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Matthew McEnnerney has lost count of the total number of productions he has been a part of. When you act for a living, typically you are in 250 to 300 shows per year. But, he can recall details from the productions he's been a part of as President of the Rutherford County Arts Council (RCAC).
Each year RCAC presents a spring musical, a tradition begun in 1971 with "Camelot." The spring musical for 2016 is Disney's "The Little Mermaid." The stage version of the show is based on the popular Disney movie version of Hans Christian Anderson's beloved fairy tale, with several additional songs and dances by the Disney writers. Performances will be April 22 and 23 at The Foundation Performing Arts Center.
"It was the first time anything like it had been done in the county," McEnnerney said of "Camelot," in an interview held at the Arts Council's Maple Street Theater recently. "There were 735 participants."
The musical is a fairly distinct American art form, McEnnerney explained, and because the cast can be rather large for a musical, provides an outlet for the entire family.
"We have had three generations of the same family on stage together," he said. "When we recently did a survey, some of the things mentioned by members was that it creates family memories and provides a personal and social benefit to participants."
Performing on a stage provides growth for anyone, but especially for children who can acquire skills needed for adult life.
"It allows those who take part to be a part of something bigger," McEnnerney explained. "There are too many things that are easy in our culture. When you perform, you have to reach inside of yourself for dedication and energy."
While he won't say the RCAC is responsible for launching careers for several former performers who now work in movies or film, McEnnerney believes that having a creative outlet during their youth served as an encouragement.
"Our second year the Brantley sisters were involved ... Betsy was Dorothy in 'The Wizard of Oz' and her sister was Liat in 'South Pacific.' I turned around and Betsy was a movie star and her sister a TV producer."
Producing a production like Disney's "The Little Mermaid" can be daunting, not to mention costly, McEnnerney explained.
"It's not for the faint of heart," he chuckled. "We had thought about producing a Disney production in the past, but this one seemed to be right at this moment."
Much of the cast are seasoned performers with RCAC, but it's not unusual to have a first-time performer snag a lead role.
"If there are 100-plus people who show up for auditions and 80 individual assignments, then there are 8,000 combinations," McEnnerney said of the process of choosing leads. "We have to look for the combination of who has the right feeling and interest artistically.
"This year our Sebastian is a first time performer with us," he continued. "His wife and daughter have been in several productions and finally got him to come along. He came to auditions and had this amazing voice and talent."
While the spring musical wouldn't be possible without the cast, those who take part behind the scenes are just as integral, McEnnerney said.
"We have lots of volunteers, the staff of the Foundation, several businesses and agencies who we contract with for sets and sound and at least six to eight in the orchestra," he said.
The spring musical, just as other shows, are appropriate for families to take part in and view together.
"I guess to some I'm a stick in the mud - I don't like doing anything offensive or that doesn't provide positive things in people's lives," McEnnerney said. "And, 'The Little Mermaid' is the last animated film I went to that I just really liked."
Performances of the Rutherford County Arts Council's performance of Disney's "The Little Mermaid" will be Friday, Aprill 22, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 23, at 3 p.m. at The Foundation Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available online at www.foundationshows.org or by calling the box office at 828-286-9990.
Rutherford County Arts Council cast for Disney's "The Little Mermaid"
Ariel- Madison Reep, who has performed as Storykeeper 1 in "The Hobbit"; Louisa in "The Sound of Music"; Alice in "Alice in Wonderland"; and the Blue Fairy in "Pinocchio." She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Reep.
Prince Eric- Christian Greene, who was most recently in "The Devil and Daniel Webster" and "The Hobbit." He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Greene.
Ursula- Laura Link, who has played numerous leading roles with the Arts Council and Globe Repertory Company, including Maria in "The Sound of Music."
Sebastian- Howie Lederfind, in his first rule with the Arts Council.
Grimsby- Joshua Reep
King Triton- Jeremiah Councill
Flounder- John Henry Deever
Chef Louie- Brandon Steed
Scuttle- Kip Arrowood
The Mersisters (Ariel's sisters)- Sarah Ezell, Sarah Rodriguez, Alana Goode, Ainsley Lederfind, Hannah Searcy and Rachael Palmeri
Flotsam and Jetsam- Nick Bradley and Michael Lugo
Seahorses Windward and Leeward- Gabriel Lugo and Riley Howard
Pilot- Hunter Hernandez
Princesses- Jennifer Davis, Anna Hornback, Julia Maxwell, Rebecca Quinton, Charity Salyers and Gillian Stickney
The Ladies Back Up Choir- Sydney Beam, Caroline Greene, Shelby Greene, Olivia Jackson, Donna Kersey, Stacie Lederfind, Sheila Salyers, Dana Stickney, Tara Watt and Aerin White.
Sailors/Chefs/Chorus- Megan Ayers, Clayton Cilone, John Cilone, Dylan Clark-Gordon, David Coldren, Chad Day, Harrison Dyess, Hunter Hernandez, Kelvin Howard, Renee Howard, Cheryl Justice, Gabriel Lugo, Christopher Piercy, David Sheridan, Elija Sheridan, David Smith, Jesse Stickney, Aaron Watt, Caleb Yivin, Tyler Wills and Gabriel Lugo.
The Gulls- Chelsea Carpenter, Maleah Carter, Zaida Cilone, Emma Corbin, Odina Corbin, Brynna Glover, Savanna Greene, McKayla Roberson, Rebekah Searcy, Sarah Grace Searcy, Sarah Sheridan, Audrey Watt, Anya White, Elise White and Kate Wiley.
Sea Creatures- Sarah Brackett, Riley Coldren, Lailah Daves, Addison Goode, Addison Lane, Julia Lane, Russell Margolin, Alli Mosier, Alex Sane, Ruby Sane, Bethany Sheridan, Hannah Saviglia, Anna Sundell, Addison Bennett, Dale Berry, Trevor Coldren, Abigail Daves, Carly Greene, Owen Howard, Veronica Lugo, Alex McKinney, Rowan Maishman, Makenzlie Murray, Carleigh Williams, Danielle Coldren, Carrigan Epley, Jackson Epley, Ella Howard, Brooklyn Militello and Keeliana Murray
