DANBURY — Musicals at Richter continues its strong 41st season of performances with Disney’s The Little Mermaid, which runs through August 9.

This beloved underwater adventure, based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the classic animated Disney film, lights up the Musicals at Richter stage through beautiful lighting, gorgeous costume design, and a talented and passionate cast and crew.

Somewhere under the sea is Ariel (played by Lauren Dattilo), a mermaid and the youngest daughter to King Triton (Patrick Spaulding). Ariel longs to leave her ocean home and live in the world above, much to the chagrin of her bubbly yet cowardly friend Flounder (Jack Ranieri) and King Triton’s stern but anxious advisor Sebastian (Mensah Robinson).

When she has a chance encounter with the charming and adventurous Prince Eric (Robert Halliwell), Ariel is smitten and drawn more than ever to the surface. The cold and calculating sea witch Ursula (Ashley McLeod) uses this to her advantage and offers Ariel a deal, one that threatens to spell ruin for the young mermaid and her kingdom.

Dattilo truly feels as though Ariel walked out of the television screen and onto the stage. She carries herself with this ever-present wonder and amazement that is on full display with her facial expressions and movements.

Even when she loses her voice and cannot express herself to the other characters through dialogue, Ariel’s earnest passion and love of the world around her come through in how she dances and smiles. Dattilo’s voice is also as emotive as it is powerful, which makes Ariel’s signature song “Part of Your World” shine and an undeniable highlight of the show.

Of course, there is no little mermaid without an equally charming and deviously entertaining sea witch. McLeod takes on the role and it’s clear to see she enjoys every second of it. She balances Ursula’s haughty and flamboyant attitude with her deceptive charm throughout the show, but especially in “Poor Unfortunate Souls.”

McLeod perfectly conveys Ursula’s seething anger for King Triton, along with her stone cold ambition to get the kingdom she never had, through her larger than life body language and stunning voice.

These two are far from the only amazing performers in the cast. Robinson is the perfect Sebastian. He absolutely nails the accent, as well as Sebastian’s wide range of emotions. He is so effortlessly charming in “Under the Sea” that Sebastian’s love of the ocean is infectious, while his facial expressions and physical comedy moments make him a big source of laughs throughout the show.

Ranieri as Flounder is an absolute treat. He’s another person who brings a lot of laughs thanks to his great comedic timing and switching from his bubbly and exuberant side to his cowardly side that stammers when he messes up. While some audience members might not be familiar with “She’s in Love,” as it’s new to the show’s Broadway adaptation, Ranieri and the six lovely Mersisters do a fantastic job with this fun doo-wop number.

From Robert Halliwell and his confident yet personable portrayal of Prince Eric, leading a great sentimental number with Ariel in “One Step Closer,” to Rob Mayette as Chef Louis, who sells the physical comedy of the character and his obsessive passion for cooking seafood, it’s hard to not be excited when seeing a new character take the stage.

The entire cast is fantastic, as well as those in the ensemble. They help make numbers such as “Kiss the Girl” or “Les Poissons” come to life by acting as colorful and bubbly sea creatures or determined yet goofy chefs.

Much like Evita last season, Musicals at Richter’s new modern lighting truss system elevates several moments of the show, from Prince Eric drowning to Ariel losing her voice and frantically swimming to the surface, and makes them feel all the more grand.

The backgrounds and costuming of the show are also fantastic. Designing costumes for animals, especially wildly different sea creatures, must be challenging, but Costume Coordinator and Wig Designer Stephanie Salsman, as well as DB Productions Costume Rental, which supplied the costumes, help bring these beloved characters to live.

From Ariel’s gorgeous curly red hair to Sebastian’s dazzling crab outfit lined with gold decal, to the various miscellaneous animals like turtles, butterflies, and seagulls, everything comes together and looks amazing. The set design, courtesy of David Halliwell and Robert Bria, is also great.

The sea coral in places like Ariel’s human treasure trove pops out in these beautiful blues that feel as though they actually come from the seafloor. It’s a nice complement to the evil ominous nature of Ursula’s lair and the dark purples and light green lights that bounce off of Ursula’s gray coral.

It feels so fantastical yet charming, and it’s this and every other aspect of the show that make this production an absolute treat no one should miss.

Performances continue Friday through Sunday evening at 8 pm until Saturday, August 9. An additional, specially discounted performance is planned for Thursday, August 7.

Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors (65+) and students (with ID), and $15 for children 10 and under. For August 7 tickets are $25, $20 and $10, respectively. Audience members are encouraged to take chairs and blankets for lawn seating, along with food and drink to enjoy during the show. A concession stand is available for stacks. Visit musicalsatrichter.org for reservations and additional information.

Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.