<P> A stage adaptation of the film with a book by Doug Wright and additional songs by Alan Menken and new lyricist Glenn Slater opened in Denver in July 2007 and began performances on Broadway January 10, 2008 starring Sierra Boggess . </P> <P> In May 2016, Disney announced that a live - action film adaptation of The Little Mermaid is currently in the works . </P> <P> Ariel, a sixteen - year - old mermaid princess, is dissatisfied with underwater life in the kingdom of Atlantica, and is curious about the human world . With her best friend Flounder, Ariel collects human artifacts in her grotto, and often goes to the surface of the ocean to visit Scuttle, a seagull who offers very inaccurate knowledge of human culture . She ignores the warnings of her father King Triton, the ruler of Atlantica, and Sebastian, a crab who serves as Triton's adviser and court composer, that contact between merpeople and humans is forbidden . </P> <P> One night, Ariel, Flounder, and Sebastian travel to the ocean surface to watch a celebration for the birthday of Prince Eric on a ship . Ariel instantly becomes enamored with Eric . A violent storm arrives, with a bolt of lightning striking the ship, engulfing it in flames and wrecking it on some rocks, tossing Eric overboard . She rescues Eric and brings him to shore . Ariel sings to Eric, but immediately leaves just as he regains consciousness to avoid being discovered . Fascinated by the memory of her voice, Eric vows to find who saved and sang to him, and Ariel vows to find a way to join him and his world . When Triton discovers Ariel's love for Eric, Triton confronts her in the grotto and destroys most of the artifacts with his trident . After Triton leaves, two eels named Flotsam and Jetsam convince Ariel to visit Ursula, a sea witch . </P>

The little mermaid where does it take place