
On today’s episode, Matt Tamanini is in conversation with Broadway favorite Haven Burton, who is currently co-starring in the Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” as Ursula. From growing up as a devoted Ariel fan to relish...
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Zoe Saldana
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Haven Burton
Let me check this pocket. Oh, mints.
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Matt Tamminini
Welcome to a special interview episode of Broadway Radio. My name is Matt Tamminini. On today's episode, I am in conversation with one of the stars of the current Paper Mill Playhouse production of Disney's the Little Mermaid, Haven Burton. Despite growing up as a devoted fan of Princess Ariel, she's now playing Ariel's aunt, the sea witch, Ursula. Many listeners and theater fans likely know Haven from her numerous Broadway credits. She appeared on Broadway in Rent, Legally Blonde, Shrek, the musical, Kiki Boots, multiple times playing Lauren Violet, and most recently, how to Dance in Ohio. She also led the Shrek national tour as Princess Fiona. But with playing Ursula, this is the first time that she's ever really played a villain. And she is diving into it, I guess, no pun intended for an underwater musical head first. And is doing everything she can to really get to know. And this character that, given the changes to the script that were made for the Broadway version, has much more depth than she has in the original animated film. We talk all about that. Why she loves working at Papermill Playhouse, and not just because she lives eight minutes away. The incredible cast that she gets to share the stage with and her many, many years of being a Pokemon voice actor. So, as always, we will have information in the show notes on where you can purchase tickets to see the Little Mermaid at the Paper Mill playhouse running through June 29th. And I will say we recorded this episode a week ago today from when it is coming out on June 10th. But because of all of the Tony's stuff, it didn't make sense to kind of have it drowned out with all of the other content that we had. So some of the references that she talks about in terms of time just coming out of the opening, when her kids are going to see it, were last week. So just wanted to put that out there so you understood the timeline. All right. With all that out of the way, here's my conversation with Haven Burton. Well, Haven, you get to finish your first week of Little Mermaid at Paper Mill Playhouse. You had opening night on Sunday. How'd everything go? Are you settling into it? How's the first week of shows been?
Haven Burton
Yeah, the first week of shows were great. You know, it's a very different process. Regional theater, you do previews, and we had a matinee before our opening night performance, so it felt like a really big push to get this on its feet. And it was so much fun. And the company is just incredible. Everyone is so talented and so kind and just really willing to go the extra mile to make this the best possible version that we. That we can. And we have an extraordinary creative team. And it's just been. It's been wonderful. It feels good, and it feels even better to have two days off the next day.
Matt Tamminini
Yeah, yeah, that's. That's the nice benefit of doing that at regional theater. You've. You've worked at Paper Mill before. Besides the fact that it is so close to New York City. What is it about the staff there, the audiences there, the facilities there? What is it about being at Paper Mill that makes it a special experience that so many people want to go back to? Obviously, aside from the fact that if you live in New York, it's a much easier commute than doing something in Boston or Chicago.
Haven Burton
Yeah, I mean, there are. I mean, the list is long for me. I love the Paper Mill. I love their. I mean, I love everything about it. The staff is wonderful. They're so hospitable. They're really excellent, you know, hosts. This is their home. And so for every company that comes in, they're basically hosting a new group of people into their home space, including the dressing rooms. But they're so generous and considerate, and we, from the, from the you know, very top of, you know, the creative directors and executive directors of the Paper Mill, to the crew, the dressers, and it's just, it's a wonderful, wonderful place to come in to visit as a performer. I live eight minutes away, so it's even better for me. I love, I love, love, love going to the Paper Mill. It's also in the. I mean, Milburn is a beautiful. Has a great downtown and lots of, you know, shops and restaurants and delis and bakeries and all those things. But in addition to that, it's kind of nestled in the middle of South Mountain Reservation, which is just the most beautiful park space. And it's full of hiking trails and trees and waterfalls, and so it feels otherworldly. So for a 30 minute train ride away from New York City, where you're in a concrete jungle, to coming out and to feeling like you're a fairy in the woods, it's absolutely magical. Plus, the production quality of the Paper Mill is really unlike anything that I've ever seen regionally. They do such an incredible job and they pull together such an abundant, you know, cast of Broadway veterans and, and also people that are brand new, but the, the, the talent that they are able to acquire because of the proximity to the city is unique, and I think that that's something that the audiences can feel and see and really benefit from. So, yeah, it's, it's just wonderful. It's such a beautiful space to be in.
Matt Tamminini
Yeah. Well, you talked at the beginning about wanting to do the best version of Little Mermaid you could possibly do in that short amount of time. You talked about the obviously great talent that's in the show. How is this version of Little Mermaid different than, I don't know, any other version that people have seen on either stage or screen? What makes this one stand out from previous versions people have had an opportunity to check out in the past?
Haven Burton
Oh, gosh. Well, you know, I think that, you know, Joanne, Joanne Hunter, our director, she is just wonderful. This is my first time working with her, and when I auditioned, I just knew I wanted to be in her circle because she was so generous and so collaborative in the room. And she really. You can always tell when you get into a space the first day of rehearsal and see who the director has chosen to bring into this space. And she just wanted it to be full of fun and love and kindness. And she said that on the first day. And that really shows with every person that she brought in. And so that's the first step to doing something differently. Right. That's the first step in our business is, like, really caring not just about the talent, but the quality of people and their. Their hearts and bringing those people together to create a really wonderful experience and a safe environment for people to just be able to have fun and do good work. And the second part is that she has a very, very keen eye for unique people and had a wonderful creative vision for the casting of this as well. So it's very diverse in every way. It's just really. It's a great group of people. So I think the diversity aspect and the casting is so important and so beautiful, and so we definitely are. Our Little Mermaid is definitely elevated because of that, in addition to the fact that we are flying people. So the mermaids swim. They fly instead of just staying on the ground. And the way that they've done that is really beautiful. The special effects are extraordinary. Really, really, really great. And then also, I would say that, you know, her. The process that we've kind of gone through in building and developing our characters, we were encouraged to make them really, like, to really dig deep. And, you know, I think for a lot of it's easy to take a Disney musical and say, like, we know what the template is. We know what the formula is. We can get up there as talented, seasoned professionals and just say, like, these are the lines and the audience will go right with us. But to be given permission, and not just permission, but to be encouraged to dig deeper and really find, like, a lot of truths about these individuals and how they relate to one another and make them three dimensional, I think is really, really special and unique about our. Our interpretation of. Of the Little Mermaid here at the Paper Mill. And. And because of it, as actors, we're like, dig deeper. Vision boards. Backstory. Yes. You know, it's really fun. Yeah.
Matt Tamminini
Yeah. And especially with the stage version of the Little Mermaid with Ursula in particular, like, you get a whole lot more backstory than you get in the movie. And, like, there's a lot more, like, I don't know, sympathy you can actually have for the character being, you know, passed over by her brother and all of that stuff. Like, it's a different, completely different take than what you see just in the animated version.
Haven Burton
Oh, how much time do you have?
Matt Tamminini
Because as much as you want. Let's go. Let's go dive in deeper.
Haven Burton
Let's talk about Ursula. You know, it's so funny because I love her so much. So I just very quickly, like, sidebar. I was 9 years old when the animated film was released, so this movie was My anthem. Growing up, I sang Part of youf World at every assembly that people would allow me to get on stage. Right? Like that was the. I was like, like, I am the Little Mermaid. I believe in mermaids. I'm going to be Ariel. This is my. This is my story, right? She was my. Always my princess. And I don't think that nine year old Haven would ever have assumed that she would be playing that grown up Haven would be playing Ursula. But as an adult and being given the opportunity to play her as soon as they announced their season, I was like, I want to be Ursula. I want to be Ursula so bad. And I didn't know exactly what drew me to the character. But then when I started learning the music and got all of the backstory, I love her so much. I love playing her. She is so. Oh, the layers 1. What I love most about the way that they've developed her character in the book of the stage production is a lot of her backstory. But she and Ariel have so many similarities. They are the youngest of seven daughters. Both of them. They both had fathers only. Right. The difference is that Ariel's father is loving and doting and Ursula's father was emotionally withdrawn and abusive and neglectful. So there's that comparison right there. Like, what would happen, you know, the two. They're the same but with two completely different environments. And see how they divergent paths kind of thing. Yeah, yeah. Because like villains aren't born, they're made. Right. So they both love collecting things. You know, Ursula collects souls, Ariel collects forks. My Ursula, actually, I love. So, you know, Poseidon, they saved the. Poseidon is Ursula's father. So I did a deep dive on Greek mythology with Poseidon. And you know, Poseidon is also responsible for creating the Kraken.
Matt Tamminini
I was going to say, like, your Ursula doesn't look very octopus. Like.
Haven Burton
Well, I know. Well, she has those big tentacles, you know that Bert has like all of these big six tentacles. But it is like a very glamorous. It looks like a ball gown. It's so pretty. So I love. When I saw the costume, I immediately started thinking, like, gosh, this looks like a, like Marie Antoinette court, you know, ball gown style thing. You know, what could we do? And I found all of these inspirations in the wig because they said, bring your ideas. And I said, excellent. They didn't have a wig for me yet, so I brought them all these ideas from these rococo style large court wigs where they were putting like bird cages and stuff. But one of the biggest Themes that I found was ships. Like, I was.
Matt Tamminini
I was gonna say it looks like a ship.
Haven Burton
Yeah, it is a ship. They put a ship in my hair because I brought these things. And Leah, the designer, she had the same picture, so we were already on the same page, because I was like, she's this fallen. Ursula is like this fallen aristocrat. Right. She's by right the queen of the sea. Right. She is the queen, and she's been dethroned, but she still has all of her jewels that she's kind of like, she's an exile.
Matt Tamminini
Right?
Haven Burton
Right. So she's like royalty that's been exiled from her kingdom. So she's, like, taken everything that she could. So she's got, like, every piece of jewelry that she could stuff on her fingers and put around her neck, like she's taken it. And now she's in exile and walking around still feeling like, you know, she's entitled to the kingdom, that it's all been stolen from her. But I love it. My favorite line in the show is when I get to look at Ariel and say, we're so alike, you and I. And I feel like that's a moment for her because she's never met any of her nieces. Right. But now she's. And so even with villains, right? Like, you've got this plan to get your power back, but it doesn't mean that she's completely without any kind of feeling. She feels a lot for herself. I mean, she's clearly like a narcissist. But when she meets Ariel, I think seeing all of the ways that they are similar, even though it's visually very funny to make that compari, I think she really does see herself in Ariel in a lot of ways, and for maybe a split second considers sparing the girl. Right. Like, huh. But then also kind of hates her for all of the privilege that she has that Ursula didn't. Right. For all the love that Ariel gets that Ursula didn't have. You know, so there's. There's a wonder. I just feel like it's such a fun and complex relationship to explore. I'll be sad when I don't get to do this anymore. I'm sad it only lasts a month because I'm having so much fun exploring Ursula, and I feel like there's still so much to learn that a month actually won't be enough to really learn all of it.
Matt Tamminini
Well, I was just gonna have to find every production of Little Mermaid around the country and audition for those, obviously.
Haven Burton
Will you have me World.
Matt Tamminini
Yes. I mean, okay, so you talk about how much fun it is to play Ursula. I mean, you've also played fairy tale princesses before, so, like, comparing doing the princess, the bright ingenuie princess thing to the evil villain side, that's just more fun in general, right? It has to be.
Haven Burton
Oh, you know, I don't know, like, comparatively between, like, especially with Fiona, because she was really an unconventional princess because she was part ogre and truly, like, she was holy ogre and holy princess all at the same time. Right. Like, she. The whole picture, she just spent her time was split between the two, but she was never free of either one. So playing Fiona was just an absolute blast. But I also think it's because Fiona is so three dimensional. Right. There's so much going on with her story. So she wasn't ever intentionally written to be just. Just a princess. It was really an exploration about, like, what that role and what that archetype meant and breaking free of those. Of those standards, so that she was really fun. But you're right in the sense that for the majority of the ingenues that are written, there's not a lot going on, you know, and they need to be, like, rescued. And it is fun to play ingenues. It is. It's wonderful. It's. You know, they definitely have their. Have their place, but. But aging into roles with a lot more meat and a lot more places to kind of dig deep as an actress is fun, and Ursula is great, and it is a departure. I've never played a villain before, so now I feel like I'm in my villain era, and I like it very much, and I wouldn't mind staying here for a while. But both of them, ingenues and villains alike, always have to just be rooted in truth. So you have to find your window into each character, you know, no matter who you're playing. And you have to advocate for that person. Right. When you're stepping into their skin, you can't. You can't have opinions about them because you have to advocate for them. So it's. You know, there are similarities in the approach, but the play is very different and really fun. And, yeah, I love being a villain. I also. I don't. I'm unapologetically large and taking up space, like, in every aspect. And that is really, really fun. And it kind of. It's a little bit of a different feeling for me because I like to be a very collaborative, generous scene partner. How was that? What can I do? What are you feeling? You know, this. But in this space. And I still in that way with Nick and Sean Katrick, who are Flotsam and Jetsam. But it's like, I really do have to give my. I have to give Haven permission to take up a lot of space unapologetically, and it's good for me.
Matt Tamminini
That's good. I mean, learning new things as the run goes on. I want to talk about the rest of this cast, but we have to start with what I think is criminally underused in paper mills marketing. The actress playing Ariel, her last name is Fisher. Like, that's. That's weird, right?
Haven Burton
I said the same thing. I was like, hillary, you have fish in your last name. Yeah, I know. Isn't it great?
Matt Tamminini
It's. It's a. I mean, like, I don't know how to take that. Like, Fisher, as in, like, she's going, I. I don't know. It's a little. It's a little weird. Yeah, yeah. It's a little strange. But Hilary Fisher, who I saw in the Notebook, she's fantastic. Just so good. The entire cast is really made up of some really, really fun folks. What has it been like working with Hilary as your niece and then Flotsam and Jetsam and everybody else in this company?
Haven Burton
Oh, my gosh. Well, you know, I'm still getting to know everybody better because I am pretty isolated from the rest of the cast. I don't really interact with anybody other than Flotsam and Chetsam and then Hillary from time to time and then Triton at the end. But for the most part, I'm not in rehearsals with them. I'm not at tech with them. So they're. They're forming relationships. And it does really feel like I've been excommunicated from the kingdom in a lot of ways.
Matt Tamminini
Use that for character motivation. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Haven Burton
Yes, yes. Well, you know, it is. It is, actually. I'm like, huh, this is interesting. Banishment and how it feels. We were Hillary, and I am completely obsessed with her. I absolutely adore her. She is the most perfect Ariel you could ever imagine. She's got such a sweet. Well, first of all, her voice is just so exquisite. Right. And it's everything that you've wanted for part of your world. Everything. Everything ever. When she opens her mouth at the top of the show, I get chills on my arms. Just sitting in my dressing room, I'm like, oh, here we go. And she's. She's beautiful inside and out, and I think that shines through effortlessly. And she's also Just really sweet offstage. Just an excellent leading lady. The way that she has set a beautiful example in this company of staying calm and kind, and just her willingness to just kind of jump in and say, yeah, what do you need? You know, she's just. She's a wonderful, wonderful leading lady. And it's been really nice, kind of, as the older one, to kind of watch. Watch her in this role and. And see how she's just, I don't know, like, really, really taking. Taking all the responsibilities of a leading lady on with Grace. Yeah, she's great. And we've had a couple car rides together. I've dropped her off at a friend's house that she was staying at, so we get, like, a couple car rides where we're like, nice chatting and stuff. Yeah, it's fun. And then with my boys, Nick and Sean Patrick. I've actually worked with Sean Patrick before in Kinky Boots. And so it's a little bit of. It was fun. And we're just having an absolute ball. We laugh a lot and we joke a lot. So it's fun.
Matt Tamminini
Yeah, very good. Well, I'm gonna take a detour away from Little Mermaid for a second, because what is going on with the Pokemon? I'm not a Pokemon person, but I know you do a lot of Pokemon voice acting. One, what is that all about? And two, for people who aren't in it. Can you explain how big the entire world and fandom of the Pokemon stuff in general is as somebody who is inside of it?
Haven Burton
Oh, my gosh. I don't know if I could even do it justice. So I got started with Pokemon years and years ago, I think, probably like 11 years ago. And it was a friend who introduced me, a Broadway friend who introduced me. And there were a lot of musical theater people that were voicing. And so that community overlapped, which was nice. And I auditioned and worked with the director at the time who really kind of taught me the ropes on how to do dubbing, because it's all matching lip flap, which was really fun. But I puppeteered prior to that. And I think my experience in puppeteering really helped me make that natural transition over into dubbing. So I got cast in my first big part. My first big part for Pokemon was one of Ash Ketchum's companions. And when you get cast as a companion, you're basically the companion for like, three to four years. For as long as that seasons. I was in XY and then XYZ for three years as Ash Ketchum's companions. Along with Bonnie and Clement. So it was the three of us and Ash, and we would go on adventures in the Calos region. My character had a really, really interesting and unique story arc, and I had a crush on Ash Ketchum. And everybody loves to like amoreship Ash and certain characters and companions throughout his life. But my character kissed him on the final episode together, and it broke the Pokemon Internet. So the fans of Pokemon are absolutely incredible. They're so wonderful and they're so generous, and I use that term a lot, but that's because it's important to me. I get to go do comic Cons and do signings and meet with them, and it's just. It's wonderful. As far as, like, how big the Pokemon fan universe is, I mean, I don't even think that I have the words to really justify or describe how big it is and how diverse it is as well. Because it can be from the game to the movies to the car, just the cards. It can be, you know, a lot of. There's a lot of different layers to it. But my friend Sarah Nattacheni, who voiced Ash Ketchum for. Oh, my God, I'm not even going to remember, it was like eight years or something that she did it. Wow, 17, 18 years, maybe longer. She goes all over the world. She's won awards for it. I mean, people just. They light up watching her sign and being able to meet the fans and hear how much Pokemon has meant to them and in their childhood. I mean, it's really. It's really special to be a part of people's upbringing. It's just. It's really special. I love it. I feel so fortunate that I'm continuing with it and that I get to continue to voice some of the characters. I've just really. I've loved it. It's kind of been. It also gives me a lot of street kid with street cred with my kids. So I went to career day at my son's first first grade class, and I passed out my trainer card. I have a Serena trainer card. And I autographed it and I gave it to all the kids about Pokemon. And they were like, I want to be a voice actor when I grow up. And I was like, wait, wait, maybe.
Matt Tamminini
Set your goals a little different there.
Haven Burton
Yeah, yeah, you got a police officer next. Hold up.
Matt Tamminini
Yeah, well, I'll wrap it up and let you get back to your day off with. With this question. I saw you posted a little Get Ready with me video on social media. You're doing that all by yourself. You're doing your makeup. The full Ursula. It's obviously different than the other ones, but it's like. It's the full Ursula beat. How different is that than the Fiona? Get ready. Because obviously that's, like, a quicker thing. But I imagine you probably had some help with that as well, too.
Haven Burton
Oh, so the Fiona is really. The Fiona was simple. It was more like a regular show beat. It just had green eyeshadow with, like, a little bit of a darker crease and some gold. I still have some of it, which is probably gross, but I loved some. Some of the makeup was actually designed and made specifically for that makeup plot by the designer, who was incredible. And then, like, red lips and, like, cheeks and lashes. I mean, like, it was like a regular princess beat and didn't get screened until the very end, right?
Matt Tamminini
Yeah, yeah.
Haven Burton
That transition had, like, five people putting cowls on and stuff like that. But really, the only thing that ever went green was this and this. And they did it by makeup, if I.
Matt Tamminini
If I remember correctly, because I feel like you would have gone off stage, and they had a body double who was, like, behind, like, in a. In the cave or something, right?
Haven Burton
Oh, no, actually, that was me. I would change costumes, but I was never painted green. They would do a green light on me. So the cowl. The cowl and the hand. Like, the gloves were green, but they would shine the light on my face, and it was in the back. So they just lit it in a magical way where the illusion was that I had already gone green, but I didn't actually go green because I wasn't in scenes that were in the full view of the audience until the very, very final scene. Yeah.
Matt Tamminini
Okay. I guess I need to go back and watch the film version. So I can remember when Fiona gets green, but. All right, so some very different makeup approaches to these two roles, though.
Haven Burton
And Ursula is a full beat. I do have someone who comes. We have these glow in the dark stamps of tentacles that kind of go on my back, and here, because they shine a black light on me quite a bit. And so when they shine the black light, what we loved was all of these bioluminescent octopus and squid that were present. And so they wanted to do this glow in the dark pattern. And so we looked at a bunch of pictures of all these bioluminescent, you know, deep sea.
Matt Tamminini
That's so smart animals.
Haven Burton
And then did that. Repeated that pattern. So in the black light, you can see that there's, like, some tentacle or not tentacles, but the little Suckers that go neck and that are all on my arm before it hits my glove. It's really fun.
Matt Tamminini
That's very cool. Well, have you. Did you have your kids come and seen the production? Did they see it the first weekend?
Haven Burton
Not yet. They're coming on Wednesday. So my husband is also a performer. He's in Chicago the Musical. He's been there for 13 years, and his day off is Wednesday, so he's bringing my three kids on Wednesday night to see the show, and they're very excited. My daughter, who's five, she's like, octopus. I'm like, yes, I'm gonna be octopus.
Matt Tamminini
That's awesome. Well, she's kind of doing very similar to what you did as a kid with Little Mermaid, which is a nice full circle moment. But hopefully she has a little bit more affection for Ursula than you did.
Haven Burton
Yes, she does. Also, you know what? Descendants really helped with that. Like, my kit. She Descendants. And one of the descendants is a descendant of Ursula, and her name's Uma, and she loves Uma because she's, like, a cool pirate with, like, blue braids and turns into an octopus. She loves her.
Matt Tamminini
So that's awesome.
Haven Burton
She's all into it. Yeah.
Matt Tamminini
Well, thank you so much for talking about this. I hope that you get the most character deep dives you can get in between now and closing on June 29th. And hopefully there's more Ursulas in your future as well.
Haven Burton
Oh, gosh. I would love it. Any villains? I joked. I was like, jafar is next.
Matt Tamminini
Let's do it. I love it. I love it. Well, thank you so much. Have a great rest of the run, and I hope the kids enjoy it as much as everybody else is.
Haven Burton
Thank you. I do too. I mean, if they don't, there's a problem, right?
Matt Tamminini
Yeah. They're grounded.
Haven Burton
Yeah, they're grounded.
Matt Tamminini
Sam.
BroadwayRadio Special Episode: Haven Burton on the Joys of Being the Villain in ‘The Little Mermaid’
Release Date: June 10, 2025
In this special episode of BroadwayRadio, host Matt Tamminini sits down with Haven Burton, a seasoned Broadway actress renowned for her diverse roles in productions like Rent, Legally Blonde, Shrek the Musical, Kiki Boots, and How to Dance in Ohio. This conversation delves into Haven's latest venture into villainy as she portrays Ursula, Ariel’s aunt, in the current Paper Mill Playhouse production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. This marks Haven's first foray into playing a villain, adding a new dimension to her illustrious career.
Matt Tamminini [01:08]: "Haven, you get to finish your first week of Little Mermaid at Paper Mill Playhouse. You had opening night on Sunday. How’d everything go? Are you settling into it? How’s the first week of shows been?"
Haven Burton [03:17]: "Yeah, the first week of shows were great. You know, it’s a very different process. Regional theater, you do previews, and we had a matinee before our opening night performance, so it felt like a really big push to get this on its feet. And it was so much fun. And the company is just incredible. Everyone is so talented and so kind and just really willing to go the extra mile to make this the best possible version that we can. We have an extraordinary creative team, and it’s just been wonderful."
Haven reflects on the invigorating experience of launching the production, highlighting the collaborative spirit and dedication of the entire cast and crew.
Matt Tamminini [03:53]: "You’ve worked at Paper Mill before. Besides the fact that it is so close to New York City, what is it about the staff there, the audiences there, the facilities that make Paper Mill a special experience?"
Haven Burton [04:19]: "I love everything about it. The staff is wonderful—they’re so hospitable and excellent hosts. It’s their home, and they treat each company as new guests, including the dressing rooms. They’re generous and considerate, from the top creative directors to the crew and dressers. Milburn is beautiful, with a great downtown area and nestled in the South Mountain Reservation, offering a magical escape from the concrete jungle of New York City. The production quality is unlike anything I’ve seen regionally, pulling together Broadway veterans and new talent uniquely due to its proximity to the city. It’s a beautiful space to be in."
Haven elaborates on her deep affection for the Paper Mill Playhouse, emphasizing its hospitality, superb facilities, and the enchanting location that fosters both creativity and community.
Matt Tamminini [06:35]: "You talked about wanting to do the best version of Little Mermaid possible in a short amount of time. How is this version different from any other versions on stage or screen?"
Haven Burton [06:58]: "Joanne Hunter, our director, is wonderful—generous and collaborative from day one. She fostered an environment full of fun, love, and kindness, which is the first step to doing something differently. The casting is very diverse, elevating our version. Additionally, our mermaids fly instead of staying on the ground, with extraordinary special effects. We were encouraged to dig deep into our characters, finding truths and making them three-dimensional, which is unique for our interpretation at the Paper Mill."
Haven highlights the innovative directorial approach, diverse casting, and unique staging elements, such as flying mermaids, that set this production apart from previous iterations.
Matt Tamminini [10:01]: "With Ursula in particular, you get a whole lot more backstory than in the movie, creating sympathy for the character. How does this different take enhance the portrayal?"
Haven Burton [10:29]:
"I love Ursula because her character is so layered. In the stage production, her backstory is expanded, showing she and Ariel are the youngest of seven daughters with similar loves but different environments. Ursula’s father was emotionally withdrawn and abusive, which contrasts Ariel’s loving father. This divergence creates a complex relationship where Ursula can see herself in Ariel but also resents her for the love and privilege Ariel receives. It's a fun and intricate relationship to explore."
"My favorite line is when I say to Ariel, 'We’re so alike, you and I,' which highlights their similarities and differences, adding depth to Ursula's character." [14:07]
Haven delves into the nuanced portrayal of Ursula, examining her motivations and the intricate relationship with Ariel, thus offering a more sympathetic and multi-dimensional villain.
Matt Tamminini [20:02]: "What has it been like working with Hilary Fisher as your niece and the rest of the cast?"
Haven Burton [20:02]:
"I'm still getting to know everyone better since I’m fairly isolated from the rest of the cast, interacting mainly with Flotsam, Jetsam, and Hilary from time to time. Hilary Fisher, who plays Ariel, is fantastic—her voice is exquisite, and she embodies Ariel’s character beautifully both on and offstage. We share car rides and enjoy lighthearted conversations, making the working relationship enjoyable and supportive."
"With Nick and Sean Patrick, whom I’ve worked with before in Kinky Boots, it’s been a lot of fun. We laugh and joke a lot, making the environment lively and enjoyable." [20:31]
Haven praises her co-stars, particularly Hilary Fisher, and describes the camaraderie and positive working relationships that enhance the production's atmosphere.
Matt Tamminini [22:24]: "What is happening with Pokémon? You do a lot of Pokémon voice acting. Can you explain how big the fandom is and your experience within it?"
Haven Burton [22:51]:
"I started with Pokémon about 11 years ago, introduced by a Broadway friend. I voiced one of Ash Ketchum’s companions in XY and XYZ for three years, playing characters like Bonnie and Clement. My character had a unique arc, including a kiss with Ash on the final episode, which broke the Pokémon Internet. The fandom is incredible—diverse and expansive across games, movies, cards, and more. Engaging with fans at Comic Cons and signings is wonderful, and being part of their upbringing is truly special."
"It’s also fun to have street cred with my kids. At my son's first-grade career day, I shared my trainer card, and the kids were inspired to become voice actors." [26:28]
Haven shares her enthusiasm for her role in Pokémon, highlighting the deep connection with the fandom and how it enriches her personal and professional life.
Matt Tamminini [26:30]: "You posted a 'Get Ready with Me' video featuring your full Ursula makeup. How does this compare to your Fiona look?"
Haven Burton [27:04]:
"Fiona’s makeup was simpler—green eyeshadow, gold accents, red lips, and cheeks, designed specifically for the character. Ursula’s makeup is more elaborate, using glow-in-the-dark tentacle stamps that shine under blacklight, inspired by bioluminescent sea creatures. The costume incorporates a ship motif in the wig and a glamorous, Marie Antoinette-inspired ball gown aesthetic, reflecting Ursula’s status as a fallen aristocrat. This detailed approach allows for a visually stunning and character-driven portrayal."
"For Ursula, the cowl and gloves are green, but I’m never painted green. Instead, lighting creates the illusion, reserving the transformation for the final scenes." [27:48]
Haven provides an in-depth look at the transformative makeup and costume design that bring Ursula to life, emphasizing the creativity and technical skill involved in crafting her villainous persona.
Matt Tamminini [29:33]: "Did your kids see the production?"
Haven Burton [29:33]: "Not yet, but they’re coming on Wednesday. My husband, also a performer in Chicago the Musical, is bringing our three kids to see the show. My five-year-old daughter is excited about the octopus elements, inspired by Descendants, where Uma, a descendant of Ursula, is a cool pirate who transforms into an octopus. She’s already a fan." [29:56]
Haven shares the joy of involving her family in her professional life, highlighting how her children connect with her role and the broader Disney universe.
Matt Tamminini [30:26]: "Thank you so much for talking about this. I hope you get the most character deep dives before closing on June 29th. Hopefully, there are more Ursulas in your future as well."
Haven Burton [30:46]: "I would love any villain roles. Maybe Jafar next!" [30:46]
Matt wraps up the conversation, expressing hopes for Haven’s continued success and exploration of diverse roles, while Haven humorously aspires to embrace more villainous characters in her career.
This episode of BroadwayRadio offers a captivating glimpse into Haven Burton's latest theatrical endeavor, her portrayal of Ursula in The Little Mermaid, and her multifaceted career in Broadway and voice acting. Through her insightful discussion, listeners gain an appreciation for the depth and dedication she brings to her roles, both beloved and villainous. Haven's passion for her craft and her ability to connect with audiences, whether on stage or through iconic franchises like Pokémon, underscores her versatility and enduring appeal in the world of performing arts.
For more information and to purchase tickets to The Little Mermaid at the Paper Mill Playhouse running through June 29th, visit Paper Mill Playhouse Tickets.