Rafaela DeMartis, 13, plays Ariel. She has plenty of experience to bring to the role — she has always dressed up as princesses.

“When I was little I used to love Disney princesses, so it’s cool to be one now,” DeMartis said.

DeMartis said Ariel is a whimsical, goofy character who she likes to play.

For the kids, they say acting is a refreshing escape from real life, where they can be someone else.

Lucy Duffy as Sebastian rehearses “The Little Mermaid” with Camp Pendragon on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

“I like acting like somebody else and not needing to worry about anything else except for that character’s problems — not my problems,” said Eloise Zobel, 13.

“Being able to be a character is really fun for me,” said Isaac Evans, 10.

“You get kind of an adrenaline rush being on stage,” said Ellie Henderson, 12. “You just kind of forget who you are for a little while.”

Director Hannah-Katheryn “HK” Wall has been involved with theater productions all over the country, but said she loves coming to Saranac Lake to work with the Camp Pendragon kids. She’s been doing theater since she was 7 and even played Adella in “The Little Mermaid” as a kid.

“This age group, and things like (Camp Pendragon), are so important,” Wall said. “These kids give quality shows every year.”

Rafaela DeMartis as Ariel sings about the world above the waves while rehearsing “The Little Mermaid” with Camp Pendragon on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

She said it’s like working with smaller professionals.

“Genuinely, I love these kids so much,” Wall said. “They are truly such a special part of this community.”

It’s something that lets her know she’s in the right career and she said she would love to do it for the rest of her life.

In the four years she’s directed plays for the camp, she’s seen the students grow. She raves about the creative choices they make on stage, how they ask “smart actor questions” in rehearsals and how their confidence has expanded.

The kids have a mutual admiration for Wall, too.

Noah Cranker as King Triton frets about Ariel’s absence during a rehearsal of Camp Pendragon’s “The Little Mermaid” on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

“HK, our director, always slays. Every single time,” Noah Cranker, 16, said.

“I think that we have a great director,” Zobel said, making sure to be loud enough for “HK” to overhear.

Zobel also thanked the lights and sound crew for making them look good.

Zobel plays Chef Louis, who “really likes to kill fish and crabs and underwater sea animals.”

“I get to sing a song about how much I want to kill Sebastian,” Zobel said with a smile.

Gwen Haney as Scuttle sings about dinglehoppers and other human stuff while rehearsing “The Little Mermaid” with Camp Pendragon on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Evans plays Flounder, who starts as a little scared guppy and “then becomes strong and buff,” Evans said.

He’s looking forward to singing “She’s in Love” on stage.

“Flounder’s kind of got a big part in that,” Evans said.

Cranker plays King Triton.

“Really strict dad vibes over here,” they said.

Mason Estling as Prince Eric takes the wheel as Josie Myles, the Pilot, hears a mermaid call whole the two rehearse “The Little Mermaid” with Camp Pendragon on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Cranker also has a cameo in “Under the Sea” as a shark in sunglasses.

“It’s a whole vibe,” they said.

Henderson plays Arista, one of Ariel’s sisters and someone Henderson sees as an old soul.

“I kind of have this theory that she’s one of the older sisters, and so when Ariel falls in love, she’s like ‘Ahh, young love,'” she said.

Henderson is also looking forward to “She’s in Love,” which she said is a fun ’60s pop song.

Evans and Henderson have done Pendragon plays before, but this is their first year with Camp Pendragon.

For some of the actors, they return year after year. This is Zobel’s second year at the camp.

“It was so much fun last year that I wanted to do it again,” Zobel said.

This will be DeMartis’ third Camp Pendragon and Cranker’s fourth.

There are performances at 7 p.m. on Aug. 8, 9, 10, 14 and 15 and matinees at 2 p.m. on Aug. 11, 17 and 18.

Tickets cost $20 — $15 for students and $10 for children under 5.

Josie Myles as the Pilot salutes while rehearsing “The Little Mermaid” with Camp Pendragon on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Nova Merrill as Ursula plots and schemes during a rehearsal of Camp Pendragon’s “The Little Mermaid” on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Klara Weakley, Coral Palyswiat, Elle Russo, Edith “Edie” Parsons and Ellie Henderson sing while rehearsing “The Little Mermaid” with Camp Pendragon on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

The cast of Camp Pendragon’s “The Little Mermaid” rehearse on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)