Tickets for the highly anticipated Vermillion Community Theatre (VCT) production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” will go on sale Sunday, June 14 at 9 a.m.
Audiences will have four opportunities to experience this beloved musical: July 10, 11 and 13 at 7 p.m., and July 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets may be purchased and seats selected online at vermillioncommunitytheatre.org.
VCT’s 2026 summer production brings together a talented creative team led by Artistic Producer Matthew Nesmith, Associate Professor in the University of South Dakota Department of Theatre. Direction is provided by Syara Villarreal, a University of South Dakota graduate student pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree in directing, with Anthony Burbach serving as Musical Director.
Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved story and the classic animated film, “The Little Mermaid” features music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater and a book by Doug Wright. The production includes iconic songs such as “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Part of Your World,” promising a visually stunning and musically captivating summer theatrical event.
VCT’s 2026 season is being supported by countless individuals, families and organizations throughout the community, most especially Walmart, First Bank & Trust and two anonymous donors who have committed their support at the $2,000 level or more. VCT continues to welcome donors of all sizes to be part of its 2026 season and contributions may be made at vermillioncommunitytheatre.org.
Every season, VCT strives to make its performances more accessible to all. Thanks to a generous grant from Dakota Hospital Foundation, VCT is offering closed captioning of all performances. Seats with a view of the closed captioning screens are marked with an “S,” and wheelchair-accessible seating is also available and identified during ticket selection.
Local performers featured in VCT’s production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” include:
ARIEL – Maleah Wright
PRINCE ERIC – Ben Burbach
SEBASTIAN – Ollie Wells
FLOUNDER – Maggie Nesmith
URSULA – Carrie Malek-Madani
KING TRITON – Doug Kronaizl
GRIMSBY – Garret Olson
SCUTTLE – Kaitlyn Byrne
FLOTSAM – Ellie Holdhusen
JETSAM – Annika Holdhusen
CHEF LOUIS – Jackson Graham
WINDWARD – Jace Muller
LEEWARD – Aarush KC
PILOT – Bryce Mayrose
AQUATA – Janna Mix-Huot
ANDRINA – Willa Reimler
ARISTA – Margaret Reimler
ATINA – Sarah Burbach
ADELLA – Summer Sloan
ALLANA – Kacie Hall
SAILORS – Tierany Rayne Clark, Jackson Graham, Sarah Gregg, Isaac Mayrose
GULLS – Sarah Burbach, Ellie Holdhusen, Gabby Ochsner, Margaret Reimler, Willa Reimler, Elizabeth Sereda, Summer Sloan
MAIDS – Cindy Aden, Ronda Mayrose, Emmy Conner, Charlotte Robb
CHEFS – Gabby Ochsner, Jace Muller, Isaac Mayrose, Charlotte Robb, Elizabeth Sereda, Julia Reyes, Emmy Conner, Anna Christopherson
PRINCESSES – Summer Sloan, Julia Reyes, Elizabeth Sereda, Janelle Bless, Gabby Ochsner, Bethany Bentz
SEA CREATURES/KISS THE GIRL ANIMALS – Cindy Aden, Bethany Bentz, Janelle Bless, Tierany Rayne Clark, Emmy Conner, Preslee Dooley, Isabella Fleming, Jackson Graham, Sarah Gregg, Grant Holoch, Eliana James, Aarush KC, Jace Muller, Anna Christopherson, Elizabeth Sereda, Julia Reyes, Zelda Ricker, Charlotte Robb, Raegan Riedel, Isaac Mayrose, Bryce Mayrose, Ronda Mayrose, Gabby Ochsner
About Vermillion Community Theatre
The mission of the Vermillion Community Theatre (VCT) is to encourage community participation in all aspects of the theatre and to develop and promote theatre arts in Southeast South Dakota. With the wonderful cooperation of the Vermillion school district, VCT offers technically ambitious productions in a first-class performing arts center. VCT strives to develop shows with broad community interest that can actively involve a wide spectrum of the community in age, background and interest.
