By Lynn Venhaus

For COCA’s magical production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” I had the pleasure of being surrounded by beloved family for a special afternoon of live musical theater.

This was not an assignment for regional professional theater reviewing, but rather supporting the arts and being with people I love. It was a charming and delightful show Sunday, the last of six performances this July – and the audience was clearly appreciative of this momentous labor of love. It was just fun to be a part of, and watch families enjoy the experience.

As a fan of the show, seen multiple times, it was heart-warming to see how transfixed my guests Josie, 9, and Meadow, 3, were by the fairy tale’s whimsy and wonder, and so were us moms and company. I spied many little girls in mermaid outfits in the beautiful Catherine B. Berges Theatre in University City.

So many fine elements were impressive – the vibrant characters in the underwater kingdom, the dazzling seascape, the glistening costumes, and the lush orchestrations. Shout-outs to scenic designer Seth Howard, technical director Cameron Tesson, costume manager Cody Floyd, Jayson Lawshee-Gress’ lighting designs and Luke Bowers’ sound designs.

With that many costumes, special mention to assistant costume designer and draper Meredith LaBounty and costume shop manager Ari Stern. And to the volunteer make-up artist Michael Coleman.

It’s the first COCA musical directed by Will Bonfiglio as the Artistic Director of Theatre, and he surrounded himself with a strong creative team. Peerless Larry D. Pry as the music director and vivacious choreography by alum Alisa Cooper.

The production benefitted from student assistant director Aspen Meyer and JiaLi Deck as alumni assistant choreographer. And no production can do without a stellar production manager (Carolyn Carter), with assistants Lexi Sims and Gray Campbell, and youth manager Cassie Gant, who also served as an effective prop designer.

Always a fan of Bonfiglo’s innovative eye, he has an imaginative, clear image of an overall picture and how to achieve maximum heart-tugging. To date, Bonfiglio is the only three-time St. Louis Theater Circle Award winner as lead actor in a comedy.

Bonfiglio incorporated so many enchanting aspects – including aerial wizardry! (Kudos to flying effects by On the Fly Productions and fly operators Mason Hunt, Connor Kielty, Isaac Bunting and Elliot Wright).

He set the shimmering tone in the opening “The World Above,” and the cast quickly endeared themselves. Kaelyn McCurtis was a spunky, engaging Ariel with a gorgeous voice, and Xander Ungerboeck was a likable Prince Eric.

Nayomi Shackelford was quite the villainess as Ursula – and special shout-out to Ursula’s shell designer Bess Moynihan. Flotsam and Jetsam looked great – Rian Page and Karajana Caplinger were quite nimble, too.

Grimsby is always an unsung hero, so bravo to Grayson Ritson for an impeccable job keeping the show moving fluidly. Ariel’s six sisters had fun with their roles – Nora Griswold, Clara Garcia, Cora Donaldson, Haylin Travis, Peyton Webster, and Molly Fitzpatrick.

With adorable cheerfulness, the 16-person featured ensemble and the 13-person guppy and gull ensemble added to the show’s big, bright numbers. The cast included student performers, alumni, and adult professionals – including COCA’s Dr. Philip A. Woodmore, Artistic Director of Voice, as King Triton.

They sung their hearts out of composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater’s game-changing score from the 1989 animated film: especially “Part of Your World” and “Kiss the Girl.” Always a showstopper, “Under the Sea” was a fun spectacle – complete with jellyfish, swimming turtles and other marine life.

The three comical characters — Nora Turner as confidante fish Flounder, Brynn Meyer silly seagull Scuttle and Safiya Austin-El as skittish sidekick Sebastian the crab – were standouts, as was Byron Jenkins as the fussy French Chef Louis in his signature number “Les Poissons.”

Pry led an accomplished pit orchestra of 12 – Jonah Larsen, Joe Winters, Anne Stevenson, John Gerdes, Timothy R. Clark, Kris Pineda, Jeffrey Brayden Bollwinkel, Becca Bessette, Stephanie Brueggeman, Brandon Thompson, Alex Macke and Mo Carr.

(Fun fact: The movie is regarded as the property that resuscitated Disney’s reputation and ushered in the studio’s creative renaissance in the 1990s.)

The stage musical arrived in 2007, and there was a live-action remake in 2023.

With strong performances and portraying a vivid underwater fantasy world, COCA offered family-friendly escapism and provided an emotional connection with comedic and theatrical flair.

COCA presented their summer musical, “The Little Mermaid,” on July 17-19 and July 24-26.