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NEW YORK - An actor in "The Little Mermaid" was injured after falling at least six metres through a trap door to the stage minutes before the popular Broadway production was set to begin.

The 51-year-old man was unconscious when taken from the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday, the Fire Department said. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital Centre with injuries to his leg and arm.

The actor is an ensemble member who plays various roles throughout the musical, show spokesman Chris Boneau said. He said the actor fell while preparing for the show's first scene, in which a boat is lowered to the stage.

Boneau declined to release the actor's identity and did not know his condition.

The audience was in the theatre, but the curtain was down. The show had not begun and was delayed for about an hour.

The stage version of the 1989 Disney animated film opened at the West 46th Street theatre in January. It tells the story of a sea maiden who longs to live on land.

Another Broadway musical, "Xanadu," postponed its opening briefly last year after one of its stars, James Carpinello, hurt his foot during a rehearsal.