Little Mermaid Lyrics – All Songs from the Musical

The famous Danish fairy tale about "The Little Mermaid" has long attracted the attention of the Walt Disney Company. In 1988, the animated film of the same name was created. D. Wright wrote the libretto to the full-length film; the author of the musical accompaniment was A. Menken. The authors of the lyrics were G. Slater & H. Ashman. This cartoon has become a kind of mascot of The Walt Disney Company and served as a starting point for the end of a long creative crisis. In the summer of 2007, the libretto by D. Wright was reused for the production of a stage version of the famous animated film. In early 2008, the performance was on the stage of the Lunt-Fontanne Theater on Broadway. Francesca Zambello directed the staging. In 2012, for the first time the musical was released in Netherlands and went in triumphal tour across the country (tour lasted until mid of 2013). In spring 2012, the play was staged in Eurasian part of Asia. This was a complete repetition of the European version. Unlike the mobile Dutch version, Asian performance was made stationary.

Article Type: Production History and Overview.

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The Little Mermaid musical expanded far beyond its Broadway bow. New stagings reshaped story, score, and design. The title remains a Disney Theatrical cornerstone.

Pre-Broadway and Broadway specifics.

After a Denver tryout in 2007, Broadway previews began on November 3, 2007. The stagehand strike paused performances, then previews resumed on November 29. Opening moved to January 10, 2008. Closing followed on August 30, 2009, after 50 previews and 685 performances.

Direction came from Francesca Zambello. Book by Doug Wright. Music by Alan Menken. Lyrics by Howard Ashman with new lyrics by Glenn Slater.

The original cast featured Sierra Boggess as Ariel. Sean Palmer played Eric. Sherie Rene Scott conjured Ursula. Norm Lewis ruled as Triton. Tituss Burgess voiced Sebastian.

Signature Broadway visuals.

Designers leaned into glide effects on stage. Heelys suggested undersea motion. Later versions favored aerial rigs.

2012 reboot, the Dutch reimagining.

Director Glenn Casale rebuilt the show for the Netherlands in 2012. The book tightened pacing. The score shifted tone. A new Ursula number, “Daddy’s Little Angel.” replaced an earlier song. “Human Stuff” was removed. The pop-up book surface world appeared. Flounder read older, not childlike. Carlotta vanished, with lines folded into Grimsby.

These changes seeded the licensed script used worldwide today.

From the Netherlands to Moscow and Tokyo.

The Dutch tour launched June 16, 2012. It settled in Utrecht that September. The run continued through July 7, 2013.

Russia adopted the revised staging in 2012. Moscow’s Rossiya Theatre hosted a stationary production. Opening landed October 8, 2012. The run built strong attendance and recognition.

Japan followed with Shiki Theatre Company. Tokyo opened April 7, 2013. The production later toured regionally. Dates spanned 2013 to 2020, before pandemic disruptions.

Recent American revivals and momentum.

Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre revived the musical in 2023. The staging celebrated the film’s 35th anniversary. The revival featured energetic flight and refreshed visuals.

Paper Mill Playhouse presented a large 2025 production. The run played May 29 to June 29, 2025. Director and choreographer was JoAnn M. Hunter. Ariel was Hillary Fisher. Ursula was Haven Burton. The company included Mark Doyle, Sean Patrick Doyle, Kyle Taylor Parker, and Graham Rowat.

Music and cast album.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording arrived February 26, 2008. Label, Walt Disney Records. It preserves Menken’s expanded score for stage. Track highlights include “If Only” and “One Step Closer.”

Licensing and educational reach.

Today, the revised edition is widely licensed. MTI supplies materials for schools and regionals. Design guides encourage practical undersea illusions.

Trailer figure.

Trailer reflects the 2012 Dutch retool’s visual language. Staging emphasizes flight and silhouette.

Key productions timeline.

Year.	City.	Director.	Notable elements.
2007.	Denver.	Francesca Zambello.	Pre-Broadway tryout, new stage material.
2008.	Broadway.	Francesca Zambello.	Heelys glide effect, original cast features Boggess.
2012.	Netherlands.	Glenn Casale.	Rewritten book, new Ursula song, pop-up surfaces.
2012.	Moscow.	Glenn Casale.	Stationary run, revised design language.
2013.	Tokyo.	Glenn Casale.	Long Shiki engagement, later regional moves.
2023.	Seattle.	Glenn Casale.	Anniversary revival, updated flights.
2025.	Millburn.	JoAnn M. Hunter.	Large-scale Paper Mill staging.

Why the reboot mattered.

The 2012 overhaul clarified Ursula and Triton’s shared past. Stakes felt sharper. The surface world looked storybook crisp, almost sculpted. Aerial choreography delivered tidal flow. The property finally swam with ease.

SEO notes and keywords.

• Primary keywords: The Little Mermaid musical, Disney musical, Broadway musical.
• Secondary keywords: Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Glenn Slater, Doug Wright.
• Regional hooks: Netherlands tour, Moscow production, Shiki Theatre Company Tokyo.
• Current hooks: 2023 Seattle revival, 2025 Paper Mill production.

Questions and Answers

What distinguishes the 2012 version?

New book structure, aerial movement, and revised Ursula material.

Is the licensed script the revised one?

Yes. The Casale version underpins most licensed productions.

Which songs changed most?

“Daddy’s Little Angel” arrived. “Human Stuff” often vanished.

Where did the show last surge in the U.S.?

Seattle in 2023, then Paper Mill Playhouse in 2025.

Does the cast album reflect revisions?

No. It documents the 2008 Broadway edition.