Rogelio Douglas Jr. will join the Broadway production of Disney's The Little Mermaid as Sebastian on December 9, replacing Tituss Burgess, who originated the role at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. As previously announced, Heidi Blickenstaff will step in as Ursula on January 27, replacing Sherie Rene Scott. Other new cast members include Eric LaJuan Summers and Robert Creighton, who joined the cast on November 4 as Jetsam and Chef Louis, respectively.
Rogelio comes to The Little Mermaid after making his Broadway debut as an understudy with In the Heights. His other credits include Riverdance the Show, Dreamgirls 25th anniversary performance, Five Guys Named Moe and Four Eyed Moe.
Summers’ Broadway credits include The Wedding Singer and Aida. His other credits include the national tour of Porgy and Bess, and New York workshops of A Bronx Tale, Get Shorty and Toxic Avenger. Regionally he’s appeared in Hairspray, Abyssinia, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Jesus Christ Superstar, Pirates and Monica the Musical.Creighton previously appeared on Broadway in Jackie Mason’s Laughing Room Only and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, in addition to appearing City Center’s Damn Yankees, The Lion King in Los Angeles and Toronto and productions for the New York City Opera.
Directed by Francesca Zambello, The Little Mermaid is based on the classic Disney animated feature and the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. It opened on Broadway on January 10, 2008, and its songs “Part of Your World,” “Kiss the Girl,” “Under the Sea” earned composer Alan Menken, his late collaborator Howard Ashman and lyricist Glenn Slater a Tony Award nomination for Best Original Score.