The curtain will raise this weekend at Highland High School for their production of the musical “The Little Mermaid,” Friday and Saturday. The show was chosen in December with auditions in January. Rehearsals began in the later stages of January and culminated with tech week over the final seven days which included costumes, makeup, and a performance of the show for cast members’ parents. Members of the cast spoke this week with KCII News about the process for choosing the show, important plot points, and what they are looking forward to most, “Normally we have our musical in the fall and then we have a play in the spring. This year we decided to change it up. We like to have a say in what we’re interested in and then (our teacher), goes off of that and figures out which production we are going to do. The musical revolves around the little mermaid, Ariel, mostly, and it’s kind of her story as she’s growing up, she wants some more freedom, she lives under the sea with her sisters and her dad, but she wants to be a human, see human things and know about human things. It’s about her finding her voice, losing her voice, and finding her voice and learning more about herself. We’re all to a point where we’re ready to see everything finally come together. I think we’re all really anxious for an audience. To get the show going. That’s why we do it! To hear people laugh and clap, definitely!”

The Highland drama department’s performances of the musical “The Little Mermaid” will be Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. each evening in the Highland gym. Doors open at 6:30. Tickets are available for purchase at the door, $8 for adults with discounts for seniors and students.