PALM COAST, Fla. – There’s something about Disney that no amount of bad press can take away. It’s the wonder, the magic, the happiness people of all ages feel in their hearts when their favorite Disney song comes on.
Taking patrons through the ages, The Little Mermen: The Ultimate Disney Tribute Band whisked the audience along for a ride during their performance on December 29th.
Hitting the oldies but goodies like ‘Bare Necessities’ from The Jungle Book, the band, in full Disney costumes drew kids from the audience to the stage like groupies as they launched into The Little Mermaid’s ‘Part of Your World’. Dancing with abandon, parents whipped out their cameras to video their kids reveling in the pure magic of the moment.
Out for a girl’s night, Jaimie and Jazmyn picked up commemorative souvenirs from the event before heading in for the show.
“We’re on mommy-daughter date night. We were at Olive Garden and our waitress told us about the show,” said Jaimie.
“While we were at dinner I booked the tickets and then we came over. It’s not just mommy-daughter dinner, it’s mommy-daughter date night now,” she said happily.
“It’s pretty cool. She just had her fifth birthday last Monday and we took her to Disney World for the first time ever, so now this … it’s like a double whammy for her.”
The show was a chance to offer families not traveling something to do during the holiday week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center Director Amelia Fulmer welcomed families with festive attire before giving a shout out to this season’s big sponsors, and counting down to a happy new year with the audience.
“We love bringing families to the auditorium. Bozard Lincoln, Granny Nannies and Florida Blue, they’re all big sponsors for us this year and it’s been wonderful,” said Fulmer, who included the Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Club among the year’s big sponsors.
Drawing a few hundred to the venue for the show, the love and excitement shown by the kids during the event was as powerful as a sold-out show.
“We were really excited about The Little Mermen coming tonight and having something for families. We love watching the parents watching the kids and the kids all singing along, clapping and having a great time,” shared Fulmer. “We were just so blessed they were on their way to South Florida and we were able to get them booked here.”
Next up on the showbill for the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center is The Texas Tenors (January 10, 2024) followed by national touring shows dedicated to Whitney Houston (January 20, 2024) and Michael Jackson (February 2, 2024).
“We have ladies coming from all over the state. We have groups that come. This is a huge show,” she said looking forward to The Texas Tenors.
“The guys are so good. They also sing opera, they’re classically trained. They won America’s Got Talent 10 years ago and have made a huge career out of traveling the world. They’re nice people and very, very talented. I just love hearing them sing Italian arias then turn right around and sing ‘God Bless the USA’.”
Sharing her hopes and dreams for the new year, Fulmer’s resolution is deeply rooted in the foundation of her service to the community, as a former educator and now director of the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center at the Flagler Auditorium.
“My new year’s resolution is always about arts education and how important it is,” said Fulmer. “Art is education. It’s not a luxury, it’s how we live our lives, so my resolution is to continue to tell everybody I know to support the arts, to support children in the arts.”
For more information on the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, visit www.FlaglerAuditiorium.org.
