FREEPORT

It takes a lot of work for a performance to appear effortless, and students from two town schools are learning just how much.

On stage and surrounded by her middle-school cast mates, eighth-grader Maya Pierce flits about in her role as a young mermaid and sings about being part of the humans’ world.

A few yards away, ensconced in the darkened Mast Landing School cafeteria, Colton Reaves monitors sound playback, while Riley Werner works out some kinks in the set changes and choreography.

“Sorry, sorry!” he calls out, as an ill-timed curtain closing interrupts Pierce before finishing her number.

Reaves and Werner, both Freeport High School seniors, are co-directing Freeport Middle School’s production of “The Little Mermaid Jr.,” a one-act version of Walt Disney’s adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fable about a mermaid who falls in love with a man.

Thirty-one middle schoolers make up the cast and some of the crew, as well. In addition to Pierce’s Ariel, Noah Brown plays King Triton, Simon Handelman plays Sebastian, and sixth-grader Miranda Rumery plays Ariel’s sidekick Flounder.

Werner’s little sister Ella, 12, plays Ursula the Sea Witch, the story’s principal villain.

Although he says that “Ella is perfect for that role,” Werner insists there is no psychological, subversive sibling warfare being waged.

Instead, it’s a lineage thing: Their father, Jonas Werner, and maternal grandfather, Thomas Watson of Bath, also are actors.

“Actually, she’s been taking direction from older family members her whole life,” Riley said, “so she knows when to listen and keep her mouth shut.”

Ben Sinclair and Jack Olsen, both eighth-graders, provide technical support.

High school seniors including choreographer Gemma McElroy and stage manager Becca Hurd handle the technical stuff of lighting, sound and effects.

“The Little Mermaid” opens Saturday, May 11, with shows at 2 and 7 p.m.; and closes with the 2 p.m. show on Sunday, May 12. Tickets are $5, with all proceeds going to the student led FMS musical program.

So that K-5 students can watch during assemblies, rehearsals and performances are held at Mast Landing School.

The program began in 2011, when Sarah Pier and Bethany Watts decided that the middle school — the only Freeport school without a yearly musical theater show — needed one.

Each year, different seniors take over the task of direction.

“It was a volunteer thing. A couple of my older friends from last year were the directors, and they all talked about what a wonderful time they had,” Werner said. “So Colton and I decided to step up and do it, and it’s been a great time.”

It’s a chance to introduce the next classes of actors and techs that will star in, or work behind the scenes of, shows once they get to high school.

“That’s what we’re trying to teach them, that when you’re onstage it’s not you, it’s what you bring to the character, it’s him or her that’s actually in the role,” Werner said.

“You’d be amazed how good they really are.”

jtleonard@timesrecord.com