Youth lead FCT’s ‘Finding Nemo Jr’

Nora Nowlan as Dory (from left, with blue tang), Rohn Chapman as Crush (sea turtle) and Samuel Basgall as Marlin (orange clownfish) at the Flag Theater on Mon., Feb. 10, 2025. The show runs Thu. – Sun., Feb. 13-16 and 20-23 CREDIT GINA LONG/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE

By Gina Long

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The Family Community Theatre showcases the musical adaption of the beloved Disney film “Finding Nemo” beginning Thursday.

The story takes place in the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia. Marlin, an anxious and overprotective clownfish, embarks on an epic adventure when his son Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney. Marlin joins with Dory, a naive blue tang with extreme short-term memory loss and Crush, a sea turtle, and learns to overcome his fears while finding Nemo and bringing him home.

Disney Jr productions require the performers to be aged 17 and under. Assistant Director Mary Kay Dechant said there are 36 children in the cast, and 18 are taking the stage for the first time.

“Except for the three main characters, all the other actors play two, three, and even four parts. They need to know the lines, if they have any, and all the different songs,” she said.

Samuel Basgall portrays Marlin. “Finding Nemo Jr” is his twentieth production over the last four years, of which approximately fifteen have been with the FCT. He last performed in “Per Aspera” and lists McPherson’s “The Lightning Thief” and FCT’s “Puffs” as his favorites. He is in the 7th grade at Central Christian School.

“Marlin is very anxious and really wants to protect Nemo,” he said. “I took the energy of protecting my nephew and niece and put that into Marlin protecting Nemo.”

Rohn Chapman, an 8th grader at Prairie Hills Middle School, says he brings “a really chill attitude” to the centuries-old Crush, a sea turtle who surfs the East Australian Current.

“Crush’s role is empowering Marlin to ‘go with the flow,’ to not be so anxious and nervous all the time, letting go,” he said.

Chapman has performed in around ten productions, most recently in FCT’s “Per Aspera. His first stage appearance was in “Sponge Bob: The Musical,” and his favorites have been “Puffs” and “Finding Nemo.”

Nora Nowlan is a senior at Buhler High School and is completing her fourth year in theater. She performed in FCT’s “Moana Jr” in 2021 and “The Sound of Music” at Buhler High School. Her most recent appearance was in FCT’s 2023 “Aladdin Jr.” She plans to attend Hutchinson Community College and Sterling College, pursuing a degree in music education.

“Dory is very energetic. I try to make her bubbly. She has lots of character. She is pretty forgetful,” Nowlan said.

Craig Williams directs the play, with Mary Kay Dechant assisting. Angela Huck is the music director. Catherine Vessey is in charge of choreography. Savanna Bressie created the publicity posters. Jamie Goble leads the set painting. Shannon McPike is the props master. Janice Woods is the ticketing and house manager. David Adcock is the lighting director, and Ginger Keele oversees costuming. Aaron Parker created the show’s puppets. Rob Garret created the set.

The February musical has moved from Memorial Hall to the Flag Theater this year.

“One of our concerns is the cost of the set. We decided to use the Flag Theater’s stage and a smaller set and run the show for two weekends,” Williams said.

“Finding Nemo Jr” runs Feb. 13-16 and 20-23. The Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday shows at 3.

Tickets are available at the box office and online at familycommunitytheatre.org. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and youth, and $7 for children.

The theatre’s next production will be M*A*S*H in June 2025. Auditions will be held April 25.

The cast