A new community production of Finding Nemo Jr. is making waves at the Lamp Post Creative Learning Center just outside Cortez. The youth-led cast and crew have been hard at work preparing for the show, with support from volunteers and family members behind the scenes.
Stage managers Elise Van Buren and Nyx Poulin help guide young performers through their lines and choreography, while Jonathan Sandner — whose family helped start the nonprofit center — has contributed puppet design and set work. The cast ranges in age from 6 to 18, many of them taking the stage for the first time.
The creative learning center is focused on giving kids hands-on experience not just in acting, but in all aspects of production — from puppet-building to lighting and set construction. The show features several modifications to the classic Disney story, including replacing the dentist’s office with an aquarium for stage adaptability.
Finding Nemo Jr. runs Friday at 7 p.m., and Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets are available at lamppostclc.org.
