Million Dollar Mermaid

Disney Theatrical's latest stage musical adaptation of an animated classic, The Little Mermaid, started Broadway previews tonight. Ariel and her undersea friends have some rough waters ahead, trying to overcome lackluster out-of-town notices and the stigma of the recent failure of Tarzan. But there's one thing that this show has that that vine-swingin' tuner did not: a princess.

Never underestimate the appeal and irresistible draw of the "Disney Princess" brand, which should have little girls (and their mothers and gay uncles) lining up to see this one for years to come. Does no one remember that the similarly critically received Beauty and the Beast ran for over 13 years, and only closed down to make way for this one? All those moppets have to go somewhere for their fairy tale fix. If anything, merchandise sales will go through the rough once the little royal wannabes see their heroine up close and personal; expect mermaid fins and seashell tube tops to fly off the shelves of the gift shop (conveniently located at the exit) of the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

Although the show itself was panned during its Denver tryout run, star-to-be Sierra Boggess did received raves as the title character. You can see her and the rest of the cast (including Aida diva Sherie René Scott as a sultry Ursula and former Altar Boy Tyler Maynard looking awfully chummy with his eel sidekick Derrick Baskin) in this Yahoo video (strangely MIA: seagull Scuttle and crab Sebastian, although you do hear what may be his version of "Under the Sea"). The Little Mermaid will officially open December 6.

Links via Playbill.com, Disney.go.com and Broadway.yahoo.com.