Friendship Theatre returned with a triumphant four-day run of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.” on June 26 through June 29 at the Knutzen Family Theatre in Federal Way.

The cast included a diverse ensemble of over 50 actors with various abilities who all collaborated to bring the show to life. The vast majority of the roles are filled by actors with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Friendship Theatre is a production company through the Federal Way Inclusive Recreation Department, led by Inclusion Coordinator Sabrina Bates.

This year’s production had one of the highest attendances ever, selling out the show Sunday and nearing capacity with over 200 guests the other three nights, according to Bates.

Madison Taylor starred as Ariel alongside Jalyn Crnich as Ursula, Anthony Santander as Sebastian, Grace Chung as Flounder, Joey Beltran as Prince Eric and Damon Rauscher as King Triton. The cast performed 16 musical numbers with frequent scene changes and detailed colorful costumes and sets in the professional theatre.

As previously reported by the Mirror, auditions for the 2025 show began in September, and the process takes around two months before final decisions are made on parts. Everyone who auditions will get the chance to be part of the cast in some way if they can make the nearly year-long commitment.

Audience-goers also had the chance to spot producer, director and choreographer Sharon Boyle onstage as she subtly assisted some actors while in full mermaid attire.

Boyle leads the extensive work it takes to put on the show, which is brought together with a large army of volunteers, many of whom are parents and caregivers.

“It takes a whole community to make this happen,” costume designer Char Monuszko told the Mirror.

Monuszko is one of these tireless volunteers herself. She has overseen the costume production for over 20 years and this year made sure all 124 costume pieces were completed by opening day.

Although Friendship Theatre had costumes leftover from a production of the same show years ago, each of these still had to be deconstructed and re-sewn to fit this year’s cast members.

“My joy comes from working with the actors, they are incredibly fun,” Monuszko said. She has been involved since the beginning of Friendship Theatre, starting with the program when it was based in Kent.

Over time, the Kent program merged with a program in Federal Way to become the Friendship Theatre it is today, she told the Mirror.

Monuszko has five children with special needs, including four who are in the play. This means that her sewing schedule has to fit around the demands of her children’s support needs and other responsibilities.

Sewing is such a huge part of who she is and a way to share her ability to be creative with the community, Monuszko told the Mirror.

Another motivator for those late nights of sewing is the response of the actors when they get to finally put on those magnificent costumes.

“This group is so appreciative,” Monuszko said, describing how actors’ faces will light up the moment they see themselves in a dress or costume that they might otherwise never had the chance to wear. “It’s always exciting to see the variety of lead performers, especially people that might be quieter in their day to day, just get onstage and shine.”

Actress Laura Gorgen has been active in Friendship Theatre since she was 8 years old, over a decade ago. In this year’s production she played Alana, a mer sister.

“We can’t help the cards we were dealt,” Gorgen told the Mirror, adding that “they see you’re different, they think you’re weird…some of the rest of the world, they don’t understand.”

Fellow actress Viana Lopez added that she wishes people understood that “we are really nice people, really nice and understandable.” She played fellow mer sister Andrina and has also been involved in Friendship Theatre for years.

Sharon Doyle is the producer, director and choreographer of Friendship Theatre. Photos by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Damon Rauscher as King Triton, Tanya Monuszko as Flotsam, Jalyn Crnich as Ursula, Donte’ Peoples as Jetsam and Madison Taylor as Ariel. Photos by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Madison Taylor as Ariel and Joey Beltran as Prince Eric, accompanied by an ensemble of lagoon creatures and more performing musical number “Kiss the Girl.” Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Grace Chung as Flounder in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.” performed by Friendship Theatre. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Madison Taylor as Ariel finds Joey Beltran as Prince Eric after the shipwreck in the Friendship Theatre’s performance of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.” Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Dakota Rauscher as the pilot along with sailors, Joey Beltran as Prince Eric and Michael Donaldson as Grimsby. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Grace Chung as Flounder, Madison Taylor as Ariel and Lorne Monuszko as Scuttle along with seagulls. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Actresses Jacqueline Bagley, Viana Lopez, Laura Gorgen and Marleena Scozzafave played princesses and other roles in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.” Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang