WUSD Summer School Playhouse: Finding Nemo, Jr.

Posted on: June 28, 2023

Photos and text courtesy of Tom Ganser

If you’re thinking the Fourth of July fireworks will be spectacular . . . you haven’t thought about taking in a performance of “Finding Nemo, Jr.” by the Unified School District’s Summer School Playhouse June 29 and 30 at 7 p.m. and July 1 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Whitewater High School Auditorium.

The play is perfect for all ages – and a wonderful treat for your relatives and neighborhood kids.

If you happen to be a senior adult, don’t worry. Any youngster attending a performance with you will be happy to clue you in on the plot.

General admission tickets for adults ($10) and students ($7) can be reserved by calling the Box Office at 262-472-8178 or purchased beginning one hour before the performance.

“Finding Nemo Jr.” is a lively 60-minute musical adaptation of the popular 2003 Pixar movie telling the story of Marlin, an anxious and over-protective clownfish, who lives in the Great Barrier Reef with his kid, Nemo.

“Finding Nemo Jr.” brings a vibrant underwater world to life on stage in a story full of family, friendship, and adventure.

The cast and technical crew for this amazing production includes more than 70 students ranging from incoming 6th graders to WHS Class of 2023 graduates.

Led by director Jim McCulloch, music director Liz Elliott, and choreographer Taytum Adkins, the talented cast of fish and birds includes Ian Agen, Deven Bawden, Chacha Binagi, Nels Brown, Anders Clarksen, Alex Clarksen, Ayden Clark, Belle Cohen, Grace Coleman, Peyton Comfort, Julianna Cortez, Sienna Dahl, Esteban Diaz-Gallegos, Franki DiFiore, Emery Duris, David Enns, Tyrelle Griswold, Charlotte Hajewski, Nina Heim, Raena Hicks, Toby Kapfer, Haley Keltesch, Evelyn Kjome, Josh Kirley, Amelia Lafaive, Ameera Lin, Brooke Mason, Eloise Morse, Virginia Nelson, Kai Peterson, Julian Rennells, Lauren Rollette, Zel Scherer, Josie Selby, Melody Smith, Serina Soto, Skylar Staebler, Evie Stine, Alex Sullivan, Ava Van Daele, Anderson Waelchli, Cosette Wildermuth-Breizman, Elora Wildermuth-Breitzman, Talon Wildermuth-Breitzman, Xavier Zei, Zoe Zei, and Matt Zingsheim.

Guided by amazing technical director Kat Dunham in creating a magical big blue world are Caitlin Alford, Henry Brockwell, Payton Bunger, Alexsandra Cansino-Pena, Lucy Davis, Laken DePorter, Alejandra Diaz-Gallegos, Emerson Dunham, Lu DiFiore, Ace Hudec, Gabbie Kirley, Rayne Levaspu, Marren McCulloch, Kara Long, Jacob McGlaughlin, Ava Nygren, Abigail Olson, Betzy Palomec, Lucy Troxel, Sami Van Daele, Miles Nicklesberg, Josh Nygren, Payton Peacock, Cora Shimming and Claire Tourdot.

According to Liz Elliott, “Finding Nemo Jr.” “is a fun and familiar story that the students have expressed their excitement to be a part of. This show allows for many small groups of students to shine with the variety of songs and scenes that they are in. Not all shows function this way, so it is a unique experience for many of our cast members. While all students contribute to the greater whole of the show, these individual small group numbers highlight the many different characters and creatures within “Finding Nemo Jr.”

Comments from the students show how much they enjoy being part of the action.

Anders Clarksen said, “This is the second time I have been a bird! I was a seagull in “The Little Mermaid” and I am a pelican in “Finding Nemo Jr.”

“I like being able to work with all ages and making an impact with performance and music,” stated Skylar Staebler.

Matt Zingsheim shared, “I enjoy the music in this show a lot,” adding, “I like the styles of the songs and some of the titles are funny to me.”

Asked to compare her character to an ice cream flavor, Charlotte Hajewski said, “I feel like my character, Peach, would be rainbow sherbet, because she lives in the colorful coral.”

“I am anxious just like my character,” Lauren Rollette noted. “However, I am not purple or yellow.”

Ayden Clark reflected, “”I love helping with the dances, and helping the younger students get around the show and on stage.

7th grader Melody Smith, cast in the role of Breeze, said, “Something I have enjoyed about being in theatrical productions is feeling like you’re part of a family and getting really close with all of your fellow performers.”

Raena Hicks, a 7th grader, who plays a turtle and a seagull in “Finding Nemo, Jr.,” admitted, “Something that I learned about being in the play is that it takes a lot of time and effort to learn your part.”