The Zion Opera Workshop Junior will present “Disney’s The Little Mermaid Junior” as its sixth production.

Shows will be held at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. A matinee performance will be presented at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Zion United Church of Christ in Lehighton.

Tickets are available for all performances at Zion’s Church Office, at Carbon County Music and More, or from any cast member. They can also be put on hold to be picked up at the door. Send a message to the Zion Opera Workshop Junior Facebook group (facebook.com/zowjunior) or email zionoperaworkshop@gmail.com with the number of tickets you need and which show you’ll be attending. The cost is $5.

The production is under the direction of Laura (Cressley) Reichard, joined by her husband and fellow ZOW veteran Adam Reichard as the stage director. Rounding out the cast are the Pilot, portrayed by Alena Mehnert, Carlotta, played by Delia Keiser, and the Chefs/Sailors, played by Axel Swanson, Daphne Gowin, AJ Mummey, Taylee Keck, Ashlyn Arace, Karlye Kintz, Kaitlyn Purin, Madison Brown, Quinn Lichtenwalner and Hallie Mullen.

Pati and Duane Reichard are technical directors, with Nancy Keiser overseeing costumes and Brad Cressley as sound technician.

Thirty-six children are in the show, ranging from 8 to 14 years old. Eighteen are returning members and 18 are newcomers to the ZOW Jr. stage.

Auditions were held on the second weekend in March, and the cast and crew has been hard at work since.

Out on the open sea, Prince Eric (played by Connor Stay) pursues a mysterious voice, despite the protests of his guardian, Grimsby (portrayed by Carson Hauser). Far beneath the waves, the crab, Sebastian (Bella Eckhart), has prepared a concert for King Triton (Reid Lichtenwalner) that features his youngest child, Ariel (Lilly Andreas), but she has snuck up to the surface with her best friend, Flounder (brother, Zac Andreas).

There, they learn from the seagull, Scuttle (Bella Moyer, joined by gull friends, Delia Keiser, Quinn Lichtenwalner, Daphne Gowin, Ashlynn Kirsch, Rowan Kattner, and Alena Mehnert), about the human treasure she has found. Meanwhile, the sea witch, Ursula (Liliana Getz), and her lackey eels, Flotsam (Violet Heist) and Jetsam (Makenna Hittner), bemoan their exile and plot to regain power from Triton, using Ariel as bait. King Triton scolds Ariel for going to the surface and appoints Sebastian as her chaperon.

Sea creatures are portrayed by Brandon Firtion, Lydia Hearn, Elaina Lucykanish, Rowan Kattner, Emily Dick, Samantha Sterner, and Ashlynn Kirsch.

Distracted by the shadow of a great ship, Ariel swims to the surface and finds the handsome Prince Eric on board. Suddenly, lightning strikes the ship, sending Prince Eric overboard. Ariel darts into action and brings the unconscious prince to shore. Her song wakes Prince Eric, but she has disappeared into the waves.

Back underwater, the Mersisters (Carly Green, Quinn Haydt, Eva Durigon, Natalie Holben, Caroline Cosslett, and Cara McMichael) grill Flounder about Ariel’s odd behavior. Furious about Ariel’s contact with a human, King Triton destroys all her precious objects. Flotsam and Jetsam find Ariel in despair and lure her to the sea witch’s lair. Ursula offers to change Ariel into a human in exchange for her voice. Prince Eric must kiss her within three days or Ariel will turn back into a mermaid and become Ursula’s slave.

On the beach, Prince Eric finds Ariel and brings her home to the palace. Sebastian follows to protect Ariel, but finds himself in jeopardy in the kitchen of Chef Louis (Aiden Wowk). Sebastian calls on lagoon animals to serenade the couple, but Flotsam and Jetsam cause a commotion that blocks their kiss.

Grimsby arranges a singing contest to locate the owner of the mysterious voice (and thus a bride for Prince Eric) but, when Ariel breaks through the crowd and dances, Prince Eric realizes how much he loves her and begins to propose.

However, the sun sets and the spell is broken, turning Ariel back into a mermaid and drawing her into the sea. Sebastian rushes to warn King Triton, who agrees to hand over his trident and take Ariel’s place as Ursula’s slave. When Prince Eric attempts to rescue Ariel, Ursula loses control of her magic shell and Ariel’s voice is restored. With peace restored, Ariel returns the trident to her father. King Triton realizes how much Ariel cares for Prince Eric and decides to restore her humanity. He gently deposits her on the shore, and Prince Eric rushes up and proposes.