From sea to stage for juniors show

WITH fake fins at the ready, the Ballarat Centre of Music and the Arts’ junior musical theatre students are preparing to bring a familiar Disney tale to the stage.

Later this month, the troupe will be one of the first in Australia to debut the 2021 musical Finding Nemo Jr, a musical adaptation of the 2003 Disney-Pixar movie Finding Nemo for young performers.

BCMA’s founder and musical director Paula Heenan said the show will be a great showcase for the company’s younger intake.

“This is our six-to-12-year-old performers doing this,” she said. “They study acting and dancing all year with a mid-year show and then they take part in our big show.

“This show has only just been released as a junior version so we’re one of the first to do it in Australia. It’s a one-hour version so it’s ideal for parents with young children to come along to.

“It’s a storyline that people know and the music’s really catchy.

“The kids have done an extraordinary job pulling it all together and they’re learning to sing, dance and act at the same time which is quite a feat for kids their age.”

Following four dress rehearsals, the company will perform the production at Mount Clear College’s Gay Gough Theatre on Saturday 17 June at 2pm and 6pm before a final third show on Sunday 18 June at 2pm.

The students have been rehearsing on Wednesdays and Saturdays since the start of the school year in February.

Lara is one of more than 120 performers taking part in the production and said she’s excited to be playing the role of seahorse Sheldon’s parent.

“I’ve never had a proper character before. I was just singing the songs,” she said.

“I’m really excited about that and to do an actual show in-person because the last one I did was on a big TV during COVID. This is my first music-theatre show in front of a live audience.”

Tickets are $30 for adults, $28 concession, and $18 for children aged 16 years old and under, and can be booked at bit.ly/3WMl9Qh.