Cultural Events

Andersen Tale To Continue Richter Summer Season

Published: Jul 19, 2025 7:00 am

DANBURY — Musicals at Richter (MAR) will continue its 41st season with Disney’s The Little Mermaid, July 25 to August 9.

With a live band and a cast of talented local actors, performances will take place outdoors under the stars at Richter Arts Center, 100 Aunt Hack Road in Danbury, adjacent to Richter Park Public Golf Course.

Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. With music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and a compelling book by Doug Wright, this fishy fable captures audiences’ hearts with its irresistible songs, including “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Part of Your World.”

In this telling of the tale, Ariel — King Triton’s youngest daughter — wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. The bargain is not what it seems, however, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull, and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea.

At the helm for this voyage is Director David Halliwell, who returns to Richter after the successful production of The Music Man in 2023.

Joining Halliwell as music director is Fiona Bryson, who returns to Richter after appearing as the Dragon in 2019’s Shrek the Musical.

Rounding out the creative team is choreographer Melissa (Missy) Arizzi, the award-winning choreographer and owner of Just Dance School of Performing Arts in Danbury. Disney’s The Little Mermaid marks her second time choreographing for Musicals at Richter, after creating the steps for last year’s production of Grease.

The cast features 38 area actors. Heading the cast are Lauren Dattilo (Southington) as Ariel and Robert Halliwell (Derby) as her suitor, Prince Eric. Patrick Spaulding (New Fairfield) plays Ariel’s father King Triton and Mensah Robinson (Danbury) is Sebastian, Triton’s trusted counselor and the Royal Court composer.

Ariel’s best friend, Flounder, is portrayed by Jack Ranieri (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.), while Robert Bria (Redding) plays the role of Scuttle, a seagull who is a self-proclaimed expert on all human objects.

Ashley McLeod (Newtown) takes on the role of the evil sea witch Ursula. Her accomplices Flotsam and Jetsam are portrayed by Kylie Block (Brookfield) and Izzy Porter (Wilton), respectively.

Ariel’s sisters are Lauren Garafano (Norwalk) as Adella, Em Lubbers (Mahopac, N.Y.) as Allana, Daisy Stott (Brookfield) as Andrina, Amanda Higley (Ridgefield) as Aquata, Jessica Pescosolido (Newtown) as Arista, and Grace Lynch (Sandy Hook) as Atina.

Leeward and Windward, the trumpet fish in Triton’s court, are played by New Fairfield residents Christian Eklund and Nicholas Eklund, respectively.

Ted Schwartz (Brookfield) plays Prince Eric’s advisor and guardian, Grimsby, and Chris Neville (Bethel) is the Pilot, the helmsman of Prince Eric’s ship. Rob Mayette (Ridgefield) is Chef Louis, the perfectionist palace chef determined to cook Sebastian.

Featured in multiple ensemble roles are Ailis Tyra (Bethel); Dolly Conner and Pedro Couy (Danbury); John Paul Akter (Derby); Sonya Alexander and Betsy Grover (Fairfield); Lucia Eklund and Andrew Nittolo-Novotny (New Fairfield); and Julie Hoff (Shelton).

New York State ensemble members include Walter Ruszczyk (Brewster), Sierra Mayhew (Pawling), and Katie Paniccia (Poughkeepsie).

The youth ensemble of performers includes Jake Ferrante, Charlotte Neville and Noelle Neville (Bethel); along with Jerry Norton, Vivian Quintero and Josh Tejeda (Danbury).

Set design for the production is by Steve Loftus/SceneWorks, with costumes by DB Productions Costume Rentals, and costume coordination and wig design by Stephanie Salsman. Lighting design is by Eric Schutz of Visual Wavelength and RKE Productions, with sound design by Mark Firestone.

Arden Minor (Danbury) serves as production stage manager and MAR Artistic Director Denise Fontenelli (Danbury) is producer.

Disney’s The Little Mermaid is being presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

Performances for Disney’s The Little Mermaid are Friday through Sunday evenings at 8 pm with specially discounted performances on Thursdays, July 31 and August 7. Grounds at Richter Arts Center open at 7 pm for picnicking, with the show at 8.

Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors (65+) and students (with ID), and $15 for children 10 and under. For the Thursday performances, tickets are $25, $20 and $10, respectively.

Audience members are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets for lawn seating. A limited number of chairs are available free of charge at the concession area, and a snack/soft drink concession is on site.

Four pairs of comfortable VIP front row seats will be available at each performance. The tickets cost $150 per pair, which includes a $90 tax-deductible donation to support MAR’s Renaissance of Richter stage and facility improvement campaign.

For younger audiences, MAR’s Fairy Tale Theater continues its series of hour-long interactive plays for young people Saturday mornings July 26 and August 2 on the Richter Arts Center grounds. Tickets for Fairy Tale are $5 and are available at the door.

Following Disney’s The Little Mermaid on the Richter main stage will be the Summer Youth Musical Theater Workshop production of Beetlejuice Jr, playing August 14-16 at 8 pm.

For further information on all offerings and to purchase main stage tickets, visit musicalsatrichter.org, leave a message at 203-748-6873, or email info@musicalsatrichter.org.

The cast of Musicals at Richter’s Disney’s The Little Mermaid features 38 area actors including, from left, Ashley McLeod of Newtown as Ursula; Jessica Pescosolido, also of Newtown, as Arista; and Grace Lynch of Sandy Hook as Atina. —photos courtesy Musicals at Richter

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It’s important to clarify the tone and context of Derek Pisani’s remarks, particularly the satirical line about suing Newtown for "Gross Stupidity." This was clearly a tongue-in-cheek jab at the exhausting culture of legal threats that’s become a staple on the local Facebook Group forums. It was a reflection of frustration over endless regulatory hurdles and obstructionism, and the desire to avoid common sense solutions not an insult aimed at residents. Satire, is meant to provoke thought and highlight the absurdities. If we are unable to distinguish between satire and literal threats, perhaps the comment hit closer to the truth than we’d like to admit. Rather than focusing on Pisanis style, we should be discussing the substance of what he’s pointing out: that Newtown’s progress is being routinely blocked by a small but vocal contingent who seem intent on saying “no” at every turn. They are saying no to any development, no to common sense solutions to crowd control, etc. Newtown deserves leaders who are willing to call things as they see them, even if their language ruffles feathers. That doesn’t mean they lack respect for constituents—it means they care enough to challenge the Mob and push for solutions. Isn't that what we elect people to do? I applaud Pisani's dedication, he certainly has earned my vote. Regardless, let’s not reduce conversation to tone-policing and outrage. Let’s focus on the issues that matter.

Who is Calling Newtowners Stupid?

Thank you for pointing out the trail access provisions included in the BOS motion—it’s an important clarification that deserves more attention in this conversation. If the development is, in fact, required to provide permanent free public access and commit to ongoing maintenance of this section of the Rochambeau Trail, that is a remarkably beneficial outcome for the town. oIt’s not every day that a private project shoulders the long-term burden of preserving and caring for a public historical corridor at no taxpayer cost—especially one that previously had no formal access, upkeep, or visibility. Let’s be honest: the idea that the only way to protect history is by preventing any development nearby is a rigid and unworkable standard. What’s being proposed here appears to strike a rare balance—historic preservation, public access, and smart development all rolled into one. That’s not a loss its a win. So rather than allowing a handful of voices to derail progress under the banner of “historic purity,” maybe it’s time to acknowledge the reality: this trail is better off with structured stewardship and visibility than remaining an overgrown ghost on old maps. Let’s move forward. Bring in the easement, bring in the public access—and yes, bring in the bulldozers!!! Progress and preservation can coexist. Let’s not let the NIMBY use fear or nostalgia keep us stuck in the past.

Discusses Rochambeau Trail And 6 Commerce Road

I've heard that several people are under the impression that the public might be banned from the Rochambeau Trail. Points 2 and 3 from the BOS motion (included in full below) make it clear that public access to the trail is part of the requirements for the developer. From what I understand, it requires free public access to the trail in perpetuity. Technically, this could be argued to be a "payment-in-kind," that attempts to balance public good with overall town growth. We can argue about weather that balance is acceptable and how the trail may be affected, but with the understanding that the trail is expected to be maintained as a publicly accessible trail regardless. July 15, 2024 Board of Selectmen approved motion: Discontinuance of Reservoir Road: Selectman Cruson moved the resolution: Resolved, that the Newtown Board of Selectmen, in accordance with Section 2-115(d)(8) of the Town Charter and Conn. Gen. Stat. §13a-49, and subject to the conditions set forth below, hereby discontinues an unimproved portion of Reservoir Road described as “Portion of Reservoir Road to be Discontinued “on that certain survey map which will be recorded on the Newtown Land Records titled “Map Showing Portion of Reservoir Road to be Discontinued” dated August, 2023 and revised September 15, 2023, and certified substantially correct by Gregory Szyszowski of SLR (the “Survey Map”), said discontinuance contingent and effective only upon the completion of the following: 1. The approval of an application for the development of land in the manner described in a letter from Attorney Thomas W. Beecher to First Selectman A. Jeffrey Capeci and Members of the Board of Selectmen dated May 30, 2024, pursuant to the “Residential Open Space Development” regulations of the Borough of Newtown by the Borough of Newtown Zoning Commission, and construction of that approval project within the timeframes required for special exception approval; 2. The inclusion of the discontinued portion of the road as part of the final Declaration of Conservation Restriction; 3. The conveyance of a mutually agreeable public easement to the Town of Newtown for pedestrian, bicycling, equestrian, and all other passive recreational uses (to exclude the use of motorized vehicles except as may be necessary by the Town or its designee to effectuate the purpose of the easement), and for municipal utility purposes; Be it further resolved, that Castle Hill Real Estate Holdings, LLC., its successors and assigns, shall not use any portion of the discontinued road as a vehicular road or access way to and from any developed portions of the property. Be it further finally resolved, that should any of the foregoing contingencies not occur, then the discontinuance contemplated herein shall not become effective and this resolution will become null and void. From: https://www.newtown-ct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif12216/f/minutes/bos_7-15-24_min-_att_final.pdf

Is this paper road (roads that only exist on paper map but not in reality) even owned by the Town? Many roads that predate the Town's road standards are privately owned and were never accepted by the Town, such as many of the nonconforming roads around the lake communities where the property owners own right to the center line. That is something we had to deal with when working on the Roads Ordinance a few years back. We also had to deal with a private road to run the utilities to the new SHS.

For anyone who wants to know, I cant post a link here, but Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority has an entire website. Look up "HRRA whats in whats out"

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Andersen Tale To Continue Richter Summer Season

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