Looking for Nemo? Start at Little Theater

MLT Juniors bring to life lively adaptation of animated classic

By Bonnijean Cooney Adams
The Tube City Almanac
January 10, 2025
Posted in: Entertainment

Members of the McKeesport Little Theater Juniors rehearse for the musical production, "Finding Nemo Jr.," which opens tonight. (Submitted photo McKeesport Little Theater/Jennifer R. Vertullo)

Still hoping to find Nemo? Then head to McKeesport Little Theater for the musical production of “Finding Nemo Jr.”

Although based on the 2003 Disney/Pixar movie of the same name, the stage show includes lots of catchy tunes and choreography – and some puppets – to portray familiar characters from the Great Barrier Reef to the Big Blue World.

Opening today (Jan. 10), and continuing weekends through Jan. 19, an enthusiastic cast and crew affiliated with the MLT Juniors program will bring the story of an adventuresome young clownfish to life.

The cast includes seasoned performers, newcomers, and even some Juniors program alumni, who returned as members of the crew.

“Nemo Jr.” is under the direction of Dorothy Fallows, with Amy Majewski and Lori Stramaski teaming up as co-producers, but the three also collaborated on costuming for the show.

“When Dorothy was looking for which musical to pick this year, she knew she wanted a show that would have a lot of different roles so every performer would have a chance to shine,” Majewski said. “She likes to make sure every kid is involved in a song, dance, or has dialogue.”

While at Disney a few years ago, Majewski said Fallows saw “Finding Nemo” and knew it would be a great way to showcase the Juniors involved with the program at that time, and bring in some new faces as well.

In addition to the main characters of Nemo, his father Marlin, and Dory, a blue tang fish who joins Marlin in the quest to find his son, there are many sea creatures and others encountered along the way.

“The show has a lot of roles,” Majewski said. “We did have to double some people to play two or three different characters.”

Bowie Koisor, for example, portrays Professor Ray -- the teacher at Nemo’s school -- and Peach, a starfish who is part of the Tank Gang.

“Trying to figure out which roles were able to be doubled was the hardest part of casting,” Majewski said. “We needed to make sure there was time between scenes for costume changes.”

In addition to the human actors, it was decided to create puppets for some of the characters.

“That was one of the hardest challenges for the show,” Majewski explained. “Originally, Dorothy wanted to do the entire show with puppets, but we simply didn’t have the funds to rent puppets or the time to try to make over 30 puppets.

“She decided on only making puppets for the three main characters – Nemo (Sydney Hrinda), Dory (Nie’Zhay Jefferson), and Marlin (Evan Wolfgang),” Majewski said.
The producer said after her husband Adam Majewski “watched countless DIY videos,” he went to work on building the puppets.

“We asked one of the kids’ moms (Ashley Thompson) if she would be able to bring them to life with paint and fins,” Majewski said. “The results are amazing! They are absolutely beautiful.”

Costuming for the rest of the cast also was challenging as the adults considered options, especially since this is the first time MLT has staged “Finding Nemo Jr.”

“We knew we didn’t want Halloween-looking costumes and wanted to give each character human qualities,” Majewski said. “For the reef parents and kids, for example, we made Sheldon and his mom (who are both seahorses) wear a flannel shirt, a vest, and a cowboy hat.

“For Marlin, who is a clownfish, we had him wear black pants, an orange shirt, black-and-white striped suspenders, a bow tie, and a top hat,” she explained. “Bloat, who is a puffer fish, is wearing a puff vest and a tutu. It was a lot of fun coming up with different human costumes for each fish that matched their fish colors and character personality.”

“The cast and crew have been great to work with,” Majewski added. “Dorothy, George (Pecoraro Jr., the music director), Lori, and I have done many shows together, and we always have fun.”  

Majewski also said one of the rewarding experiences is when some of the Juniors alumni come back to help.

“We have Derek Jenkins. who choreographed for us,” she said. “Dylan Stramaski is stage managing. Jess Freuden is doing our lights. Kaitlyn Majewski and Noah Bowytz are on break from college right now, so they’re helping backstage as well and making a small cameo in the show. It’s such a great feeling for us that the kids … well, young adults now … keep coming back.”

As for what audiences of all ages should expect when they come to see “Nemo,” Majewski said, “I think the audience will enjoy the dance numbers most of all. There are a few high- energy group songs like the Tank Gang singing ‘We Swim Together’ and the Turtles singing ‘Go With the Flow.’ These are songs that will be stuck in your head for a long time after the curtain closes.”

Bonnijean Cooney Adams is a freelance contributor. She can be reached at adamsclick@aol.com.

Cast and Crew

Marlin — Evan Wolfgang
Coral — Alayna Palochko
Barracuda — Logan Margliotti
Nemo — Sydney Hrinda
Sheldon’s Parent — Alexa Riggs
Pearl’s Parent — Megan Bowytz
Tad’s Parent — Monroe Frantz
Eel Parent — Lamiya Washington
Pearl — Lydia O'Grady
Sheldon — Camron Batorick—Carter
Tad — Topher Cummings
Eel Kid — Olivia Haskins
Lobster Kid — Destini Banks
Professor Ray — Bowie Koisor
Scuba Mask Dancer — Skylar Crenshaw
Dory — Nie'Zhay Jefferson
Bruce — Lamont Johnson
Chum — Addison Seifert
Anchor — Abigail Seifert
Sharks — Anthony Banks, Mi’Reya Berube, Sophia Gill, Taytum Jones
Bubbles — Lucas Alexa
Peach — Bowie Koisor
Gurgle — Alayna Palochko
Bloat — Peyton Dudley
Nigel — Bella Daye Messner
Gill — Nakaylee Watson
Crush — Tika Gill
*u/s Crush 1/18 performance — Taytum Jones
Squirt — Anthony Banks
Kai — Sophia Gill
Breeze — Taytum Jones
*u/s Breeze 1/18 performance — Skylar Crenshaw
Sea Turtles —Abigail Seifert, Addison Seifert, Lamont Johnson

Jellyfish — Abigail Seifert, Addison Seifert, Anthony Banks, Lamont Johnson, Logan Margliotti, Mi’Reya Berube, Sophia Gill, Taytum Jones
Moonfish — Alexa Riggs, Camron Batorick—Carter, Destini Banks, Lamiya Washington, Lydia O’Grady, Megan Bowytz, Monroe Frantz, Olivia Haskins, Topher Cummings
Seagulls — Carson McAfee, Fiona Rose Butler, Jade Dickerson, Kyleena Blaze Kinkaid, Ricki O’Grady

Production Staff:

Director — Dorothy Fallows
Music Director — George Pecoraro Jr.
Producers — Amy Majewski & Lori Stramaski
Drummer — Casey Burgh
Choreographer — Derek Jenkins
Assistant Choreographer — Dylan Stramaski
Stage Manager — Dylan Stramaski
Assistant Stage Manager — Kaitlyn Majewski
Lights and Sound — Jess Freuden
Costumes  — Dorothy Fallows, Amy Majewski, Lori Stramaski
Puppets — Ashley Thompson and Adam Majewski
Background Painting — Emily Scott

Originally published January 10, 2025.

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