Exclusive Interview with Ariel!

By Sara G. Stephens, HFM Managing Editor

What would you ask Ariel, if you had the chance to ask her anything?

HFM Managing Editor Sara Stephens and her family were given the amazing opportunity to interview everyone’s favorite mermaid.  Ariel was gracious and thoughtful with every reply, and we wanted to share her answers with you and your families!

In case you haven’t heard the story of “The Little Mermaid,” here it is a in a nutshell:

In a magical kingdom fathoms below, we meet Ariel, the little mermaid who is tired of flipping her fins and longs to be part of the fascinating world on dry land. Joining her are Sebastian, Ariel’s crabby sidekick; Ursula, the evil sea witch; Triton, King of the Sea and the handsome and human Prince Eric. We won’t spoil the rest. It’s something you really must see for yourself!

 We hope you enjoy this exclusive interview with Ariel, and don’t forget to see her this June when “The Little Mermaid” makes its Houston debut at Theatre Under The Stars You can buy your tickets now at www.tuts.com.

Violet (V), 5 years old, asked Ariel:

V: Who taught you to sing?
Ariel: Well, I inherited my voice from my mother, but I learned technique from Sebastian. 

V: Do you like Eric’s dog?
Ariel: Yes. He is really soft, and it tickles when he gives me kisses!

V: How did you meet Scuttle?
Ariel: I met Scuttle the second time I ever went to the surface. I saw something shimmering and swam up to see what it was, and he swooped down and grabbed it at the same time I did. We quickly discovered our shared love of Human stuff!

V: Which do you enjoy more: singing or dancing?
Ariel: I love both, but I think I love dancing a little more because it is something I wasn’t able to do until I got my legs. 
Anna (A), 9 years old, asked Ariel:

A:  Do you still collect things? If so, what kinds of things? 
Ariel: Believe it or not, I now have a sea shell collection! They remind me of where I came from and the unique beauty that I didn’t appreciate while I was living under the sea. 

A:  What made you fall in love with Eric?
Ariel: Aside from his charm and good looks, he is a genuine and accepting person. And we have a lot in common. We were both actively searching for more than the life that we were supposed to lead and we found common ground in our sense of adventure. 

A: What do you love the most about the sea?
Ariel: My family and friends and the beautiful colors. 

A: What do you love the most about land?
Ariel: I have legs so I can dance! 

Mom (M) asked Ariel:

M: If you had it to do again, would you take the risk of signing Ursula’s contract? 
Ariel: I would. 

M: Do you miss your sisters when you’re on land?
Ariel: I do, but we visit often. 

Dad (D) asked Ariel:

D: Do you regret disobeying your father?
Ariel: Well, I know that it was disrespectful to disobey my father, but I certainly wouldn’t change how things ultimately worked out. If I hadn’t followed my heart, none of this would have happened. Including the challenging things, which I feel have made me stronger. 

D: Are you still as curious about the unknown as you were before?
Ariel: I would like to go to the moon…but I won’t be trading anything to make it happen!

Grandpa (G) asked Ariel:

G: Do you think it’s possible you could have been happy staying in the sea?
Ariel: I don’t think so. I feel I was really born to be human. 

G: What advice do you have for kids whose dreams seem impossible?
Ariel: Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do amazing things. Anything is possible!

 Thank you, Ariel!  You are an inspiration to kids of all ages and without a doubt, HFM’s favorite mermaid. See you at TUTS!