing for freedom, his view begins to shift. She challenges him to see that sometimes; obedience upholds injustice and that protecting someone might mean breaking the rules you have always followed.
Flotsam/Jetsam will be played by young performers (ages 13-17)
Vocal ranges: Flotsam: E3-C5 | Jetsam: B2: 4A
Two eels and Ursula’s lackeys. Oily and spineless, they will say anything Ursula wants or needs to hear in order to win her favor.
Director’s Note: Flotsam and Jetsam are Fey creatures—ancient beings summoned long ago to serve the Sea Witch. They function not merely as henchmen but as true familiars: metaphysically bound to Ursula, reflections of her will, and extensions of her power. Their connection to her is deeper than loyalty—it’s elemental.
As Fey, they operate under entirely different social codes and even different laws of the universe. They are tricksters, watchers, and enforcers—but always on their strange terms. Their behavior reflects this otherness: at times playful, at times eerie, and always just a little off. They may slither through the shadows, but their presence is potent—an unsettling reminder that not everything in the ocean follows the same rules.
Casting Note: playing beings who have lived for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Please also know that Flotsam’s & Jetsam’s tracks will likely also double as Gulls in scenes where time permits.
Ursula (Feminine Presenting; Age:35 to 45)
Vocal range: Eb3- C5
The banished Sea Witch and sister of King Triton. (Supposedly) spurned at childhood, she will use whatever method necessary to steal the kingdom and claim it as her own. Malevolent, calculating, and deceptive.
Director’s Note: Like her brother Triton, Ursula is of Fey descent. But where Triton maintains a tether to the mortal world through his daughters and late wife, Ursula has no such connection. She is entirely unrooted from empathy—not because we can’t relate to what she wants, but because she treats what others experience as life-or-death moments like a game show; others are the players, and she is ALWAYS the host/face. Where mortals see risk, Ursula sees spectacle. If Triton is celestial, Ursula is fiendish—perhaps even demonic. Chaos and cruelty are not flaws in her character; they are the foundation of it. Her dealings with mortals are governed strictly by the rules of magic, contracts, and manipulation. She does not seek genuine connection—only control. Ursula is not a villain searching for redemption; she is a force of disorder meant to tempt, deceive, and punish. She isn’t here to be understood. She’s here to win.
Casting Note: Performers of ALL gender presentations are welcomed and encouraged to Audition for Ursula
Chef Louis (Masculine Presenting; Age:30-50)
Vocal range: Bb2-A4
The French palace chef is diabolical and violent—a culinary perfectionist with a strong affinity for blades and seafood.
Director’s Note: Chef Louis is a man of tradition—devoted to the craft, the kitchen, and the chaos of culinary perfection. He is larger-than-life, precise, and entirely convinced of his brilliance. For this role, we’ll be drawing on elements of commedia dell’arte, so bring your clowning shoes and your boldest choices! Physical comedy, exaggerated emotion, and rhythm-driven performance will all be key tools in bringing Louis to life. Think of him as a whirlwind of knives, flour, and ego.
Featured Ensemble
- Leeward & Windward (young performer roles)
The Royal Harolds (announcers) of King Triton’s court
Casting Note: Leeward & Windward tracks will also double as Gulls in scenes where time permits. - Pilot (Masculine Presenting; Age:30-50)
Caption of a midsized fishing vessel. He runs a tight ship but always with a breath of levity and camaraderie with his crew. - Mersisters (Feminine Presenting; Age:20+)
Attina, Alana, Adella, Aquata, Arista, and Andrina. These girls are sisters by blood and bond. Being raised in the public eye, these women are always ready to present their best selves to a crowd… and maybe compete for the spotlight. All of them are hyper-aware of this public gaze put on them. - Princesses (Feminine Presenting; Age:18+)
Six royal auditionees competing for Eric’s hand.
Ensemble
- Crew Members (Masculine presenting):
- Fathoms Below
- – The Storm
- Sea Creatures
- Sea Court
- Under the Sea
- Kiss The Girl
- Finale
- Gulls (Young Performer Tracks):
- Opening
- Positoovity
- The Storm
- Under the Sea (As Sea Creatures)
- Finale
- Castle Maids (Feminine presenting):
- Wildest Dreams
- Les Poissons Mayhem
- Castle Cooks (Masculine presenting):
- Les Poissons
- Les Poissons Mayhem
PRODUCTION TEAM:
- Director: Nathan Dittemore
- Choreographer: Koshie Mills
- Production Manager: Michael Boyna
- Lighting: Brighton Liese
- Assistant Director/Dramaturg: Ryan Castiglia
Additional production staff will be named when available, and is subject to change.
