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Behind the Scenes of "Finding Nemo Jr." at Lamp Post Creative Learning Center

Jonathan Sandner, Nyx Poulin, and Elise Van Buren volunteered with the Lamp Post Creative Education Center as they get their first production, Finding Nemo Jr., rolling this weekend.
LP McKay
/
KSJD News
Jonathan Sandner, Nyx Poulin, and Elise Van Buren volunteered with the Lamp Post Creative Education Center as they get their first production, Finding Nemo Jr., rolling this weekend.

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 Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets are available at lamppostclc.org.

Updated: July 18, 2025 at 1:26 PM MDT
The Friday shows have now been canceled. The Saturday showtimes will be hosted at the First Assembly of God Church in Cortez.
Lacy McKay is the News Director and Morning Edition Host at KSJD Community Radio in Cortez, Colorado. They bring years of experience in audio production and community-centered reporting, with a focus on rural issues, public lands, tribal affairs, and civic engagement in the Four Corners region. McKay has produced and edited news features, interviews, and podcasts for broadcast and digital platforms, and works closely with regional partners through Rocky Mountain Community Radio to amplify local voices and stories that might otherwise go unheard.
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