Bailey Renee Miller Shines as Attina in ‘The Little Mermaid’ at the Ordway

Courtesy of Bailey Renee Miller

Meet Bailey Renee Miller, the talented local actress bringing Attina, Ariel’s eldest sister, to life in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” at the Ordway. With a passion for performance and a captivating presence, Bailey shines in this magical production. Read more about her journey and experience in this enchanting show as she chats with Jerrod Sumner, our aesthetic and lifestyle editor.

Tell me a little bit about the project and how you got the role.
I have an interesting history with the show because this show was originally done in La Mirada, California. Then, they took the show to Kansas City this summer. They then brought it back for the holidays at the Ordway. I was cast as a replacement. They were looking for a local hire for my spot. I flew out to La Mirada at the beginning of November, I learned the show in about three days. We flew to Lincoln, and that was the first time I ever saw the costumes, props, everything. We had a day of rehearsal, and then we opened the show for a week before the Ordway.

You’re one of Triton’s daughters. Do you also have an ensemble track?
Yeah. I play Attina. I’m the pink mermaid, so I wear a pink wig and mermaid costume. Then, we fill in some ensemble tracks as well. So, we play some maids. We also play the princesses at the contest, which is really fun.

What is your experience with the original Disney cartoon?
It wasn’t always my favorite Disney cartoon growing up. I was more into Aladdin, but I went back and re-watched it this week as well, and I was like, “This is a great show.” I didn’t really remember too much of it outside of what is in the Broadway show.

What’s your typical show day looklike for you?
Our schedule is rigorous. We do eight shows weekly, and Saturdays and Sundays are two-show days. Then we’re off on Mondays. I teach dance in Chanhassen, so I will still be teaching dance on my Monday nights. I’m also an apprentice with Collide Theatrical. So, depending on the day, I might take a class. A lot of the cast are from LA and New York and have never been to the Twin Cities. So, I hope to show them around the Twin Cities a bit and be their tour guide. Our shows usually are at 7:30 p.m. I’ll get to the theater around 5:30, get ready, get warmed up, and do the show.

What’s your best advice for stage confidence?
I’m still working on that myself. Honestly, my mom told me, and I know it’s very generic, but fake it till you make it. I’ve always thought about how there are so many talented people out there in the world, and the thing that separates the talented people from the people who get to do this for a living is courage and just having the guts to go do it. Sometimes, it’s just as simple as standing up and doing it.

How do you want people to feel when they leave “The Little Mermaid”?
This show is so magical. For people my age or older, it’s nostalgic in a way, too. I feel like when people leave, I would like them to feel just like their hearts are warm. Like they saw something that was wholesome and has a beautiful ending and is visually stunning, so it’s like a warm little heart, especially for the holidays too. I love going into a show and being able just to turn my brain off and just be in the story for a while.

Courtesy of Bailey Renee Miller

That’s what’s interesting about “The Little Mermaid”. It’s so much more than just a prince and princess story. It really is about finding the place that you belong, more or less, and so I think it’s a good reminder for a lot of people.
Oh, for sure. It’s such a good escape. And yeah, I love it. It’s amazing. And the fact, too, that I think for many of these kids and families, it’ll be their first theater experience.

What would you say to younger Bailey about being in this production?
This is the biggest thing I’ve done so far. It’s a big breakout for me. When we opened the show in Lincoln, oh my gosh, the opening night at the end of the show, I was weeping. To younger Bailey, I’d probably say it’s all worth it. You’re doing it. You’re doing the dream. I spent so long, like on YouTube, watching Broadway rehearsal videos and stuff like that in my bedroom in Iowa growing up and just hoping one day that that would be able to be me. And so, I did it. You’re there. Keep going.

Do you have a favorite moment in the show that you’re excited for people to see every night?
The easy answer is “Under the Sea.” It’s just such a huge number. It’s so much fun. It explodes in front of your eyes. That’s my easy answer. My personal favorite is the finale. That’s the first time that I can settle in. I can look out into the audience. I always see these little girls in the front row in their Ariel costumes. That always makes me emotional. The finale is just beautiful.

Do you have a dream role or stage to perform in the Twin Cities?
I would love to work at Chanhassen. They seem to have a lot of shows that align with what I do. But I would also love to work at the Guthrie. A dream role, I really want to do A Chorus Line.

Every actor has some random special skill; what’s yours?
I have a funny one. One of my teachers in college was always like, you should put one really wacky special skill so that if they’re reading, they’ll ask you, what is this? And then maybe they’ll remember you. One year, when I was in college, I was cast in a dance, and I had a squirrel puppet, just like a little hand puppet, and I would hold it and sing and move the squirrel. And so, I put squirrel puppeteering on my resume, just so if someone’s reading it and it’s like, what’s that? It’s kind of creepy sounding, but I like it.

One last question: Minnesota Monthly is dedicated to the Spirit of Minnesota. What does the spirit of Minnesota mean to you?
As a newer Minnesotan, for me it means opportunity. I love how it feels homey, and  I can live my life here with so many opportunities to do what I love on stages across the Cities.