<P> The show had a pre-Broadway tryout at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts' Ellie Caulkins Opera House from July 26, 2007 through September 9, 2007 . Every seat available (approximately 95,000 seats) for the 6 - week run was sold out . </P> <P> The musical began previews on Broadway at the Lunt - Fontanne Theatre on November 3, 2007 and was temporarily shut down on November 10, 2007 due to the 2007 Broadway stagehand strike . The strike ended on November 28, 2007, and the show resumed previews the next day . The official opening date was postponed from December 6, 2007 to January 10, 2008 . Jodi Benson and Pat Carroll, who starred in the 1989 animated film as Ariel and Ursula, respectively, attended the opening night ceremony . </P> <P> Direction was by Francesca Zambello, making her Broadway debut, with choreography by Stephen Mear . Scenic design was by George Tsypin, costumes by Tatiana Noginova and lighting by Natasha Katz . The original cast featured newcomer Sierra Boggess in the title role of Ariel, Sean Palmer as Prince Eric, Brian D'Addario and Trevor Braun alternated as Flounder, Norm Lewis as King Triton, Sherie Rene Scott as Ursula, Tituss Burgess as Sebastian, Tyler Maynard as Flotsam, Derrick Baskin as Jetsam, Jonathan Freeman as Grimsby, and John Treacy Egan as Chef Louis . Notable replacements included Faith Prince as Ursula and Drew Seeley as Prince Eric . The production closed on August 30, 2009, after 50 previews and 685 performances . Thomas Schumacher, producer and president of Disney Theatrical Productions said, "it would be fiscally irresponsible to our shareholders to risk operating losses with such a big show in the historically challenging fall months . We are closing the Broadway production to concentrate on the long future life of this title ." </P> <P> The first national US tour of the musical had previously been scheduled to start in the fall of 2010, but was postponed in August 2014 for the fall of 2015 . </P>

Who plays ariel in the little mermaid on broadway