Its underwater setting and story about aquatic characters requires unusual technical designs and strategies to create gliding movements for the actors.

After a pre-Broadway tryout in Denver, Colorado from July to September 2007, the musical began Broadway previews on November 3, 2007, at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, replacing Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

Disney Theatrical had success with stage adaptations of its animated musical films Beauty and the Beast in 1994 and The Lion King in 1997.

[2] Playwright Doug Wright was brought on as book writer, focusing the story line on Ariel's longing not for her prince, but for "a world in which she feels truly realized in her own terms.

[3] The design team consisted of George Tsypin for sets, Natasha Katz for lighting, and Tatiana Noginova for costumes – all three of whom had previously worked with Zambello.

[2] For the performers' movements, choreographer Stephen Mear had the actors wear Heelys wheeled footwear, dubbed "merblades", while tails on sprung-steel rods, designed by Michael Curry, were attached to their hips.

[5] The Little Mermaid had a pre-Broadway tryout at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts' Ellie Caulkins Opera House from July 26, 2007, through September 9, 2007.

[11] Jodi Benson and Pat Carroll, who starred in the 1989 animated film as Ariel and Ursula, respectively, attended the opening night ceremony.

Scenic design was by George Tsypin, costumes by Tatiana Noginova, lighting by Natasha Katz and projections by Sven Ortel.

The original cast featured newcomer Sierra Boggess in the title role of Ariel, Sean Palmer as Prince Eric, Brian D'Addario and Trevor Braun alternated as Flounder, Norm Lewis as King Triton, Sherie Rene Scott as Ursula, Tituss Burgess as Sebastian, Tyler Maynard as Flotsam, Derrick Baskin as Jetsam, Jonathan Freeman as Grimsby, and John Treacy Egan as Chef Louis.

[13] Thomas Schumacher, producer and president of Disney Theatrical Productions said, "it would be fiscally irresponsible to our shareholders to risk operating losses with such a big show in the historically challenging fall months.

"[14] Regional US productions include the Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Ivins, Utah (2011, 2014, 2019);[15] The Muny, St. Louis, Missouri (2011, 2017);[16][17] the California Musical Theatre, Sacramento (2012);[5] the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey (2013),[18][19] the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota (2014),[20] the Music Hall at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas (2014),[21] and the White Plains Performing Arts Center, New York (2014).

[26] A Hebrew production ran in Tel Aviv and other cities in Israel during the 2010/2011 season, directed by Moshe Kaftan and starring Rinat Gabay as Ariel and Guy Zu-Aretz as Prince Eric.

[27] Atlantis Productions staged its own version on the show at the Meralco Theater in Manila, where it ran from November 18, 2011, to December 11, 2011, with Rachelle Ann Go as Ariel and Erik Santos as Prince Eric.

[5] In Russia The Little Mermaid opened on October 8, 2012, at the Rossiya Theatre in Moscow, using the Dutch designs and directions by Bob Crowley and Glenn Casale, respectively.

The final performance in Sapporo was initially expected to take place on March 15, 2020, but it was moved forward due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

[41] A Dutch-language production directed by Frank Van Laecke ran at the Flanders Expo in Ghent from a December 13, 2017, to January 7, 2018.

[42][43][44] The first Latin American production opened on March 30, 2018, at the Teatro Santander in São Paulo, produced by IMM and EGG Entretenimento, and closed on July 29, 2018.

She was banished from the palace for using black magic, and tells her minions Flotsam and Jetsam to keep an eye on Ariel, whom she thinks will be the key to getting the crown and trident ("I Want the Good Times Back").

Triton angrily confronts her about it ("The World Above (Reprise)"), uncovers her grotto and uses his trident to destroy Ariel's human collection.

After the king leaves, Sebastian tries to comfort Ariel by pointing out the wonders of the undersea world ("Under the Sea"), but she is disappointed with him for reporting to her father and sneaks off with Flounder during the song.

In exchange, Ariel must give up her voice, which will stay in Ursula's magic nautilus shell ("Poor Unfortunate Souls").

Meanwhile, Ursula is anxiously waiting for the three days to end and sends Flotsam and Jetsam to hurry things along ("I Want the Good Times Back (Reprise)").

As they are about to kiss, Flotsam and Jetsam give the boat an "electric shock", scare the animals away, and swim away gloating ("Sweet Child (Reprise)").

During a battle with Eric's ship, Ariel grabs Ursula's nautilus shell and regains her voice (which causes a horrified Flotsam and Jetsam to swim away).

These included Ursula's "Wasting Away", "All Good Things Must End", and an alternate version of "Poor Unfortunate Souls (Reprise)".

In the Dutch production reinvented by Glenn Casale, a new song called "Daddy's Little Angel" replaced "I Want the Good Times Back", while "Human Stuff" and "Sweet Child (Reprise)" were cut.

[5][53] The official version currently licensed for regional and professional productions incorporates more changes in the songlist order and adds a new reprise of "If Only" in which Triton laments over the loss of his wife.

It was released on February 26, 2008, by Walt Disney Records, produced by Alan Menken and features performances from the show's cast, which includes Boggess, Burgess, Scott, Lewis and Korbich.

Coherence of plot, endearing quirks of character, even the melodious wit of the original score (supplemented by new, substandard songs...) have been swallowed by an unfocused spectacle.