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See our coverage of the advance photos of
the show from WDW by clicking here!
The
five photos below show demolition and construction progress on
Finding Nemo: The Musical, which will be housed in the Theater
in the Wild (formerly home of Tarzan Rocks!). Photos were
taken in late April 2006.
Finding Nemo to Make
Splash in Musical Spectacular
at Disney's Animal Kingdom
The undersea world that charmed audiences around the world
in the Disney presentation of the Pixar Animation Studios
smash-hit film “Finding Nemo” will come to life in an
all-new musical stage show debuting at Disney’s Animal
Kingdom in late 2006.
Featuring original songs by Tony Award-winning “Avenue
Q” composer Robert Lopez and a cappella musical “Along the
Way” composer Kristen Anderson-Lopez, “Finding Nemo --
The Musical” will immerse Walt Disney World guests in
the story of Marlin and Nemo, an overprotective clownfish
father and his curious son, through a dazzling production that
combines puppets, dancers, acrobats and animated backdrops.
The show represents the first time Disney has taken a
non-musical animated feature and transformed it into an
original musical production. It will be presented in the newly
enclosed Theater in the Wild.
“In ‘Finding Nemo,’ directors Andrew Stanton, Lee
Unkrich and the talented team at Pixar created a film filled
with unforgettable characters and a story rich with honest
emotions that resonated with audiences everywhere,” said Jay
Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “The
movie was a worldwide box-office success and an Academy Award
winner.
“We are truly excited to bring this beloved story to life
at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in this new musical
spectacular.”
During “Finding Nemo -- The Musical,” Theater in the
Wild will become a magical undersea environment through
innovative lighting, sound, special effects and the theatrical
puppetry of Michael Curry, who designed the richly detailed
character puppets seen in the Broadway version of Disney’s
“The Lion King.”
Principal characters such as Marlin, Nemo and Dory will be
represented by live performers operating larger-than-life
puppets. Peripheral characters will be realized by a diverse
array of puppetry styles, including rod, bunraku and shadow.
“It is our goal to bring the undersea ‘Nemo’
characters to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in a live setting in a
way that captures what is truly special about the film,”
Rasulo continued. “This production will meet that challenge
in a dynamic and wholly original way to bring us into the
fantastical ocean world.”
The director for the new show, Peter Brosius, is artistic
director of The Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis,
winner of the 2003 Regional Theatre Tony Award. The Broadway
“A Year With Frog and Toad,” nominated for the Best
Musical Tony Award, originated at Children’s Theatre
Company.
“Finding Nemo -- The Musical” is the first major
musical produced for Walt Disney World Resort by Disney
Creative Entertainment, which has received acclaim for its
productions around the world, including “Disney’s
Aladdin” (at Disneyland Resort in California), “The Lion
King” (at Hong Kong Disneyland), “Twice Charmed” (on the
Disney Cruise Line), and “The Golden Mickeys” (at Hong
Kong Disneyland and on the Disney Cruise Line).
“It’s exciting to be involved in projects that
introduce a new generation of future theatergoers to the work
of internationally recognized creative talent through
Broadway-caliber short-form shows that all audiences can
appreciate,” said Anne Hamburger, executive vice president
of Disney Creative Entertainment. “Millions of children
experience live theater for the first time during a visit to a
Disney park.”
“Finding Nemo -- The Musical” tells the story of a
father clownfish, Marlin, and his son, Nemo, each on a
separate journey that ultimately teaches them how to love and
understand each other. The two have been separated – and
Marlin will stop at nothing to get his son back, facing
undersea challenges with his new friend Dory, who he has met
along the way. Meanwhile, Nemo, relocated to a fish tank in
Sydney, makes new friends who teach him that he’s stronger
than he thinks. When news of his father’s heroic journey
reaches the tank, Nemo is inspired to do whatever is necessary
to escape the tank and see his father again.
“Finding Nemo -- The Musical” will be performed several
times daily. Admission to Theater in the Wild is included with
regular Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park admission.
Source: Walt Disney World
Public Relations
Concept
artwork of the new Finding Nemo: The Musical was
released by Walt Disney World Public Relations during the
Expedition Everest press event April 7, 2006.
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