Life is definitely the bubbles at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre this holiday season. After wowing families last year with family-friendly productions like “Elf” and “Mary Poppins,” the theater is taking on another whale of a tale: Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.”

The Hans Christian Andersen story has become a childhood classic with a little help from the House of Mouse. After the success of the 1989 animated feature, Disney debuted a Broadway musical in 2008—which has since made its way around the country on Broadway tours. The production of “The Little Mermaid” that opens at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre on Dec. 4 will take families into the same undersea world—with The Rep’s unique twist, of course.

“We definitely pay homage to the movie,” says Director Melissa Rain Anderson. “Ariel has red hair and the colors are similar. All of the music from the movie is in the show and they wrote more music to fill it out. The classic moments are there.” To recreate memorable scenes from the film, Anderson says the artistic team had to get creative: In Sebastian’s calypso jam “Under the Sea,” they’ll use circus elements, including aerial silks and trapeze artists to create the illusion of swimming creatures. Chef Louis gets his stage time in “Les Poissons” and the dining room scene turns to chaos, complete with a French can-can number.

In addition to all of the film classics—“Kiss the Girl,” “Part of Your World,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls”—families will hear tunes that are original to the Broadway production. In fact, Anderson thinks that “Positoovity” will be a kid favorite. In the scene, Scuttle and the gulls teach Ariel how to use her legs for the first time through—what else?—a tap number.

The impact of Alan Menken’s music and lyrics from Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater certainly sets the tone for the show, but the visuals will also make a splash. “The costumes are absolutely stunning,” Anderson says, adding that many have a Vegas vibe. “They have these beautiful headdresses that elaborate on who they are—a starfish, for example. Each one of those costumes is a work of art…the flamingos, the swans.”

Anderson adds that the show “has that shimmery, glittery magic to it.” The stage will be framed with set pieces that transport the audience to different settings—Ariel’s treasure trove, Ursula’s lair, the castle. But equally as important, the production pays close attention to the details that help seal the underwater illusion. For a scene in which Ariel picks the petals from a flower, Anderson says that they’ve played with different ways to make the petals float—using feathers, for instance. Ariel’s fishy friend Flounder will use a scooter to get around, not only because he’s a playful character, but also because he’s skittish and needs to “swim” out of situations quickly. “It feels like a holiday show because of the magic and getting swept up into another world.”

At its heart, Anderson says the story is a heroine’s tale: “That’s really important in this day and age for girls to feel like they can be empowered. Ariel risks her own life to save Eric. She signs a contract with Ursula and gives up everything that she has and her most valued possession—her voice. It’s extraordinarily brave. The character is strong, but goofy and quirky at the same time. She has a bright soul and goes after what she wants.”

Little Rock Family Day at The Rep

Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” plays at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre Dec. 4-Jan. 3; performances are 7 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 2 & 7 p.m. Sun.; special 2 p.m. matinees on Dec. 5 & 26, and Jan. 2. Pay What You Can Night will be Dec. 2.

Join Little Rock Family before the Dec. 13 matinee performance of “The Little Mermaid” for extra fishy fun. Our staff will present free crafts, a photo booth, special treats and lots of giveaways! Activities begin at 1 p.m.; show begins at 2 p.m. Dec. 13.

For tickets and info: TheRep.org.