“Under the Sea” at JWP

Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton presented four brilliant shows of The Little Mermaid this past week from Thursday, November 10 to Saturday, November 12.

A total of 59 students and five teachers contributed to this year’s production of the JWP musical. It was lead director and producer Teagan Knoblich’s first year directing a musical after band director Adam Hille directed Brigadoon in 2021. Hille took a more limited role as the conductor. Other helpers were choral director Josh Sorenson, stage manager Melanie Morrow, and choreographer Brook Ling.

After the group’s first performance on Thursday night, stage manager Morrow called Knoblich to the stage where she and the cast gifted her with roses. The cast and crew also brought back some traditions from past performances after halting them due to the Covid-19 pandemic. One was having a cast meet-and-greet before the Saturday afternoon show to interact with children attending the performance. Another tradition brought back was holding a cast celebration after the closing show on Saturday night. This year, the restaurant of choice was Buffalo Wild Wings in Mankato.

Leading this year’s cast was Ali Olson as Ariel, Ethan Born as Prince Eric, James Bleess as Grimsby, Ava McNair as Flounder, Jaxon Miller as Scuttle, Michael VanRavenhorst as King Triton, Eric Daschner as Sebastian, Ariana Aguilar as Flotsam, Maddy Cowdin as Jetsam, Lily Blaisdell as Ursula, and Isaiah Berndt as Chef Louis.

The other sixteen cast members took on multiple smaller roles. Katie Olson, Allie Hanks, Ellah Oliver, Trista Bonnifield, Lillian Ewert and Ava Appel played Ariel’s sisters and princesses. Mer-sister roles were Olson as Andrina, Hanks as Aquata, Oliver as Arista, Bonnifield as Atina, Ewert as Adella, and Appel as Allana. Playing other sea creatures and maids were Victoria Blomstrom, Mikayla Wheelock, Kwynn Krause, Nevaeh Weimert and Mikiya Hermel. Lily Quast was the windward and a courtier while Mikayla Wheelock was the leeward and a courtier. Derek Gustafson, Eli Rolfson, and Shane Witts played three roles as sailors, seagulls, and chefs with Witts playing the pilot of the sailors.

A group of 16 students made up this year’s pit orchestra, which was behind the stage for the first time in recent musical history. Members were Lexie Dahlberg and Lydia Sack on flute and piccolo; Mules Kruger on soprano saxophone; Lauren White on clarinet and bass clarinet; Luke Cahill on alto saxophone; Kaden Baker on French horn; Alex Kleve, Zach Groll, and Jake Olson on trumpet; Austin Carda on the kit; Erik Schauer on percussion; Kristina Marti and Josh Sorenson on keyboard; Jack Cahill on baritone saxophone; and Mike Berding on acoustic bass.

Another 16 students were members of the stage crew. Sophie Coulsey was a stage manager along with Melanie Morrow; Kelton Erler and Sam Ryan were in charge of sound and lights; and Anne Adams, Aubrey Adams, Haylee Appel, Abby Compton, Clare Groh, Chloe Kaiser, Ashlin Keyes, Ava Krause, Rachelle Oelke, Faith Olson, Hudson Miller, Leo Powell, and Stacia Zeiher were stagehands and helped create the set. Compton and Powell were also in charge of wardrobe.

This year, JWP was able to rent costumes fromMinnesota State University of Mankato’s Theater Department. Science teacher Erik Kehoe also contributed by 3D printing tiaras and other props. Many other staff members, parents, and other contributors to this year’s production of The Little Mermaid received thanks for making everything possible.