Stage set for 'Finding Nemo Jr.'

Apr. 19—For two music-filled nights, North Whitfield Middle School's gym will transform into an oversized aquarium as the school's Pioneer Players theater group presents "Finding Nemo Jr."

The production is based off of the "Finding Nemo: The Big Blue ... and Beyond" stage musical performed daily at Walt Disney World Resort's Animal Kingdom theme park in Orlando, Florida, which is inspired by the 2003 Disney and Pixar film "Finding Nemo."

The story follows a young clownfish who, against his father's wishes, ventures too far out in the ocean. After becoming separated, Nemo and Marlin strive to find one another while meeting some friendly — and not-so-friendly — sea creatures along the way.

During spring break at the beginning of April, students involved in the production traveled to Florida to watch the musical before meeting the stage actors who played their roles inside the theme park.

"Overall, we've got about 140 kids in sixth, seventh and eighth grade who are involved in this play, both onstage and backstage," said Ashlyn Barnett, North Whitfield's drama teacher and the director of the production. "They painted all of the fish props and decorations, helped put all of the costumes together and helped build all of the sets," which include a giant volcano and a slide for "surfing" the East Australian Current.

While Nemo is a male clownfish in the film, the character is played by female sixth-grade student Blakely Nix, who said it's "fun to be a different person on the stage."

"It's really fun and it's really cool to just get to do these shows," Nix said. "You get to see different sides of people."

Nix, who will travel to New York City this summer for iTheatrics' annual musical theater workshops, said getting into the role was "difficult at first," but she quickly "got the hang of it."

"It was really fun to just act like a little kid," she said.

Nix said this is her fifth year performing in front of crowds, having participated in productions at Varnell Elementary School.

"I really like to build new friendships with people and I like getting to see how the show turns out from the very first practice," she said.

Playing her "father" Marlin is eighth-grade student Bentley Roach, who is no stranger to performing at the middle school. During the theater program's trip to Atlanta's 2024 Junior Theater Festival in January, Roach was selected an All-Star Performer along with fellow student Kinsley Whaley, who plays Nigel the Pelican in the production.

While Roach has been performing in front of people since the fourth grade at Varnell Elementary, he said preparing for his role as Marlin has been "nerve-wracking."

"I've had leading male roles before, but I've never had the lead male role that is doing most of the singing and speaking," Roach said. "It was a lot of staying up late at night and studying. I had to put a lot of effort in my emotion because I have to do a lot with my face and my hands. I'm more used to dancing, so that was a little harder."

After working on the production since auditions in September, Roach said the most rewarding part is "just seeing how it all comes together in the end."

"Everyone here has put tons and tons of effort in working towards the show, and I know Mrs. Barnett and everyone that comes to see it will appreciate it because of how much was put into it," he said.

Seventh-grader Kinzlee Anderson, who plays Marlin's wife and Nemo's mother Coral, as well as a dancer in the show, said it's always "exciting" to be a part of a new production at the school.

"I think it's cool to dress up and act out a character," she said. "I've been working hard."

Owen Teasley, an eighth-grade student who plays a pufferfish named Bloat, said getting into character was the best part of rehearsals.

"It's pretty fun," he said. "I was excited because I had watched 'Finding Nemo' before and (Bloat's) a cheerful, goofy guy. I feel like I really enjoy that a lot because I'm a lot like him."

Teasley said another highlight of the months of hard work leading to the show involved "doing what you love with your friends," something he said he hopes to continue as a freshman at Coahulla Creek High School next year.

Eighth-grader Noah Whaley portrays Bruce, a great white shark who goes on a frenzy at the smell of blood.

"Getting into the character of Bruce isn't necessarily hard," Whaley said. "You go from a shark who just wants to teach fish how eating other fish is a bad thing, to breaking his morals and then having to deal with the results."

Whaley's costume includes a leather jacket and a hat adorned with a shark fin and teeth, which he said is "one of the best parts."

"Really, the costume and the song," he said.

Whaley teams up with students Addison Vineyard and Jhana Millsaps (who play fellow sharks Chum and Anchor) to perform the song "Fish are Friends."

"I've been singing for a while and I think it's pretty fun to do," Whaley said.

Whaley, who has performed for the middle school since sixth grade, said he has advice for any student who might be afraid to sing in front of a crowd.

"One thing is for sure, you're going to mess up or be embarrassed at least once," he said. "But it's OK. Always look forward to the future. As much as I like to show people that it's pretty easy, it was very hard actually. But you grow out of it."

The community invited to the Friday and Saturday performances, with each show beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults and can be purchased solely online by visiting https://tinyurl.com/4stv9757.