Cast Member Ashlyn Bray Reflects on Preparation for Production of “The Little Mermaid”
Getting ready for a musical theatre production is a lot of fun, but it’s a lot of work as well. Wayne Township Community Theatre is in the home stretch of rehearsals for its presentation of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” which will be performed weekends from June 16-25.
The Little Mermaid tells the story of a magical kingdom beneath the sea, where a beautiful young mermaid named Ariel longs to leave her ocean home for the world above. Ashlyn Bray, who’s entering her senior year at Ben Davis High School, will play the character Jetsam in the upcoming production. Below, Ashlyn talks about what it’s like to be part of this cast, and why she’s been involved in Wayne Township Community Theatre presentations for nearly a decade:
How old were you when you did your first camp with Wayne Township Community Theatre?
I was 8 years old.
Do you remember what production you did that year?
My first production was “The Magic Treehouse, Knight at Dawn.”
Why did you enjoy being part of the theatre camps?
I always had so much fun at theater camps! Not only did we put on a production in the time we had, but we also played fun games, painted sets and designed fun costumes for our characters. I enjoyed getting to meet different kids from our community and becoming friends with so many different people.
Tell us a little about playing Jetsam, and what your character is like.
Jetsam is one of the sea witch, Ursula’s, minion eels. The character is sly but silly. I like playing the silly characters.
Are you enjoying working on the production of “The Little Mermaid?”
Yes!
What are rehearsals like?
I love the environment that we have in rehearsals. Everyone is very welcoming and talented. We make jokes and have fun, but we also accomplish what we need to. I always have a blast getting to work with everyone!
Based on one of Hans Christian Anderson’s most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” includes music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken. Directed by Craig Underwood, with music directed by Will Scharfenburger, the cast of nearly 50 includes both children and adults from Wayne Township and the greater Indianapolis area.
Friday and Saturday performances of “The Little Mermaid” are at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. All shows will be held in the Ben Davis High School Theatre, 1200 N. Girls School Rd., Indianapolis, IN, Door 2. The June 23 performance will feature an ASL Interpreter.
Admission for Wayne Township students is free. All other tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 60 and over, and $8 for non-students. You may purchase tickets in advance here.
ABOUT THE WAYNE TOWNSHIP EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The Wayne Township Education Foundation (WTEF) provides community leadership to enrich, engage, and stimulate teaching and learning in the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township. WTEF accomplishes this by supporting school programs and resources, while recognizing excellence among students and staff. To learn more about WTEF, call 317-988-7966, visit wtef.wayne.k12.in.us, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter @WayneTwpEdFound.
