• The purpose of this production is to teach our students the theater arts and build community. We want our 5th graders to have fun and enjoy creating this show together. 
• Every student who registers will be cast in the show.
• Casting will be done by our director and Open Arts Alliance staff and is entirely at their discretion. No parents or students will be involved in the casting process.
• All rehearsal conflicts must be listed in the registration form. If a student misses too many rehearsals, it is at the discretion of the director to recast that student to a smaller role. 
• Both parent and student must read and sign the show agreement on the registration form.
• It is at the director's discretion to recast a part if a student is not meeting the good behavior standards they have agreed upon in their show agreement.
• Please note: no refunds will be issued after casting has been announced, except in the case of extenuating circumstances.
• Questions? Contact Tami at nmsdramaprogram@gmail.com.

FINDING NEMO KIDS INFORMATIONAL VIRTUAL MEETING:

Thursday, January 22, 2026 · 8:00 – 8:30pm

https://meet.google.com/mdk-fdig-szx
 

COMING SOON! 

Auditions:

• Auditions: February 3rd from 3:30-6:00pm
• Cast Announced: February 6th

Rehearsals (times subject to change):

• February 17th: Tuesday from 3:30-5:30pm
• February 19th to March 12th: Mondays and Thursday from 3:30-5:30pm
• March 16th to March 25th: Monday through Friday 3:30-6:30pm (no rehearsal March 24th)

Performances (times subject to change):

• Thursday, March 26th & Friday, March 27th: 2:15-3:15pm (dress rehearsal assembly for students) 
• Thursday, March 26th & Friday, March 27th: 7:00-8:00pm

High above the waters of Sydney Harbour, NIGEL, SPRIT, TILLER, and JIB, a squadron of storytelling pelicans, introduce us to MARLIN and his kid NEMO, two clownfish who live in the Great Barrier Reef (One Dedicated Father). 

Nemo, who was born with one fin smaller than the other – referred to as a “lucky fi n” – can hardly wait to begin the first day of school. An overprotective Marlin struggles to let his kid go for the very first time (Big Blue World). PROFESSOR RAY whisks Nemo and the other REEF KIDS to the Drop-Off for their first educational adventure, causing Marlin to panic. Upon spotting a mysterious boat lurking just beyond the reef, Nemo’s classmates sneak towards it, daring each other to go further into the deep water. When a terrified Marlin arrives and scolds the children, Nemo defiantly charges further out and is captured by a diver’s net (Abduction). 

In his frantic search for Nemo, Marlin swims into DORY, a friendly yet forgetful fish who offers to help (Dory’s Ditty). Unknowingly, Marlin and Dory float into shark territory, where they meet BRUCE, a great white shark, and a whole frenzy of sharks trying to adopt fish-free diets (Fish Are Friends Not Food). Amidst the sharks’ gathering, Marlin spots a diver’s mask lying on the ocean floor, and Dory turns to the sharks for help reading the inscription, hoping it will offer a clue to find Nemo. Doubting her judgment, Marlin struggles with Dory over the mask, accidentally causing her nose to bleed. The scent of blood ignites Bruce’s insatiable appetite for fish, and while Marlin and Dory escape, they lose the diver’s mask in the process. 

Meanwhile, in a tank at the Sydney Harbour Aquarium, a scared Nemo longs for home. Members of the TANK GANG reassure Nemo, and with GILL’s leadership, they hatch a plan to clog the fish tank and escape into the ocean as a team. With the Tank Gang’s help, Nemo successfully jams the tank’s filter (We Swim Together).

Back in the ocean, Dory tries to cheer Marlin up as the search for Nemo continues, but Marlin is frustrated by her quirky antics (Just Keep Swimming – Part 1). Luckily, they reunite with the diver’s mask, which has the address of where Nemo was taken. In their excitement over the recovered mask, Marlin and Dory unknowingly swim into a dangerous forest of JELLYFISH that sting Dory and overwhelm them both (Just Keep Swimming – Part 2). 

Although their journey took a wrong turn, Marlin and Dory are rescued by a large colony of SEA TURTLES who guide them through the fast-moving East Australian Current. CRUSH, a wise and laid-back sea turtle, gives Marlin some advice on mellowing out and learning to trust his kid (Go With the Flow). 

After a totally tubular ride through the current, news about Marlin and Dory’s trek to find Nemo spreads throughout the ocean, reaching the Tank Gang all the way at the Sydney Harbour Aquarium. While Nemo and the Tank Gang have successfully dirtied up the tank for their escape plan, they are still trapped by an immovable grate blocking the tank’s intake pipe. Only Nemo is small enough to swim through the grate, but the appearance of an aquarium net threatens to stop Nemo from escaping. Determined to get Nemo back out to sea, the Tank Gang works together to break free of the net and coaches Nemo to swim through the grate and up the intake pipe. (We Swim Together – Reprise). They know that they’ll join Nemo out in the ocean someday. 

In the ocean, Marlin worries that all hope is lost when, suddenly, Nemo flies out of the tank pipe! Their happy reunion in the harbour is suddenly interrupted when a giant fishing net appears, sweeping Dory up, along with a mass of FISH. Having learned from the Tank Gang how to free them, Nemo swims into the fray and instructs the captured fish to swim down together, guiding Dory and the fish to freedom (Just Keep Swimming Together). With admiration for each other’s bravery, Marlin and Nemo make their way home with their new friend Dory (Finale – Part 1). 

With faith in Nemo to take on all the adventures that await in the ocean, Marlin and Dory send Nemo off to school to go explore the big blue world (Finale – Part 2).

When are auditions? 

The auditions will be on February 3rd. Casting will be done entirely by OAA staff. No students or parents will be involved in casting. Students should practice singing a song. It can be any song they know (Happy Birthday, Star Spangled Banner, etc.), they do not need to sign a song from the show. 

 
My child has several conflicts with rehearsal dates, but wants to participate, should I still sign them up?

We want this to be a very inclusive opportunity for all of the 5th grade, so we would encourage him or her to register if they want to be part of the production and can make a majority of rehearsals. All rehearsal conflicts need to be listed on the registration form. Any conflicts with these rehearsals need to be discussed with the director. Please be aware that students who have many conflicts will be cast in smaller roles. 

My child wants to be involved but does not want to be on stage. Are there any opportunities to just work behind the scenes?

We want every student to learn the show, play a part, and take their bow at the end of the performance to get the full theater education experience. We will not have purely behind the scenes roles and instead have cast members be involved in the whole process. The ensemble is a great option for kids who don't want to be center stage. If your child would prefer a smaller ensemble role, they can let Mrs. Dunn know their preference at auditions.  

How is the PTA funding the show?

Producing a show is an expensive undertaking. Your program fee plus ticket sales will go towards licensing fees and show materials, fees for our director and music instructors, set, costumes, sound and lights, programs and more. We will also supplement with extra t-shirts sales, program ads, and concessions as needed. While the 5th Grade Musical is a PTA sponsored event, it is self-funding. 

When will tickets go on sale?

Tickets will be sold in March. Tickets will be general admission.

How can parents help?

We need lots of volunteers to help make costumes, supervise rehearsals, help make set pieces and help on show day with makeup, costumes, tickets and more. We will have rehearsal and performance volunteer opportunities listed soon. If you would like to be actively involved in the planning committee, email Tami at nmsdramaprogram@gmail.com.

Open Arts Alliance was born from the belief that arts education should be accessible to all, and should not end when you leave school. Through theatre, Open Arts Alliance creates a social intervention between students, their peers and senior citizens, resulting in a powerful and lasting change in participants.

Open Arts Alliance empowers youth through performing arts education in a supportive environment fostering creativity, confidence and self expression. Our programs nurture the next generation of leaders both on and off the stage while strengthening community bonds and creating a lasting impact.

We further our mission through classes, programs, and community outreach, using the arts as a common ground for conversations. Our holistic approach sees theatre not as just an end-product, but a process by which we can improve the lives of our students—young and young at heart— while furthering the landscape of arts in our community and town. Our student leadership councils empower the next generation of arts volunteers to engage with civic responsibility and community service based on empathy fostered within the arts. 

For more information about Open Arts Alliance please visit www.openartsalliance.com