Special encore of “The Little Mermaid” will be held at First Flight High School on May 18

After attracting a sold-out crowd on Hatteras Island, the Cape Hatteras Secondary School (CHSS) Drama Club will be taking their newest production of “The Little Mermaid” on the road for a special performance at the First Flight High School in Kill Devil Hills on Saturday, May 18, at 3:00 p.m.

The revitalized CHSS Drama Club and Theater Program was launched in 2022, and since then, the program has grown by leaps and bounds, and has built a reputation for its incredible twice-a-year productions, which rival any college or community theater group in the country.

Their latest production of “The Little Mermaid” is no exception, and after its April 19-21 debut at the Cape Hatteras School’s auditorium, audiences were blown away by the performance, the special effects, the sets, the lighting, and all of the moving parts that came together to create an incredible show.

The upcoming encore performance came to fruition after Dare County Schools Superintendent Steve Basnight attended the Sunday matinee performance of “The Little Mermaid,” and approached Co-Directors Blake Taft and Jordan Tomberlin after the show.

“He was so incredibly amazed by the work the kids had done, the production quality, and the community engagement, and he asked if we would be interested in extending the show for an encore,” said Taft.

The encore performance has a lot of benefits for the dozens of students involved in the show, as well as the community. For one thing, during the April performances, tickets sold out quickly and there was even a waiting list, so the upcoming performance allows folks from all over the Outer Banks a second chance to see the acclaimed production.

“The [CHSS] auditorium seats 230 people, and the First Fight auditorium seats 631 people, so there’s a lot more space and ability to do a bigger performance for a larger crowd,” said Taft.

In addition, the students in the CHSS Drama Club have an opportunity to experience what it’s like to do a touring show, moving hundreds of set pieces, costumes, and technical equipment, and figuring out the mechanics of replicating their performance in a brand new space.

“There are 35 scenery pieces being moved in and out by middle school and high school students, and some of them are 10 feet tall, but they are handling it like professionals,” said Taft. “It’s our first time doing a touring production, and in the theatrical world, touring shows are a huge part of the business, so it’s a great opportunity for everyone involved.”

CHSS will also partner with the First Flight Drama Club on rehearsals and getting the show ready to debut, with both drama clubs benefitting from the experience. Ticket sales will go towards the CHSS Drama Club, but the First Flight Drama Club will manage the concessions stand at the show to raise additional funds for their own program.

“This will make us more of an interschool theater program,” said Taft. “It’s not just Cape Hatteras doing a show at First Flight –  it’s a chance to meet these students, make some new connections, and make some new friendships.”

Most important, the upcoming May 18 performance is an opportunity for all Outer Banks community members to see the show that everyone is talking about. Featuring dozens of actors, hundreds of costumes, and some of the most elaborate sets ever constructed by the CHSS Drama Club, “The Little Mermaid” is a show that is not to be missed.

“Even if you don’t know the students involved, it’s just a beautiful show,” said Taft. “The music is absolutely incredible and our students do an amazing job. You will forget that these are 12-18 year olds. For some of these kids, it’s their very first production, or their very first musical, and just to see the pure talent and passion makes it an amazing experience.”

“Hopefully, a lot of people that haven’t been able to drive down to Hatteras Island can see it at First Flight,” said Taft. “We want to engage as many people as we can to see this production… It has been wonderful to see the community response so far, and it makes a big difference for the students as well.”

“To take the show to a bigger auditorium, and bring it to a new community is really special,” he added. “This has never really happened before within Dare County Schools that I know of, so it’s a really amazing thing, and we can’t wait to engage other Outer Banks communities as well.”

How to catch the show

• Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children, and are currently for sale at First Flight High School, First Bank in Kill Devil Hills, CHSS, the United Bank in Buxton, and at The Froggy Dog Restaurant in Avon. Proceeds go to support the CHSS Drama Club.
• “The Little Mermaid” will be performed on Saturday, May 18, at 3:00 p.m. at the First Flight Auditorium.