Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ coming to Hollywood Bowl with live orchestra

The phenomenon of screening popular movies with a live orchestra is heading under the sea with “The Little Mermaid” -- the 1989 Disney animated favorite -- which will come to the Hollywood Bowl this year.

The screening, set for June 4, will feature celebrity singers performing alongside a live orchestra and chorus. Also set to appear is Alan Menken, who composed the score for the movie.

Singer Sara Bareilles will perform the vocals for the heroine Ariel, a young mermaid who dreams of becoming human. Actress Rebel Wilson will perform Ursula, the sea-witch who grants the naive protagonist her wish.

Darren Criss will sing the role of Eric, the human prince with whom Ariel falls in love, while Tituss Burgess will play the crustacean conductor Sebastian, a role he previously took on in Disney’s Broadway musical version of the movie.

The live cast will also include John Stamos in the part of Chef Louis (“Les Poissons”).

Menken, who won two Academy Awards for his work on the movie, is set to open the Bowl screening and will perform a medley of songs he has written for various Disney movies.

A spokeswoman for the event said that doors would open at 6:30 p.m. for an audience costume contest, with the concert event beginning at 8.

The screening at the Bowl will feature a 71-piece orchestra led by conductor Michael Kosarin, along with a 12-person choir, performing the movie’s Oscar-winning score live.

“The Little Mermaid” isn’t a Los Angeles Philharmonic event and is being produced by the same team that recently brought “The Nightmare Before Christmas” to the Bowl for Halloween. The screening is being is produced under license by Disney Concerts.

In addition to a costume contest, organizers said the screening will feature a fireworks spectacular. Songs from the Broadway version of “The Little Mermaid” will also be performed.

The cast will also include Norm Lewis as King Triton, Ariel’s father, and Joshua Colley, as Ariel’s friend Flounder. Tickets are set to go on sale starting Saturday.

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