Finding Nemo Kids officially opened at Arbolita and what a splash it made! Sixty students and six staff members worked tirelessly on this incredible production. After months of preparation, twice-weekly rehearsals, and plenty of singing throughout campus, the show was ready to debut for student audiences.
The cast performed seven shows, bringing the heartwarming story of a dedicated father’s underwater journey to life on stage. The production was a true school-wide community effort, with every student contributing artwork to transform the cafeteria into a stunning undersea world. The production aligned beautifully with the Read Across America Week theme: Dive Into a Good Book!
We were proud to welcome students from seven schools across the district to enjoy the performances, which featured strobe lighting for jellyfish stings and even the scent of kelp essential oils to fully immerse the audience in the underwater adventure.
The Disney Musicals in Schools team behind the production included Director Jasmine Frias; Music Directors Andrea Huaman and Minji Kim; Choreographer Katie Mayfield; and Stage Managers Brenda Ramos and Patrick Peterson. Technical rehearsals were supported by Andrew Sanchez, Jeff Garcia (former Arbolita parent), Sarah Gilbo (current Arbolita parent), and Kyle Cox. Kathy McClintock provided additional support with tech, costumes, and props.
This dynamic team encouraged and empowered our Arbolita students to perform with confidence, energy, and joy. We are so proud of our students and grateful for the community support that brought this production to life.
We can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year’s show—stay tuned!