Two audience favorites set in warm watery places will launch The Theatre in the Park’s 49th outdoor season during June, and TTIP’s Summer Theatre Academy participants will present two shows with two performances each at The Black Box Theatre inside the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center.

Disney’s© “The Little Mermaid,” which is Rated G, will be on the outdoor stage in Shawnee Mission Park June 8 through 10, and June 13 through 16. Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s© “The Little Mermaid” is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. With music by eight-time Academy Award winner, Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, this fishy fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs, including “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl,” and “Part of Your World.”

Next up is the outdoor production of “South Pacific,” which is Rated PG; and on stage June 22 through 24, and June 27 through 30. This Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic is set on an island paradise during World War II, and tells two parallel love stories, which are threatened by the dangers of prejudice and war. Musical numbers include “Some Enchanted Evening,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” and “Younger Than Springtime.”

Theatre Academy shows will include “Willy Wonka Kids,” and “The Lion King Kids.” Both shows are Rated G, and performers in grades three through eight will present indoor performances at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, of both shows on June 16 and 30. Later this summer, two performances of Roald Dahl’s “James and the Giant Peach Jr.,” which is Rated G, will be presented by performers in grades five through 12 on July 27 and 28. The public performances will be the culmination of two- and three-week camp programs. For more information of Theatre Academies and show tickets, visit the theater’s website.

For outdoor productions, gates open at 7 p.m., and shows begin at 8:30 p.m.  General admission is $8 for adults, $6 for youth ages four to ten, plus tax, and free for children three and under, but tickets are still required. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online. “Anytime tickets” available via either ticket-buying method, are not specific to a certain night or performance, and can be printed out at home and scanned at the gate.

Continuing in 2018 is Thrifty Thursdays whereby a 20 percent discount is offered on Thursday night performances. This makes adult tickets $6.40 and children’s tickets $4.80, plus tax. The discounted tickets must be purchased at the box office for the specific show.

Also returning is Movies in the Park, through which participants can see popular and classic films on a 40-foot screen on the TTIP stage for only $1 per person at the gate. Films are shown on selected Tuesday nights when musical productions are not scheduled. Dates for 2018 Movies in the Park are: Disney’s© “Beauty and the Beast” Sing-Along version on June 12, “Wonder Woman” on June 26, “Despicable Me3” on July 10, the original “The Land Before Time” on July 24, and Disney’s© “Coco” on Aug. 7

With the exceptions of “Wonder Woman,” which is Rated PG-13, and “The Land Before Time,” which is Rated G, all of this year’s films are rated PG. Note that the theatre’s usual rain-out policy does not apply to movie nights. Due to licensing restrictions, if a movie has to be cancelled due to inclement weather, no refunds will be issued and no tickets will be revalidated. On movie nights, gates open at 7:30 p.m., and movies start between 8:30 and 8:45 depending on sunset.

Other outdoor productions this summer will include: “Into the Woods,” Rated PG, July 6 through 14; “The Addams Family,” Rated PG, July 20 through 28; and Disney’s© “High School Musical 1 & 2,” Rated G, Aug. 3 through 11. With the exceptions of “The Little Mermaid” and “High School Musical 1 & 2,” which are rated G, this year’s shows are rated PG. Much more information about the theatre and this year’s productions is available at The Theatre in the Park’s website.

This year’s outdoor season, the Movies in the Park presentations, and Summer Academy programs are sponsored by Shawnee Mission Health and First National Bank. Sponsorships for specific shows are still available, and you can learn more by calling Kate Buenger (913) 826-3016 or at kate.buenger@jocogov.org.

The Theatre in the Park is located north of the main entrance to Shawnee Mission Park at 7710 Renner Road in Shawnee. The Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center is located at 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park.