Dan Knechtges, TUTS Artistic Director, chats all things Disney and his directorial process for The Little Mermaid
By Zach McKenzie
It takes a special group of people to bring an audience of over 3,000 theatre goers under the sea. Fortunately for Houstonians, Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is equipped with such a group of talented artists and creatives. This holiday season, Houston’s home for musical theatre is pleased to bring Disney’s The Little Mermaid to life on stage at The Hobby Center. Dan Knechtges, TUTS artistic director, is taking the reins as the production’s director and is excited to invite audiences to be part of the world he and his team have created just for Houston audiences.
The relationship between Disney and TUTS dates back to the early 1990s and was a major turning point for both companies. With the success of their animated feature Beauty and the Beast, Disney answered the call of reviewers and fans alike to bring the story to life on stage.
“Back in 1993 Disney Theatricals didn’t exist; they only had the theme parks. Beauty and the Beast was released in November 1991 and the initial reviewers of the animated movie all agreed that it should be adapted into a Broadway show,” Knechtges explains. Michael Eisner, former CEO of the Walt Disney Company, put feelers out to determine a best course of action to get the show off the ground. “[Everyone told Eisner], ‘You need to talk to this guy, Frank Young, in Houston, Texas. He has the only large scale musical theater company that is producing new work.’ So, he did, and that’s what connected TUTS to Disney. Beauty and the Beast premiered in Houston in November 1993, and so began Disney Theatricals.”
Over the years, the bond between TUTS and Disney has grown and strengthened, according to Knechtges. “Whenever Disney is looking for places to premiere titles on a regional scale, TUTS is on that list. This partnership dates back over 30 years and we have always been very mindful of [maintaining] the relationship.”
As Knechtges and his team of artists prepare for their production of the timeless children’s story about a rebellious young mermaid, a wicked sea witch, and a beloved cast of characters, he acknowledges that the audience will be filled with fans who weren’t even alive the last time the company staged The Little Mermaid in 2021. “That kind of rejuvenation and the ability to instill a newfound love of theater in that particular branch of our audience is tremendous,” he says. He also recognizes that the last time the production was staged, it was cut short due to Covid-19 saying, “Frankly, half the audience that had already bought tickets, and were perhaps going to buy tickets, didn’t see it, so that’s part of the reason [why we are producing the show] as well.”
In this current production, the artistic director is once again entrusted to preserve the show’s structure, while also adding his own touches of flair along the way. Although Knechtges prefers not to spoil the mechanisms behind the magic on the stage, he shares some insights on how he keeps the show fresh for audiences new and old. “ Part of that freshness is the new audience members. Other components include the new performers and new staging. We aim to surprise, delight, and convert an audience’s expectations, so that they want more.”
The role of director also allows for him to collaborate with all aspects of the creative team, who collectively put all of the pieces together to develop a final product for audiences to enjoy. “Musicals are like a puzzle. You’ve got rhyming lyrics coming at you, and you’re trying to take them all in while a high note is simultaneously being hit. Lights are going crazy and everyone’s dancing,” he says. “All of your senses are being turned on at the same time and it’s thrilling.”
Knechtges sings the praises of the talent that will take the stage, which includes professional Houston artists and students from the TUTS Musical Theatre Academy. “It takes a special skillset to be able to bring these well-known cartoon characters to life on stage. We did so well with casting the last time, and I think we’ve now exceeded that with this cast.”
With this production being the sole self-produced show of the season, the Academy mainstage performers, made up of students ages 14 through 18, have been hard at work preparing to shine on the Hobby Center stage. “We can’t wait to get them on stage. Their performances transform us as an organization,” Knechtges says. “We learn from them just as they learn from the professional artists they get to work with. It’s really a unique experience among theaters around the country. We’re pretty much the only one who does it like this.”
As the self-proclaimed “Disney freak” with an extensive Mickey Mouse ear collection looks ahead to the holiday season, Knechtges assures that the show is just as iconic as it is relatable, even today. “If Mary Poppins didn’t exist, I would say The Little Mermaid has the best score of any Disney movie. Who doesn’t love the character of Ariel? We are all rebellious daughters at some point in our lifetime. I love the story so much, and I’m such a Disney fan in every sense of the world, so getting to spend time with these characters is just thrilling.”
This holiday season, TUTS invites youngsters and adults who are unafraid to embrace their inner child to celebrate the magic that only Disney can create—even if The Little Mermaid isn’t necessarily a typical holiday show.
“I don’t think you would make holiday plans based on whether or not there’s a Christmas tree on stage. I think you would base it around quality. Christmas, in many ways, is about family and nostalgia. The Little Mermaid hits those themes harder than almost any other Christmas play I can think of,” Knechtges says. “ I would always want to spend my dollars, and my holidays, with something that I wouldn’t find anywhere else. Something that is excellent and superb. This year, that is The Little Mermaid at Theatre Under The Stars.”
