Theatre Workshop of Owensboro will take audiences on a familiar journey with a youth production of “Finding Nemo Jr.” this weekend and next, allowing local youngsters to fill roles as both cast and crew.
Directed by Karen Feldhaus, said that when she cast the show, wanted to provide a performance that was fun to watch and produce. The summer show allows several students to be on a production stage for the first time.
“I think it’s always great to get kids on stage early and to let them have a chance to perform. They’re pretty professional kids. I think a lot of folks will be surprised that it is a youth show; it’s comparable, I think, to some things you would see adults attempt to do,” she said.
The cast features 31 youths ages 7 to 17 to appeal to different audiences, but Feldhaus noted that their production wanted to play into the connection between the main characters of Marlin and Nemo.
Feldhaus hopes that parents can watch with their children and have the “Disney Experience” of laughing and crying throughout the show.
“It’s really important to me that parents can leave feeling like they have had a catharsis as they prepare for their kids to start moving through those milestones. … So I think wherever you are with kids, there’ll be something in it for you,” Feldhaus said.
Over the 2 months of rehearsals, she said, the students have really put together a tight show in which all involved are having fun.
“I think we’ve accomplished that, and these kids are having a great time. You can tell they just seem to have so much fun,” Feldhaus said.
The show runs this weekend and next, with shows at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets can be purchased online here or by calling the TWO Box Office at 270-683-5333.
