MEADVILLE —
The Oil Region Ballet will begin its fourth season with the production of “The Little Mermaid” on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m. at The Academy Theatre in Meadville.
The Oil Region Ballet (ORB) hopes that the “The Little Mermaid” will join the ranks of the ORB’s productions that also include “Cinderella,” “Bremen Town Musicians,” “Le Train Bleu” and “Alice in Wonderland.” ORB’s group of young performers continues to provide local audiences with displays of artistic skill and choreography.
Returning to the 17-member company for its fourth season are dancers Madison Henry, Julie Martin, Morgan Jacoby, Abbey Shull, Hannah Young, Erin Edwards, Erica Perry, Victoria Stachelrodt and Audrianna Montgomery of Franklin; Rachel Leech of Meadville; Shannon Wolff of Cochranton; Dreama Nelson of Erie; and Brendan Glover of Pittsburgh. Joining them for the 2012-2013 season are four new dancers Trevor Runco of Punxsutawney; Lauren Wellman of Centerville; and Caroline Coulter and Lily Dunn of Grove City. In addition to ORB corps de ballet members, Rick Loeffert of Franklin will make a special appearance in “The Little Mermaid” as “Poseidon” and a puppeteer.
Henry is cast in the lead role of “The Little Mermaid.” She is a sophomore at Franklin Area High School and has been dancing for nine years at Studio 22 in Franklin.
In ORB’s performance of “The Little Mermaid,” based on Hans Christian Anderson’s writings, the title character is the youngest of four sisters who longs to see the unknown world above the sea. On her 16th birthday, “The Little Mermaid” is allowed her first trip to the surface. Here, she falls in love with a “Prince of the Land,” portrayed by Glover, and so begins all of her adventures, pulling together people of two very different worlds.
Henry dances this demanding role on pointe for the entire performance, crossing between sea life and the unknown world above, transforming from a mermaid to a human girl right on stage. She finds herself under the power of the evil “Sea Witch,” danced by Jacoby, a Slippery Rock University sophomore, and must fight her way free of the witch’s evil influence.
A brief meet-and-greet with cast members of “The Little Mermaid” will be held on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
The ORB will change venues two weekends later to the Barrow-Civic Theatre in Franklin, where the opening night performance will be April 5 at 7:30 p.m. Encore performances are set for April 6 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
n More information: Visit oilregionballet.org.
Local News
Related Photos
-
From left: Trevor Runco of Punxsutawney plays the ‘Lobster,’ Madison Henry of Franklin takes the lead role as ‘The Little Mermaid’ and Erin Edwards of Franklin is the ‘Guppy’ in ‘The Little Mermaid,’ which will be performed by the Oil Region Ballet at The Academy Theatre on Friday and Saturday. Courtesy Tom Leech
Discussion
'The Little Mermaid' on Academy Theatre stage Friday and Saturday
Show is start of regional ballet's fourth season
- Local News
-
-
Outsourcing at center of Crawford Central budget talks
Representing the 120 members of the Crawford Central Educational Support Personnel Association, Orrie Long, custodian at East End Elementary School at Second District Elementary School, told members of Crawford Central School Board Monday night that the standing-room-only crowd of 40 white-shirted men and women filling the room for the board’s monthly work session were there to show support for their union’s negotiating team.
-
Dedicated group in search of history at Geneva Cemetery site
The genealogists, historians and local residents who scoured overgrown, knee-high fields to uncover Old Geneva Cemetery described the sight as bittersweet — awe-inspiring in its significance, but in a depressing state of disrepair.
-
Fund drive on for Asbury Manor bus stop project
Allegheny College art students working with local engineers to construct a bus shelter for Asbury Manor East launched an online campaign to raise funds for the project, which is sponsored in part by the Crawford County Area Transportation Authority (CATA).
-
Camp Cadet training starts today
The day begins at 5:30 a.m. this week on the Allegheny College campus as Pennsylvania State Police Troop E Erie Camp Cadet program celebrates 40th anniversary.
-
Make A Difference Day needs storage space
Make A Difference Day — Crawford County’s annual day of service that has helped countless residents during its 19 years — is now itself in need of help.
-
Retired nurse taps into her golden years
After 50 years in nursing, Shirley Hornfeck had a burning desire to do something really different when she retired from that profession in 2004.
-
PHOTOS: Thurston Classic 2013
Click photo for slideshow -
United Way salutes committed community members
Local residents Tom Chalmers and Dwight Haas exemplify what community service is all about, according to members of the United Way of Western Crawford County, who saw fit to honor them at the organization’s annual donor celebration, held at Sprague Farm & Brew Works in Venango on Saturday afternoon.
-
Thurston gets off the ground; more events to come
Spectators attending the 25th annual Thurston Classic Hot Air Balloon Event Friday evening saw the sponsor’s flight kick off to a rather unusual start — balloons took flight from individual locations beyond Allegheny College’s Robertson Field.
-
New events to mark this year's Thunder in the City
Thunder in the City, the annual free family fun classic car and motorcycle festival, has some new events with this year’s fifth anniversary — a motorcycle competition, a Corvette parade and a scenic bike run.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Outsourcing at center of Crawford Central budget talks
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades
Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Raw: Obama Arrives in Berlin
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Obama Seeks G-8 Support on Syria
Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
Suicide Bombs Target Baghdad Mosque, Killing 29
Military Plans to Put Women in Combat Jobs
Solar Power Chargers in NYC Parks
Civil Rights Groups Sue NYPD Over Muslim Spying
Raw: First Lady, Daughters Enjoy Irish Sights
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Boeing, Airbus Battle for Sales Supremacy
