The Eastern Middle School 2024-2025 Drama Club will perform Disney’s The Little Mermaid in the school’s Lee Book Auditorium on January 30 (at 4:30 pm), 31 (at 7:00 pm), and February 1 (at 1:00 and 6:30 pm). Thursday’s tickets are $10, and Friday and Saturday’s tickets are $20.
Assigned seat tickets can be purchased online at easternmiddleschool.ludus.

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
The Little Mermaid is produced by Eastern Middle School (EMS) teachers Jennifer Badillo and Julia Fama, is directed by Fama, and features choreography by Scott Sisbarro of St. Saviour’s School of Dance. All students in grades 6 through 8 were invited to participate, and approximately 100 responded to form the cast and crew.
In a magical kingdom under the sea, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel (Coco Liu) longs to leave her father, King Triton (Yusuf Syed), to pursue the human Prince Eric (Conor O’Brien) in the world above.
Ariel bargains with the evil sea witch Ursula (Diya Subramanian) and her electric eel minions, Flotsam (Delaney Thomas) and Jetsam (Noelle Marten), to trade her mermaid tail for legs. But the bargain isn’t what it seems, so Ariel needs help from her friends Flounder the fish (William Kampf), Sebastian the crab (Lo van de Rotte), and Scuttle the seagull (Maya Solomon) to make things right.
“This is the third and final EMS Drama Club show for many of the students involved. It has been so lovely watching them grow as performers,” said Producer and director (and 8th-grade English teacher) Julia Fama.
“The Little Mermaid is a Disney classic. We are so excited for audiences to see these fun characters come to life,” Producer (and 7th-grade social studies teacher) Jennifer Badillo said.

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
Little Mermaid Cast
Ariel: Coco Liu
Prince Eric: Conor O’Brien
Sebastian: Lo van de Rotte
Ursula: Diya Subramanian
Flounder: William Kampf
Scuttle: Maya Solomon
King Triton: Yusuf Syed
Flotsam: Delaney Thomas
Jetsam: Noelle Marten
Grimsby: Aaron Levine
Chef Louis: Tate Farnum
Mersisters: Lila Donnelly, Olivia Henin, Bia Hirsch, Zoey Hunter, Camille Lunt, Avi Rickert
Sea Creatures: Sofia Barrocas, Mateo Canale, Colin Chin, Dylan Chin, Lila Christensen, Oliver Correa, Ella Corticelli, Frida Davis, Nolan Diana, Blair Harriss, Amalia Ibarzabal, Tyler Imbrogno, Kaitlyn Joseph, Paulina Kasprzak, Jackson Lowe, Roshni Madan, Roma Madkaikar, Jabari Mungai, Deetya Nadendia, Ansophi Otto, Saylor Palmer, Laura Pap, Cora Ramakrishnan, Harper Rao, Sadie Reynolds, James Sabeti, Belen Salvarredi, Micah Schmeidler, Gemma Slater, Matthew Stedman, Maya Stubbs, Angeliki Tyrelli, Olivia Wilmot, Sofia Yelyashkevich
Humans: Audrey Andrews, Allie Cofone, Phineas Collins, Eva Csatorday, Juliet D’Amore, Jasper Davis, Robert Dolan, Virginia Fix, Leila Garcia, Emma Hill, Annika Kimball, Jack Klocinski, Devan Krishnan, Bella Landres, Rose McLean, Rose Mund, James Murphy, Catherine O’Donnell, Elise Panchel, Lane Redlien, Nicholas Sabeti, Blake Siler, Sara Tirana, Catherine Zhong, Sienna Wren, Sofia Zamora

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
Little Mermaid Production Staff
Producers: Jennifer Badillo, Julia Fama
Director: Julia Fama
Technical Director: Jennifer Badillo
Choreographer: Scott Sisbarro
Stage Manager: Jennifer Badillo
Student Stage Manager: Grace Miranda
Costumer Coordinator: Laura Petit
Prop Masters: Jennifer Badillo, Julia Fama, Scott Sisbarro
Set Coordinator: Kevin Gillespie
Sound Design & Technician: Jim Durkin, InPhase Audio
Playbill: Jennifer Badillo
Lighting Design: Jennifer Badillo, Miles Shore
Spotlight Coordinator: Joanna Savino
Student Spotlight Operators: Nolan Shah, Mikey Hartofilis
Ticket Sales Manager: Lori Lattarulo
House Managers: Jillian Harriman, Theo Gittens
Rehearsal Assistant: Alyssa Tripi
Costume Committee: Augustina Breard, Amy Dolan, Emma Garcia, Sandra Hurst, Jenni Reynolds, Amy Siler
Poster Design: Jennifer Badillo
Publicity: Ann Stedman
Lobby Décor: Theo Gittens
Student Crew: Gary Bisbee, Luigi Carratelli, Cameron Dianis, Mikey Hartofilis, Caroline Mancz, Michael Pennette, Manuel Saelens, Nolan Shah, Miles Shore, Blake Sterling
Little Mermaid
Jan. 30 (at 4:30pm), Jan 31 (at 7:00pm), and February 1 (at 1:00pm and 6:30pm)
Eastern Middle School is located at 51 Hendrie Avenue, Riverside, CT
Price: $10 or $20
Producers: Jennifer Badillo and Julia Fama
Rating: G
Run time: Approximately 2 hours 20 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission
Lobby opens 45 minutes before show time and features a concession stand.

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager

Eastern Middle School’s 2024-2025 Drama Club held dress rehearsal for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Jan 24, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager