GALLERY: EMS takes us ‘Under the Sea’

Posted 2/26/25

Ellsworth Middle School theatre students dazzled sold-out audiences Feb. 20-23 with "Little Mermaid Jr.," directed by Isabella Devereaux-Hanson and Assistant Director Danielle Lewis.

Cast …

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GALLERY: EMS takes us ‘Under the Sea’

Luke Lundstrom played a strong and stern King Triton in Ellsworth Middle School’s production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.” last weekend.

Luke Lundstrom played a strong and stern King Triton in Ellsworth Middle School’s production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.” last weekend.

Sarah Nigbor / PIerce County Journal

The Sea Creatures look on during “Little Mermaid Jr.” as Sebastian the crab introduces a concert to King Triton, featuring Ariel and her six sisters.

The Sea Creatures look on during “Little Mermaid Jr.” as Sebastian the crab introduces a concert to King Triton, featuring Ariel and her six sisters.

Sarah Nigbor / PIerce County Journal

Ariel (played by Laylah Cook) shows Flounder (played by Kadyn Helgeson) a “dinglehopper,” a.k.a. fork, one of her human treasures.

Ariel (played by Laylah Cook) shows Flounder (played by Kadyn Helgeson) a “dinglehopper,” a.k.a. fork, one of her human treasures.

Sarah Nigbor / PIerce County Journal

King Triton looks on as his daughters perform a song for him in Ellsworth Middle School’s “Little Mermaid Jr.” on Saturday, Feb. 22. The sisters were played by Audrah Krig, Cora Peterson, Addison Dodge, Emmie Pechacek, Malanie Seeger and Serenity Raphael.

King Triton looks on as his daughters perform a song for him in Ellsworth Middle School’s “Little Mermaid Jr.” on Saturday, Feb. 22. The sisters were played by Audrah Krig, Cora Peterson, Addison Dodge, Emmie Pechacek, Malanie Seeger and Serenity Raphael.

Sarah Nigbor / PIerce County Journal

Ariel (Laylah Cook) and Flounder (Kadyn Helgeson) sing and dance with Scuttle (played by Gretta Rewolinski) and the other seagulls.

Ariel (Laylah Cook) and Flounder (Kadyn Helgeson) sing and dance with Scuttle (played by Gretta Rewolinski) and the other seagulls.

Sarah Nigbor / PIerce County Journal

Ursula (played by Arie Christensen) and her tentacles plot with Flotsam and Jetsam (played by Ashton Borner and Ezra Borner) to steal Ariel’s voice and Triton’s kingdom in “Little Mermaid Jr.”

Ursula (played by Arie Christensen) and her tentacles plot with Flotsam and Jetsam (played by Ashton Borner and Ezra Borner) to steal Ariel’s voice and Triton’s kingdom in “Little Mermaid Jr.”

Sarah Nigbor / PIerce County Journal

Sebastian (played by Naomi Mbugua) tried to convince Ariel that life “Under the Sea” is better than being a human.

Sebastian (played by Naomi Mbugua) tried to convince Ariel that life “Under the Sea” is better than being a human.

Sarah Nigbor / PIerce County Journal

Chef Louis (played by Ascher Johnson-Hall) sings with his underlings about cooking seafood, much to Sebastian’s dismay.

Chef Louis (played by Ascher Johnson-Hall) sings with his underlings about cooking seafood, much to Sebastian’s dismay.

Sarah Nigbor / PIerce County Journal

Flounder (Kadyn Helgeson), Scuttle (Gretta Rewolinski) and Sebastian (Naomi Mbugua) fret as Ariel tries to save Prince Eric as crew member Haylee Bergh looks on.

Flounder (Kadyn Helgeson), Scuttle (Gretta Rewolinski) and Sebastian (Naomi Mbugua) fret as Ariel tries to save Prince Eric as crew member Haylee Bergh looks on.

Sarah Nigbor / PIerce County Journal

Ursula the Sea Witch and her tentacles take away Ariel’s ability to sing and give her human legs in return.

Ursula the Sea Witch and her tentacles take away Ariel’s ability to sing and give her human legs in return.

Sarah Nigbor / PIerce County Journal

The cast of “Little Mermaid Jr.” sings the final song of the show on Saturday, Feb. 22 in the Ellsworth High School Auditorium.

The cast of “Little Mermaid Jr.” sings the final song of the show on Saturday, Feb. 22 in the Ellsworth High School Auditorium.

Sarah Nigbor / PIerce County Journal

The cast of “Little Mermaid Jr.” sings the final song of the show on Saturday, Feb. 22 in the Ellsworth High School Auditorium.

The cast of “Little Mermaid Jr.” sings the final song of the show on Saturday, Feb. 22 in the Ellsworth High School Auditorium.

Sarah Nigbor / PIerce County Journal

Posted Thursday, February 27, 2025 3:14 pm

Ellsworth Middle School theatre students dazzled sold-out audiences Feb. 20-23 with "Little Mermaid Jr.," directed by Isabella Devereaux-Hanson and Assistant Director Danielle Lewis.

Cast & Crew

Ariel – Laylah Cook

Ariel Understudy – Audrah King

Prince Eric – Brayden Swanson

Prince Eric Understudy – Luke Lundstrom

Sebastian – Naomi Mbugua

Sebastian Understudy – Melanie Seeger

Flounder – Kadyn Helgeson

Flounder Understudy – Makayla Poellinger

Ursula – Arie Christensen

Ursula Understudy – Emmie Pechacek

Scuttle – Gretta Rewolinski

Scuttle Understudy – Cora Peterson

King Triton – Luke Lundstrom

King Triton Understudy – Ascher Johnson-Hall

Grimsby – Konrad Theis

Grimsby Understudy – Ben Helseth

Flotsam – Ezra Borner

Flotsam Understudy – Livia Schladweiler

Jetsam – Ashton Borner

Jetsam Understudy – Ceci Kleeves

Sister: Aquata/Princess – Addy Dodge

Aquata Understudy – Kayleigh Aufderhar

Sister: Andrina/Princess – Audrah King

Andrina Understudy – Megan Peterson

Sister: Arista/Princess – Cora Peterson

Arista Understudy – Makenzie Larson

Sister: Atina/Princess – Emmie Pechacek

Atina Understudy – Alora Christensen

Sister: Adella/Princess – Melanie Seeger

Adella Understudy – Grace Turvaville

Sister: Allana/Princess – Ren Raphael

Allana Understudy – June Feuerhelm

Chef Louis – Ascher Johnson-Hall

Chef Louis Understudy – Brennor Levers

Carlotta – Aubrey Faber

Pilot – Evan Ladwig

Pilot Understudy – Radley Gilbertson-Cross

Seahorses – Chase Wilcox, Luca Weiss

Gulls – Max Mandelkow, Ben Boyle and Ceci Kleeves

Ensemble

Kayleigh Aufderhar, Alice Barrett, Alexis Bien*, Isabella Blue, Alora Christian, Kaia Christopherson*, June Feuerhelm, Reese Franklin*, Peyton Frion*, Isabella Ganser, Radley Gilbertson-Cross, Ben Helseth, Ellie Holst, Anna Kelly, Natalie Kirchner, Addy Knutson*, Belle Kuske, Makenzie Larson, Brennor Levers, Megan Peterson*, Shelby Peterson, McKayla Poellinger, Anna Puhrmann, Bree Richardson, Mya Ruka*, Livia Schladweiler, Viola Schmidt, Linnea Sears, Victor Schiller, Isabelle Swanson*, Kylie Thiry Coffin, Levi Tomlinson, Grace Turvaville, Natalya Walker

~Stage managers marked with an *

Set Crew
Kyla Wilk, Lyla Soley, Samantha Augustine, Layla Ingli, Grace Lutfi, Evie Deringer, Zak Zierl, Annaka Edgar, Zach Smith, Blake Girdeen, Jaxon McChane, Mia Murphy, Haylee Bergh, Max Levine, Stella Deml, Brielle O’Neill*, Maddie Meier*