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Out of 600 girls, choosing the perfect Ariel for Area Stage’s Little Mermaid was no small feat. Josslyn Shaw awaited her turn to read with one of two Prince Eric’s auditioning for the role, she decided to surprise Henry Thrasher and give the scene a new spin by challenging him to a race. After running across the audition room and performing the chemistry read, both of them were laughing and that’s what sold it for Giancarlo Rodaz, Area Stage’s director who cast the Arsht Center’s immersive and reimagined version of the Little Mermaid.
They had about a month to learn the original Broadway script and rehearse. The most difficult part was probably all the running around Shaw had to do on stage and hopping on boxes.
“One of the things that I did to prepare for the role because Giancarlo had told us this is going to be very physical. I took that seriously. I got a personal trainer. I had been working out since February consistently so I really built up my stamina and I’m so thankful I did because it really showed,” she said.
The rehearsal process was very open to collaboration on the director’s side of things which she was very thankful for.
“We goofed around but in a productive goofy way. We tried a lot of different things. We weren't afraid to look dumb, make wrong choices and that was a very safe space to do that in. That was something I really appreciated about the rehearsal process,” she said.
Area Stage’s Little Mermaid director Giancarlo Rodaz previously won outstanding direction from the Carbonell Awards. Working with him Shaw said she felt very trusted as the actor which is always a really good feeling to have and his approach to the show and the vision he had was something that she immediately agreed with.
Doing immersive theater was a new experience for Shaw who had never performed in the round before either. There were technical aspects, like turning side to side where she had to turn 360 for every audience member to see.
“The immersive part of it was very scary because people are right in your face and you have to interact with them. I’m not used to breaking the fourth wall like that a lot. It’s a little terrifying when you make eye contact with someone that you’re not used to making contact with but as the shows went on and we got a little more used to it became really fun,” she said.
She loved connecting with kids as her character, their eyes would light up when they saw Shaw as Ariel.
Instagram: @Areastage
The quality she admires the most from Ariel is her bravery for going after what she wanted and changing her whole lifestyle, taking a chance.
“I think her dream was a lot bigger than just a romance story so that’s something I love and adore about her. Chase after your dreams no matter what they are.” she said.
Her favorite number to perform in the show was Beyond My Wildest Dreams. She mentions it’s the first moment in the show that you see Ariel truly happy and all her dreams are coming true. That’s something she loved playing with the pure electric feeling of happiness that you never had before.
Shaw earned a BFA in Musical Theater from the Dobbins Conservatory of Theater and Dance.
As for which classes she was able to incorporate while portraying Ariel she said all of her acting classes and particularly Musical Theater Performance with Kit Lovoy.
“He was my director in Shrek the Musical in school and he flipped my whole world upside down with that show. He really taught me to break into the text, really think about what I’m saying and think about the character,” she said.
For example with Fiona, she was stuck in a tower for so many years in the darkness. Shaw really put herself into Fiona’s place metaphorically.
“I bring that to every character that I play, including Ariel. I really had to tap into what it truly feels like to feel like nobody understands you. Feeling such an outcast that you have to leave,” she said.
Shaw was reminded about a lot of things during this process. Despite the long rehearsal days, she would be there hearing these wonderful people sing and act. She was reminded why she does what she does through this show.
“Sometimes when you’re a professional it’s easy to fall into oh this is my job, this is what I do for a living, Then, I’m done with the show and I can go home and sleep. This process truly reminded me that theater is something I love, theater is the reason I live and breathe and do what I want to do, and it’s a beautiful thing. I think that’s what this process was for me,” she said.
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