The Little Mermaid Jr. is a stage musical produced by Disney Theatrical, based on the animated 1989 Disney film of the same name and the classic story of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen about a mermaid who dreams of the world above the sea and gives up her voice to find love.
The Little Mermaid Jr. first became available to license by the company Music Theater International and Disney Theatrical Productions.
Deep on the ocean floor in the merfolk kingdom, a concert in honor of a thwarted coup d'état by Ursula is underway, being performed by the daughters of Triton the sea king.
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.
When Ariel returns home, she is berated by King Triton, who is angered to learn that she has been on the surface, since contact between the merfolk and human world is forbidden.
In exchange, Ariel must give up her voice, which will stay in Ursula's magic nautilus shell ("Poor Unfortunate Souls").
Sebastian returns to the sea and tells an angry King Triton about Ariel's deal with Ursula.
Eric picks her, but before they can embrace, Ursula appears, declaring that the sun has set and Ariel now belongs to her.
Ursula claims the trident and declares herself queen ("Poor Unfortunate Souls" (Reprise)).
During a battle with Eric's ship, Ariel grabs Ursula's Nautilus shell and regains her voice.
Ariel is torn but destroys the shell just in time, which restores King Triton to his throne and daughter.
In the musical, the storm at sea sequence is simplified, and Eric merely falls overboard; his sheepdog, Max, is not included, and there is no gunpowder explosion.
Ursula's alter ego, Vanessa, is also not included, thereby omitting the subplot of Eric's brainwashing, leading to "The Contest".