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

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

Stage 9’s ‘The Savannah Sipping Society’ finds friendship one sip at a time

Stage 9 opens its 2025 season on Thursday with the story of four Savannah, Ga. women, personal hardships, and the friendships that develop in “The Savannah Sipping Society.”

Director and Stage 9 Board President Theresa Teufel described the play as “lighthearted, warm, caring and feel-good.”

“We are performing it on Valentine’s Day weekend, which is perfect because it’s a great ‘galentines’ show,” she said. “It is ‘Steel Magnolias’ meets ‘Golden Girls’ meets ‘Sweet Home Alabama.'”

Gayle Hamblin portrays Marlafaye Mosely, whom she describes as “larger than life.”

“She’s all out there. A good ol’ Texas gal,” she said.

This is Hamblin’s first production at Stage 9. She has performed in Pratt, Wichita, Kingman and Pretty Prairie and lives in the Kingman area.

“It was very serendipitous,” she said. “I heard a radio ad about Stage 9 needing ‘mature women.’ I said, ‘Well, I’m a mature woman.’ There aren’t a lot of roles for older women, so I auditioned, and the worst thing that could happen to me is to get cast.”

Hamblin retired a year ago from 17 years as the office manager for Wheatlands Healthcare Center in Kingman and decided to get back into theater. She said her parents encouraged her to participate in high school theater.

“For a shy person, I’m used to projecting my voice. It’s very easy to be someone else on a stage,” she said. “The show is very fun and very funny. There is a good connection between the characters and the cast. I feel very blessed to meet people I would never have met in my life. Hopefully, the audience will join us in the laughter and fun.”

Michele Waln appears as Dot Haigler, a recent widow who is trying to manage as a single woman.

“Dot is someone who was happily married for a long time and has to navigate life without him. It’s a journey for her. She has a lot of spunk left in her and wants new experiences,” she said. “She definitely warms up to the group as she goes along.

Waln is the Chief Culture Officer at Heartland Credit Union, working roles in marketing, human resources and educational development. She last performed in Stage9’s 2019 production “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.” The Valentine, Neb. native lives in Hutchinson.

“Come enjoy yourself. It is lighthearted. It is poignant. It is about making things happen and not sitting around waiting. It’s relatable,” she said.

Debi Dunlap portrays Randa Covington, a high-strung, recently employed perfectionist on whose porch the ladies begin gathering.

This is Dunlap’s first Stage 9 production. She previously appeared in community productions in Hays and lives in Cunningham.

Dunlap describes Randa as someone who “is trying really hard to put on the right image. She just wants to be good enough. She’s a workaholic. Throughout the show she learns how to relax and have balance. She is very uptight.”

Skye Colaw appears as Jinx Jenkins, the free-spirited, loyal friend of the group. Colaw most recently appeared in the Family Community Theater’s 2024 production of “12 Angry Jurors.” She lives in McPherson.

“I think it’s the show that makes you feel like you’re hanging out with your friends. You’re just so excited to be with them,” Colaw said. “Women of my age can relate to how you are with your friends, telling each other secrets when things go wrong. It’s your girls that are there for you.”

“The Savannah Sipping Society” opens runs Thu. through Sun., Feb. 13-16. The Thu. through Sat. shows begin at 7:30 p.m. and the Sun. at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for children. They are available at the door and online at Stage9hutch.com.

The next Stage 9 production will be “A Piece of My Heart,” running Apr. 24 – 27. Auditions will be held Thu. Feb. 20, at 6:30 p.m. and Sat., Feb. 22, at 11 a.m. at 9 South Main St.

Stage 9 opens its 2025 season on Thursday with the story of four Savannah, Ga. women, personal hardships, and the friendships that develop in "The Savannah Sipping Society." Director and Stage 9 Board President Theresa Teufel described the play as "lighthearted, warm, caring and feel-good." "We are