Oklahoma City Ballet will conclude their 2020/21 Season with The Little Mermaid at Civic Center Music Hall, April 16-18 for three performances. Performances will take place Friday, April 16 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 18 at 2:00 p.m. Single tickets start at $30 and are available now through Oklahoma City Ballet and Civic Center Box Offices or online at www.okcballet.org.
The Little Mermaid is based on Hans Christian Andersen’s 1837 short story with choreography by Oklahoma City Ballet Artistic Director Robert Mills. Upon its premiere in 2018, The Oklahoman called Mills’ The Little Mermaid “a brilliant blend of innovation and tradition.” The music for this production is composed by Alexander Von Zemlinsky (Der Seejungfrau) and Reinhold Gliere (selections from The Red Poppy).
“There will be many new features in this production, however it will still include the fun cast of characters and incredibly creative costumes. As a choreographer, I cannot help but continue to evolve the movements, especially when working with such a fun and familiar story,” said Mills.
This family-friendly production follows the story of a young mermaid named Ariel who falls in love with the handsome Prince Eric. Through a spell cast by an evil sea witch, Ariel gives up her voice and her life in the sea for a chance to make the prince fall in love with her. This tale of how a mermaid becomes a princess includes an incredible cast of whimsical sea creatures, multimedia projections, and spectacular costumes. Audiences will be surprised to see how a ballerina can swim like a mermaid onstage with the help of her fellow dancers.
In an abundance of caution, all Oklahoma City Ballet performances this season are one hour. “The ballet premiered in 2018 with an intermission, but it was created to be performed without an intermission as it will be presented this time, making it a great one hour event for families whether they watch in person or at home,” said Mills. This safety precaution is a trend that performing arts groups across the nation are adopting. A one-hour production means no intermissions, no long bathroom or concession lines, and plenty of time to exit the theater in an organized fashion.
Oklahoma City Ballet is encouraging patrons to be aware of the safety policies at the Civic Center Music Hall performance. Guests are required to wear a mask indoors, get a temperature check at the door, social distance in the venue, and sanitize hands properly. Because of social distancing mandates, the theater will be at approximately 35% capacity, therefore tickets are limited.
For those who are more comfortable watching from home, Oklahoma City Ballet will offer The Little Mermaid at Home, a video-on demand option that will be available to watch unlimited from April 17 through May 9. The virtual performance is $30 and will go on sale April 1.
Single tickets may be purchased by calling Oklahoma City Ballet at 405-848-TOES (8637) or online at www.okcballet.org or by calling the Civic Center Box Office at 405-297-2264. All performances take place at the Civic Center Music Hall, 201 North Walker, Oklahoma City.
For a more information, tickets and list of available performances, call 405-838-TOES (8637) or visit okcballet.org