Never mind that Denver is a landlocked city. You would have thought that divine intervention had created an ocean surrounding The Denver Center for the Performing Arts on Friday night during the gala for the premiere of The Little Mermaid.

All the fancy fishes showed up and showed off their shimmering scales.

"What a big deal this is for Denver," said gala chair Sharon Magness Blake, dressed in a sleek, green sequined number. Her hubby, Breckenridge Mayor Ernie Blake, co-chaired the event that raised money for the Denver Center.

Others who deserved to get the net were Gail Johnson in her shimmering mermaid gown (which looked like money walking); David Zupancic in his tux with fishy pocket square, bow tie and cummerbund; and (brace yourself) Dame Judi Wolf, in a custom mermaid gown, designed by Olga Wolosyn, complete with a tail and a "bubble boy" who followed her around with a bubble-making machine.

"I'm not The Little Mermaid tonight - I'm The Little Mermaid's mother," said Wolf, who looked like quite a catch in her revealing gown.

"I left my bubble machine at home," said one gala goer.

Perhaps party patron Robert Clark had too many Mer-tinis (blue martinis), because he showed up in a tropical shirt and a mask and snorkel.

"I'm seeking virgin mermaids," he said. "I was going to wear the fins but I left them in the car. My wife (Sherry) was appalled."

IN THE SWIM: Disney loves Denver, according to Scott Hemerling, national press representative for The Little Mermaid. Based on the positive response when The Lion King launched its tour here several years ago, Disney chose our town to stage and tweak The Little Mermaid before it swims to New York City.

"What's always great about Denver is how much you embrace theater and how warm and welcome you are," Hemerling said. "Due to the success of Lion King, it made sense to bring Little Mermaid here." The show plays at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House through Sept. 9. Tickets: 303-893-4100.

UNDER THE SEA: Bouquet boys Guenther Vogt and BJ Dyer transformed the Seawell Ballroom into an underwater playground for the dinner. Schools of organza and balloon fish swam above diners, while the centerpieces featured ocean-type flora and seashells.

"We designed this as if we went to the bottom of a coral garden," Vogt said. "There were 20 varieties of foliage that were selected so it would look like they were coming out of the sea."

Epicurean Catering kept with the sea theme with appetizers including coconut-encrusted lobster, shrimp and tuna tartare, and a dinner that featured seafood salads and beef tenderloin (the turf with the surf).

EAVESDROPPING on a man talking about a woman standing next to a Cadillac at The Little Mermaid gala: "That gown is probably as much as that car."

Penny Parker's column appears Tuesday through Saturday. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail parkerp@RockyMountainNews.com.