We were invited to the opening of The Drury Lane Theatre’s production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”. The performance was an immersive experience that made you feel under the sea! All of my children were singing and dancing to the songs in this family-friendly show, which is on stage now through January 12, 2025. Drury Lane Theatre brings Broadway to the Chicagoland suburbs in performance that will dazzle all ages.
Don’t miss the “About Drury Lane” section for my tips and tricks of navigating the venue.
The Little Mermaid Review
We went to a Saturday matinee performance at 3:00pm. The show length was 2 hours and 30 minutes. The performance included a 20 intermission for the audience to use the bathroom, get a snack, and stretch.
The live orchestra music and stunning costumes made the experience one to remember. My children loved the cast members using the aisles to run up and down during the performance. It made the feeling of truly being immersed in the sea life.
We all loved to reminisce in the magic of songs we knew like “Under the Sea,” “Part of Your World,” and “Kiss the Girl”. We even discovered a few new favorites within the incredible score of The Little Mermaid. The character Ursula stood out as one to remember. She was evil and scary. Her costume was amazing with live moving tentacles- everything you would want in a sea witch.
There were a few scenes that incorporated loud crashes of thunder and lightning. Some children could get a little scared if they have an aversion to loud noises. Make sure to talk with your children ahead of time about what they might see and hear. I asked my youngest daughter if the noises scared her and she responded, “A little, but I am not a guppy.” She was 5 years old and able to joke about it and have fun.
The actor’s voices were breathtaking. Ariel’s voice was magical and Price Eric was dreamy and strong. The talent of the actors blew me away. Some actors held puppets the entire performance and were acting through the puppet and their own bodies. It was an amazing display of live acting and incorporating the animated characters we all know and love.
Performance Dates
The Little Mermaid is running from November 6, 2024 – January 12, 2025. Daily show times are as follows.
- Wednesdays: 1:30pm
- Thursdays: 1:30pm and 7:00pm
- Fridays: 7:00pm
- Saturdays: 3:00pm and 8:00pm
- Sundays: 2:00pm and 6:00pm
Tickets for The Little Mermaid
Tickets are available to purchase through the box office and on their website through Ticketmaster. Single tickets range from $78.45 – $140. The box office is open Monday – Wednesday 10:00am – 5:00pm, Thursday – Saturday 10:00am – 7:30pm, and Sunday 10:00am – 5:30pm.
At every performance there are 18 wheelchair accessible seats. There are two scheduled accessibility performances. ASL performance on Friday, December 13, 2024 at 7:00pm and Audio Description performance on Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 2:00pm. To purchase tickets for the accessibility events call (630) 530-0111 or email: boxoffice@drurylane.com.
Age Recommendations
Drury Lane Theatre recommends The Little Mermaid for ages 5 years old and up, however you know your child best. If you have kids under 5 who are captivated by theater performances and are able to sit for 2 hours and 20 minutes (with one intermission) without disturbing other theater goers, they are welcome to enjoy the show! Drury Lane also provides booster seats for young children.
About the Drury Lane Theatre
Drury Lane Theatre is located at:
100 Drury Lane
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Box Office: (630) 530-0111
Drury Lane offers free valet and self parking, including a covered parking garage. Also available at Drury Lane is an onsite restaurant and lounge. Lucille Restaurant offers the convenience of on-site dining before or after a theatre performance. They offer a pre-fixe menu for dining before or after a performance.
They also offer a lounge for adults to enjoy a drink before or after the show.
No outside food or beverages allowed in the theatre. However, Drury Lane Theatre offers a small selection of pre-show and intermissions snacks and drinks. They offer a variety of child and adult beverages. Drury Lane concessions are cashless.
We recommend getting to Drury Lane early because there is a beautiful two-story Christmas tree in the lobby, which is the perfect backdrop for photos.
Here’s an extra tip for families waiting for the restroom: The line for the restroom gets very long during intermission. There is a second restroom located in the Grand Ballroom. Follow the signs for the Grand Ballroom and the line at that restroom is much shorter.
Are you looking For more Family Friendly Theatre options the whole family will love? What better gift than an experience!
