Ursula, played by Maela Neuss, steals the voice of Ariel, played by Jessika Holmes, as Jetsam and Flotsam, played by Chandler Crawford, left, and Britney Lackey, look on.

‘Little Mermaid Jr.’ to have four public performances

Jessika Holmes always dreamed of getting to play the part of Ariel from the Little Mermaid.

This week, she will get that opportunity, as College Street Players will be presenting Disney’s “Little Mermaid Jr.” at the new Hartselle High School auditorium.

“It was my favorite movie as I was growing up,” said Holmes, who attends Brewer High School. “I’ve always wanted to play the part of Ariel. It’s a dream come true for me.”

The cast of more than 80 has been practicing since the beginning of this year about three times a week to prepare for the musical, which will have performances nightly Thursday through Saturday with a 2:30 p.m. matinee. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and students and can be purchased at Zoey’s Downtown, Hartselle Fine Arts Center and Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce.

Maela Neuss said she was just coming along to support Holmes when she came to auditions for the musical. Neuss left with the part Ursula.

“I hadn’t even prepared for the auditions, but Jessika told me I needed to try out,” Neuss said. “And I landed the part.”

Neuss said she has had to work at playing the role of the evil sea witch.

“They’ve really had to draw the meanness out of me,” Holmes said. “That’s not really who I am.”

“But they haven’t been around all the time,” Holmes added.

Chandler Crawford and Britney Lackey said they have enjoyed playing the roles of Ursula’s evil eels, Flotsam and Jetsam.

“I’ve always wanted to play evil on stage,” Lackey said. “In every other thing that I’ve done, I’ve been a good character. So this has been a blast.”

Hannah Steinberg, who plays the role of Ariel’s best friend Flounder, said the cast has grown really close to each other.

“We’re just like a big family,” she said.

Cast list

Ariel – Jessika Holmes

Sebastian – Emily Amos

Flounder – Hannah Steinberg

Ursula – Maela Neuss

Flotsam – Britney Lackey

Jetsam – Chandler Crawford

Prince Eric – Hunter King

King Triton – Jamie McKelvy

Grimsby – Jacob Crawford

Carlotta – Rachael Robbins

Mersisters and Princesses – Jessica Beal, Emily Crouch, Erin Kenney, Kayla Lacy, Sidney Vanderhoff, Shelby Vaughn

Scuttle – Sara Winton Gulls – Hailey Beard, Quinn Holsclaw, Ivy Johnson

Pilot – Sean Thompson

Sailors – Zachary Amos, Ben Crawford, Cal George, Zac Stringer, Stephen Vanderhoff

Lyrical Dancers – Morgan Abercrombie, Nia Brewer, Emma Sue Carnes, Becca Faulk, Rebecca Longobardi, Julya McMinemon

Ocean Waves – Keara Blankenship, Halle Bone, Reagin Kenney, Hayden Roden, Jenni Cate Rhodes, Brianna Ward

Chef Louis – Kayla Herwig

Chefs – Mary Elizabeth Booth, Emory Carnes Kendra Crow, Maddie Grace Giers, Elliott Johnson, Kylee Howell, Catherine Keel, Rebekah Vaughn

Seahorses – Brantley Blaxton, Anna Swindell, Mollie Swindell

Mermaid –Terra Bragwell, Lauren Maxson, Anna Lee McCaghren, Zoe Nagel, Elizabeth Weeks

Rainbow Fish – Kayla Blackburn, Andra Pleasant, Victoria Starr

Sharks – Garret Blaxton, Paxtin Dupper, Griff Knox, Hayden Moon

Turtles – Sarah Longobardi, Emma Maxson

Jellyfish – Marylee Bargas, Maddie Kate Stafford

Pole Jelly Fish – Zac Stringer, Sean Thompson

Tropical Fish on Poles – Zachary Amos, Ben Crawford, Cal George, Mason Moon, Stephen Vanderhoff

Crab – Sophie Claire Herring, Ella Pike, Camryn Willingham, Olivia Wunch

Duck – Adeline Harper, Audrey Weddington, Kylee Rae Wyatt

Flamingo – Kinley Grace Coots, Trinity Kate Coots, Audrey Nicole Easter, Hali Easter

Frog – Leah Johnson, Cameron Taylor, Sierra Warnick, Anna Grace Patterson

Snail – Kaylee Bowen, Victoria Starr

Tech and Production Crew – Dakota Goff, Spencer Bell