Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond!

Last updated

Finding Nemo
The Big Blue... and Beyond!
Finding Nemo The Musical at Animal Kingdom.JPG
The Theater in the Wild, home to Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond!
Disney's Animal Kingdom
NameFinding Nemo – The Musical(2006–2020)
Area DinoLand U.S.A.
Coordinates 28°21′26″N81°35′14″W / 28.3571592°N 81.587295°W / 28.3571592; -81.587295
StatusOperating
Soft opening dateNovember 5, 2006 (original)
June 11, 2022 (revamped)
Opening dateJanuary 24, 2007 (original)
June 13, 2022 (revamped)
Closing dateMarch 15, 2020 (original)
Replaced Tarzan Rocks! [1]
Ride statistics
Attraction type Musical show
ModelTheater
Theme Finding Nemo
Music Kristen Anderson-Lopez
Robert Lopez [2]
Audience capacity1,500 [2] per show
Duration40 minutes (original) [3]
25 minutes (revamped)
DirectorPeter Brosius [2]
Production Designer Michael Curry [2]
Lightning Lane Icon Logo.webp Lightning Lane available
Wheelchair symbol.svg Wheelchair accessible
Assistive listening icon.svg Assistive listening available
Closed captioning symbol.svg Closed captioning available

Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond! is a live puppet and musical stage show based on Disney/Pixar's 2003 film Finding Nemo , located at the Theater in the Wild in DinoLand U.S.A at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The original 40-minute show titled Finding Nemo – The Musical started holding previews on November 5, 2006, officially opening on January 24, 2007. The music is composed by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, who also composed the music for Frozen , using direct lines from the film.

Contents

On March 15, 2020, the original show had its final performance before the Walt Disney World Resort closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak's impact on Florida. A new reimagined and revamped version of the show entitled Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond! premiered on June 13, 2022, as part of Walt Disney World Resort's 50th Anniversary celebration. [4]

History

The stage musicals Journey into the Jungle Book and Tarzan Rocks! occupied the Theater in the Wild at DinoLand USA in Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida from 1998 to 2006. These were themed to the animated films The Jungle Book and Tarzan . After the closure of Tarzan Rocks! in January 2006, rumors began spreading that it would be replaced by a musical adaptation of Finding Nemo . [5] This was confirmed on April 7, 2006, when Disney announced that the musical adaptation of Finding Nemo, with new songs written by Tony Award-winning Avenue Q composer Robert Lopez and his wife, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, would "combine puppets, dancers, acrobats and animated backdrops" and open in late 2006. [6] Years later, Anderson-Lopez explained that she had written a compact 15-minute a cappella version of the story of Oedipus; someone at Disney read it and recognized her talent for condensing material, and offered her the opportunity to make a pitch for the Finding Nemo project. [7]

Tony Award-winning director Peter Brosius signed on to direct the show, with Michael Curry, who designed puppets for Disney's successful stage version of The Lion King , serving as leading puppet and production designer. [8]

Anderson-Lopez said that the couple agreed to write the adaptation of "one of their favorite movies of all time" after considering "the idea of people coming in [to see the musical] at 4, 5 or 6 and saying, 'I want to do that'....So we want to take it as seriously as we would a Broadway show". [9] To condense the feature-length film to 30 minutes, she and Lopez focused on a single theme from the movie, the idea that "the world's dangerous and beautiful". [9]

The show started holding previews on November 5, 2006, officially opening on January 24, 2007. [2] That same month, a New York studio recording of the show was released on iTunes, with Lopez and Anderson-Lopez providing the voices for Marlin and Dory, respectively. [8] Avenue Q star Stephanie D'Abruzzo also appeared on the recording, as Sheldon/Deb. [8] Finding Nemo was the first non-musical animated film to which Disney added songs to produce a stage musical. [8] In 2009, Finding Nemo – The Musical was honored with a Thea Award for Best Live Show from the Themed Entertainment Association. [10]

When Walt Disney World reopened in July 2020 following the COVID-19 pandemic, all stage shows remained closed due to a dispute between the Actors' Equity Association and Walt Disney World over allowing performers to wear face masks and providing regular testing. [11]

On September 14, 2021, it was announced that a "reimagined" version of the show would open in 2022. [12] However, on November 19, 2021, it was announced that the show would be replaced by a new show entitled Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond!. [13]

Plot

The musical is based on the plot of the film Finding Nemo , with characters performed in large puppetry by live actors and dancers on stage. It revolves around Marlin, a widowed clownfish who is desperate to find his son Nemo, who was snatched away by a diver in the ocean. Along the way, Marlin meets Dory, a regal blue tang with short-term memory loss, who ends up accompanying him on his journey. Meanwhile, Nemo ends up in a fish aquarium at a dentist office in Sydney, Australia and meets Gill, a moorish idol living in the dentist's aquarium, and the leader of the Tank Gang, who also live in the aquarium.

In the revamped version, a framing device is added in which the Tank Gang narrate the story before being released from the Marine Life Institute (depicted in Finding Dory ).

Musical Numbers

Musicals numbers for Finding Nemo Jr.

Soundtrack

All songs featured in the show were written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. A soundtrack album was released a day prior to the original show's opening date in 2007, with Anderson-Lopez and Lopez providing the voices of Dory and Marlin, respectively. Other cast members include Victor E. Chan as Crush, Alison Cimmet as Coral/Peach, Stephanie D'Abruzzo as Sheldon/Deb, Jordan Gelber as Chum/Nigel, Victor Hawks as Mr. Ray/Gill, Karla Mosley as Tad/Squirt, Graham Stevens as Bruce, Kate Wetherhead as Nemo, and Michael-Leon Wooley as Bloat.

Finding Nemo – The Musical
Finding Nemo The Musical Album Cover.jpg
Soundtrack album
ReleasedJanuary 23, 2007 (2007-01-23)
Genre Show tunes
Length31:48
Label Walt Disney Records
No.TitleCharactersLength
1."Prologue"Marlin and Coral1:30
2."In the Big Blue World"Marlin, Nemo, Mr. Ray, Tad, Pearl, Sheldon, Reef Dads and Finding Nemo Ensemble4:26
3."The Drop-off"Marlin, Nemo, Tad, Pearl and Sheldon1:01
4."Dory's Ditty"Marlin and Dory0:56
5."Sharks"Marlin, Dory, Bruce, Anchor and Chum0:45
6."Fish Are Friends, Not Food"Marlin, Dory, Bruce, Anchor and Chum2:49
7."Where's My Dad?"Dentist and Nemo0:45
8."The Tank Gang"Nemo, Deb, Bloat, Bubbles, Peach, Gill, Nigel and Dentist1:07
9."We Swim Together"Nemo, Deb, Bloat, Bubbles, Peach, Gill and Nigel1:58
10."Dory and Marlin"Marlin and Dory0:26
11."Just Keep Swimming"Dory, Marlin and Moonfish5:16
12."Not My Dad" (Reprise)Nemo and Gill0:52
13."Go With the Flow"Marlin, Dory, Crush, Squirt and Finding Nemo Ensemble3:38
14."Gossip"Octopus Mom, Octopus Baby, Lobsters, Swordfish, Penguins and Nigel0:54
15."That's My Dad" (Reprise)Nemo and Nigel0:39
16."Darla!"Nemo, Deb, Bloat, Bubbles, Peach, Gill, Nigel, Dentist, Darla and Marlin0:38
17."Sewage Treatment Plant"Marlin, Dory and Nemo0:42
18."We Swim Together" (Reprise)Marlin, Nemo, Dory and the Finding Nemo Ensemble1:11
19."Finale - In the Big Blue World" (Reprise)Marlin, Nemo, Dory, Mr. Ray and Finding Nemo Ensemble2:15
Total length:31:48

Related Research Articles

<i>Finding Nemo</i> 2003 film by Andrew Stanton

Finding Nemo is a 2003 American animated comedy-drama adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Andrew Stanton and co-directed by Lee Unkrich, the screenplay was written by Stanton, Bob Peterson, and David Reynolds from a story by Stanton. The film stars the voices of Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, and Geoffrey Rush. It tells the story of an overprotective clownfish named Marlin (Brooks) who, along with a forgetful regal blue tang named Dory (DeGeneres), searches for his missing son Nemo (Gould). Along the way, Marlin learns to take risks and comes to terms with Nemo taking care of himself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Lopez</span> American songwriter of musicals (born 1975)

Robert Lopez is an American songwriter for musicals and playwright, best known for co-creating The Book of Mormon and Avenue Q, and for co-writing the songs featured in the Disney animated films Frozen, its sequel Frozen II, and Coco, with his wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez. He is signed to Disney Music Publishing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage</span> Attraction at Disneyland

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is an attraction in the Tomorrowland area of Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. It opened on June 11, 2007. Based on the characters and settings of the 2003 Disney·Pixar film Finding Nemo, it is a re-theming of the classic Submarine Voyage attraction that operated from 1959 to 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Seas with Nemo & Friends</span> Pavilion and ride at Epcot

The Seas with Nemo & Friends is a pavilion located in the World Nature section of Epcot, a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. The pavilion is themed as an oceanic exploration base called SeaBase Alpha, with several exhibits devoted to oceanic study. The building includes an aquarium and its attached dark ride attraction, a talk show-type attraction called Turtle Talk with Crush, and the Coral Reef Restaurant. With 5.7 million US gallons of tank volume, the pavilion is also the second-largest aquarium in the U.S. and the sixth-largest in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turtle Talk with Crush</span> Interactive show at Disney theme parks

Turtle Talk with Crush is an interactive talk show type attraction that has appeared at several of the Disney theme parks. It first opened on November 16, 2004 at The Living Seas pavilion at Epcot and later at Disney California Adventure in July 2005. The attraction opened in Hong Kong Disneyland from May 24 to August 10, 2008 as part of the "Nonstop Summer Fun" celebration. The attraction also opened in Tokyo DisneySea on October 1, 2009.

There have been seven theme park live adaptations of The Lion King at Disney Parks since the Disney animated feature film The Lion King was released by Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1994. These have included a parade, two theater-in-the-round shows, and four stage shows.

Dory (<i>Finding Nemo</i>) Fictional character

Dory is a fictional blue tang fish and a major character of Pixar's animated film series Finding Nemo. She suffers from short-term memory loss, which often causes frustration to Marlin, especially when his son Nemo is in danger. However, her childlike optimism and ability to communicate different languages from both humans and whales have helped both her and Marlin advance their quest to find Nemo.

Michael Curry is an American production designer who lives in Portland, Oregon. He is also the owner and President of Michael Curry Design Inc. in Scappoose, Oregon, which was started in 1986.

<i>Exploring the Reef with Jean-Michel Cousteau</i> 2003 American film

Exploring the Reef with Jean-Michel Cousteau is a live-action/animated short documentary film included on the fullscreen version of disc 2 of the Finding Nemo 2-Disc Collector's Edition DVD, which was released on November 4, 2003. It features Jean-Michel Cousteau in a documentary film he is trying to make about coral reefs, but Marlin, Dory and Nemo keep interrupting him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristen Anderson-Lopez</span> American songwriter

Kristen Anderson-Lopez is an American songwriter. She is known for co-writing the songs for the 2013 animated musical film Frozen and its 2019 sequel Frozen II with her husband Robert Lopez. The couple won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Let It Go" from Frozen and "Remember Me" from Coco (2017) at the 86th and 90th awards respectively. She also won two Grammy Awards at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, and she is signed to Disney Music Publishing.

<i>Finding Dory</i> 2016 film by Andrew Stanton

Finding Dory is a 2016 American animated comedy-drama adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It was directed by Andrew Stanton, co-directed by Angus MacLane, produced by Lindsey Collins, and written by Stanton and Victoria Strouse. The second installment to the Finding Nemo franchise, the film is a both a sequel and spin-off following the events of Finding Nemo (2003). Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks reprise their roles from the first film, with Hayden Rolence, Ed O'Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Ty Burrell, Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy joining the cast. The film focuses on the amnesiac fish Dory (DeGeneres), who journeys to be reunited with her parents.

<i>Finding Nemo</i> (franchise) Film series and media franchise

Finding Nemo is a CGI animated film series and Disney media franchise that began with the 2003 film of the same name, produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The original film was followed by a standalone sequel, Finding Dory, released in 2016. Both films were directed by Andrew Stanton. The film series received widespread critical acclaim from critics and audiences with two films released to-date, the series has grossed $1.9 billion worldwide.

Tarzan is a Disney media franchise that commenced in 1999 with the theatrical release of the film Tarzan, based on the character Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Disney Stars on Parade is the current parade in Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris. The parade premiered on 26 March 2017, as part of the park's 25th anniversary celebration. The parade celebrates the discovery of the lands of imagination, represented by various Disney and Pixar films, such as Toy Story, The Jungle Book, The Lion King, Finding Nemo, SleepingBeauty, and Frozen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nemo & Friends SeaRider</span> Simulator ride at Tokyo DisneySea

Nemo & Friends SeaRider is a simulator ride at Tokyo DisneySea at Tokyo Disney Resort. It is based on the Disney/Pixar film Finding Nemo and its sequel, Finding Dory. Nemo & Friends SeaRider utilizes the same ride system as its predecessor, StormRider, which closed in 2016. The ride opened on May 12, 2017.

Wonderful World of Animation is a nighttime show at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The show is a celebration of all Disney animation, beginning with Mickey Mouse. It premiered on May 1, 2019, as part of the park's 30th anniversary celebration, replacing Disney Movie Magic.

Tarzan Rocks! was a live amusement show at Disney's Animal Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. It is based on the 1999 animated film Tarzan, and utilizes the music written by Phil Collins. The show opened Friday, July 9, 1999, and featured the use of acrobatics, a live band, costume characters, and cast members on rollerskates. After nearly a seven-year run, the show closed January 21, 2006.

References

  1. ↑ Rasmussen, Nate. "Vintage Walt Disney World Resort: Building a Theater in the Wild". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Finding Nemo - the Musical at Disney's Animal Kingdom". allears.net. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "Finding Nemo - The Musical". Walt Disney World. Disney Parks. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  4. ↑ Gross (September 14, 2021). "New Updated Finding Nemo Musical Coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park in 2022".
  5. ↑ "Finding Nemo - The Musical Overview". www.wdwmagic.com. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  6. ↑ Hernandez, Ernio. "Avenue Q Composer Lopez Co-Pens Musical Finding Nemo for Disney,"Playbill.com (April 10, 2006).
  7. ↑ Gross, Terry (April 10, 2014). "Transcript of "Songwriters Behind 'Frozen' Let Go Of The Princess Mythology"". Fresh Air. NPR. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Brown, Sophie (June 19, 2012). "Pixar Week: Finding Nemo: The Musical is a Hidden Gem | GeekMom". Wired. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  9. 1 2 Maupin, Elizabeth (November 26, 2006). "Swimming with big fish". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 11, 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
  10. ↑ "14th Annual Thea Awards Honor Outstanding Achievement | Theatre content from Live Design Magazine". Livedesignonline.com. January 31, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  11. ↑ Carter, Ashley (29 July 2020). "Disney World, Actors' Union Rift Keeps Shows in the Dark". Spectrum News. Bay News 9. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  12. ↑ Coffey, Kelly (2021-09-14). "NEW Reimagined 'Finding Nemo' Musical Coming to Animal Kingdom". Inside the Magic. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  13. ↑ ""Finding Nemo: The Big Blue House…and Beyond!" Debuting 2022, Replacing Finding Nemo the Musical". www.blogmickey.com. November 19, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.