Wireless Mics and Projection for Disney's The Little Mermaid JR.
Show guide · JR. · 11 principals plus a large flexible chorus · Reviewed by Stage Gear staff, October 2026
Short answer: plan on 13 channels. 11 body mics for the principals, with the Pilot and Chef Louis sharing one, plus 2 spares. Cover the Sea Chorus and Mersisters with 2–3 area mics at the stage edge.
Stage Gear supplies wireless mics, rentals and projection to school and community theatres across the U.S. Our staff work in theatre; this guide is how we'd mic Disney's The Little Mermaid JR.
Who gets a mic
We counted roles that sing solos or carry dialogue over music: Ariel, Prince Eric, King Triton, Sebastian, Flounder, Scuttle, Ursula, Flotsam, Jetsam and Grimsby. The Pilot sings in the opening "Fathoms Below" and Chef Louis does not arrive until the kitchen scene, so they can share one pack if your Pilot has no later lines. That is 11 packs plus 2 spares, for 13 channels.
Borderline: MTI lists King Triton as a non-singer in JR., but he carries long scenes with Ariel and Sebastian, often over underscoring, so he keeps a mic. Carlotta (also non-singing), the Mersisters and the lead Gulls have short lines that area mics or a spare can cover.
Bigger budget (16 channels): add packs for Carlotta and two featured Mersisters, and give Chef Louis his own pack so no swap is needed.
Mic plot
| Ch | Role | Mic | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel 1 | Ariel | Hairline (3 mm), beige | Long wig hides the small element; most-sung role. |
| Channel 2 | Prince Eric | Hairline (3 mm), beige | Middle-school lead; small mic under hair or cap. |
| Channel 3 | Sebastian | Headset, brown | Leads "Under the Sea"; constant movement in crab costume. |
| Channel 4 | Flounder | Headset, beige | Very active, bouncy role; headset stays in place. |
| Channel 5 | Scuttle | Headset, beige | Leads "Positoovity"; big movement with the Gulls. |
| Channel 6 | Ursula | Hairline, brown | Under a big wig; strongest belt in the show. |
| Channel 7 | King Triton | Hairline, beige | Under wig and crown; long dialogue over underscoring. |
| Channel 8 | Grimsby | Hairline (3 mm), beige | Under wig; dialogue scenes with Eric throughout. |
| Channel 9 | Flotsam | Earset, black | Eel hoods often cover the hairline; earset sits clear. |
| Channel 10 | Jetsam | Earset, black | Quick back-and-forth lines with Flotsam. |
| Channel 11 | Pilot / Chef Louis | Hairline, beige | Pilot opens the show; Chef Louis arrives much later. |
| Channel 12 | Spare | Hairline (3 mm), beige | Pre-taped backup for Ariel or Ursula. |
| Channel 13 | Spare | Headset, black | Quick swap for Sebastian, Flounder or Scuttle. |
Every Bodymic is wired for one transmitter family: Shure, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, AKG, MiPro or Creative Audio. Build your Bodymics to match the packs you own. Cast Pack: every 4 Bodymics of the same style and capsule size earn a 5th free. This plot is a starting point; change any row to suit your cast.
The ensemble
The Sea Chorus, Mersisters, Tentacles, Gulls, Chefs and Princesses sing as groups, so cover them with two or three area or choir mics along the front of the stage. If your Sea Chorus narrates from a fixed spot, aim one area mic there. Give an ensemble member a body channel only for a featured solo line that must be heard over the band, such as a lead Gull in "Positoovity."
Show notes from our team
- Ariel goes quiet. After Ursula takes her voice, Ariel has no spoken lines until it returns near the end. Keep her pack on, mute her in silent scenes, and mark which cues reopen her mic.
- "Under the Sea". The biggest dance number puts Sebastian in front of a crowded stage. Double-tape his mic and keep area mics low under his verses so the crowd does not bury him.
- Tentacles around Ursula. Ursula's Tentacles move close around her, often with long fabric arms. Run her cable down the back and check at costume fittings that nothing snags on the tentacle pieces.
- Pilot to Chef Louis swap. If the Pilot and Chef Louis share a pack, give one crew member the handoff. Wipe the element, re-tape and check the mic before Chef Louis enters the kitchen.
Projection
Atlantica, Ariel's grotto, the ship in the storm, Ursula's lair and the palace kitchen all suit projected scenery, and projection makes the move between under the sea and the shore quick and clear. Most school auditoriums need 7,000–10,000 lumens with the right lens; smaller black boxes need less.
Our sister company Broadway Media makes Scenic Projections for Disney's The Little Mermaid JR. Not sure which projector? Read Stage Projectors for Digital Scenery.
Rent it for the run, or own it
| What you get | Next step | |
|---|---|---|
| Rent for the show | A 13-channel wireless rental, Monday to Monday around tech week. Tested before it ships, return labels in every case. | See rental systems |
| Own it | Creative Audio Show-Ready, 16 channels: receivers, bodypacks and antennas racked, programmed and tested. $ 11,190.38. | See the system |
| Mics for the packs you have | Bodymics for the whole cast: hairline from $79, earsets and headsets from $99. | Build your Bodymics |
Buying for a school? U.S. public schools can pay by purchase order. How school ordering works.
Common questions
- How many wireless mics does The Little Mermaid JR. need?
- Plan on 13 channels: 11 body mics for the principals, with the Pilot and Chef Louis sharing one, plus 2 spares. With a larger budget, 16 channels lets you mic Carlotta and two featured Mersisters.
- How do we mic the Sea Chorus and Mersisters?
- Use two or three area or choir mics at the stage edge, with one aimed where your Sea Chorus narrates. The Mersisters sing mostly as a group; give one a body mic only if her solo line keeps getting lost.
- Does King Triton need a mic if he doesn't sing?
- Yes, in most productions. King Triton has long scenes with Ariel and Sebastian, often with music underneath, and a middle-school speaking voice will not carry over it. A hairline mic under the wig and crown works well.
- Can we rent mics just for our show week?
- Yes. Stage Gear rentals run Monday to Monday around tech week, so you have mics for rehearsals and every performance. Systems arrive tested with return labels, and school purchase orders are welcome.
Doing Disney's The Little Mermaid JR. this year?
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Stage Gear is not a show licensor. Disney's The Little Mermaid JR. is licensed through Music Theatre International (MTI); production rights come from them. Stage Gear sells and rents the equipment. See you on stage!
