You're invited to travel under the sea when Elizabethtown Area Middle School presents "Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr." The show will be performed in the auditorium of the high school, 600 E. High St., at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 27, and at 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 28.

"This is a really fun show, and it's kind of nostalgic in a way," said eighth-grader Anastazia Colon, who portrays Sebastian the crab in the musical. "I'm basing my character on the movie. I want to try to embody that as much as possible, because I think it's more fun for the kids to see the character they're expecting on stage."

To portray Sebastian, she's been perfecting an island accent.

"It was hard at first, but now it's just coming naturally," she said. "I'm having a lot of fun with it."

And although she's a crab, she'll be dressed in a more human-like ensemble.

"I'm all in red, but it's a really glammed-up costume," she said.

Her favorite songs in the show include "Under the Sea" and "Poor Unfortunate Souls," performed by EmaLeigh Darrow, who plays the sea witch Ursula.

"She is so good," Anastazia said. "She's amazing."

For Novianna Cartagena, a seventh-grader who plays the title role, the show has provided an opportunity to step out of her comfort zone in a new environment.

"I just moved here this year, so it's been a great opportunity to get to know more people," she said. "I have made so many friends."

She said she has a lot in common with her character, Ariel.

"She's a very bubby person, and that matches me," she noted. "I watched the movie a lot, and I'm having a lot of fun playing this part."

"The Little Mermaid Jr." follows the plot of the Disney movie, but it's a bit shorter, making it perfect for younger audiences. Adapted from the 2008 Broadway production, the show takes place in a magical underwater kingdom where Ariel, a young mermaid, longs to leave the sea and live with the humans on land, including her love interest, Prince Eric. To make her dreams come true, she must defy her father, King Triton, and make a deal with the sea witch.

"One of my favorite parts of the show is when Sebastian is teaching me how to get a little bit romantic," Novianna said. "He tells me to flutter my eyes and pucker my lips. It's funny."

The musical is directed by Madison Buckley and produced by Danielle Krodel, with vocal direction by Sophia Rulavage.

The cast features more than 100 students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades.

It's important to the directors that all students who audition get a part in the show, encouraging kids to explore new hobbies and build their self-confidence.

Students also help with painting sets and other behind-the-scenes work.

Additional cast members include Grayson Shelly, who plays Prince Eric; Isaac Jensen, who plays Grimsby; Liam George, who portrays the Pilot; Carter Zimmerman, who plays the Seahorse; Maggie Steele, who portrays King Triton; Adalei Marcarelli, who plays Flounder; Andrew Wagner, who portrays Scuttle; Flora Sirinides and Zoe Binkle, who play Flotsam and Jetsam, respectively; and Ayden Swartzendruber, who portrays Chef Louis.

Tickets for "Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr." may be purchased online at https://cur8.com/26201/project/137177 up to two hours before show time. Tickets will also be sold at the door one hour prior to show time. Tickets purchased in person must be paid for by cash only.