Disney replacing ‘Nemo’ show at Animal Kingdom

[Disney4me]

Disney World will not bring back “Finding Nemo — The Musical” to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, opting for a “re-imagined” stage show in 2022

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'Finding Nemo - The Musical' was staged at Disney's Animal Kingdom from early 2007 to March 2020. (WALT DISNEY CO.)

 

Walt Disney World will not be bringing back “Finding Nemo — The Musical” to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. Instead it will have a “re-imagined” stage show featuring characters from the film, the company confirmed Tuesday. The new production will join the lineup in 2022, Disney said.

“Finding Nemo — The Musical,” based on the 2003 Pixar film “Finding Nemo,” debuted at Animal Kingdom in 2007. It has not been seen since the pandemic shutdown began in March 2020.

The 40-minute musical featured live performers and large puppetry to tell the story of lost, curious clownfish Nemo and the search by his protective father Marlin, who is assisted in the hunt by Dory, a short-attention-span blue tang. It was staged in the Theater in the Wild, which seats about 1,500 people.

The music, composed by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, included songs such as “Just Keep Swimming” and “In the Big Blue World.” The production was designed by Michael Curry, who created the puppets for Epcot’s Tapestry of Dreams and for “Frozen — Live at the Hyperion” at Disney California Adventure park.

The new Nemo-based show is in early stages of development and “will feature new story material, as well as fan favorite songs,” according to a post on the official Disney Parks Blog.

“‘Finding Nemo — The Musical’ has been a 100% Equity-contracted entertainment since it opened in 2007, showcasing the unique talents of our members, and Walt Disney World has indicated that the new entertainment will continue exclusively on an Equity contract,” Russell Lehrer, assistant eastern regional director of Actors Equity Association, said in a released statement Tuesday.

“The shared appreciation and commitment to featuring Equity performers in the parks to delight guests is a long-standing one for our union and Walt Disney World,” he said. “And we have seen a steady increase in Equity contracts in the parks since the reopening in line with the company’s extended hours and capacity.”

“A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King,” a modified version of the original theme park show, returned to Animal Kingdom in May, and “Beauty and the Beast — Live on Stage” came back to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in August, but several attractions and productions, including parades and character meet-and-greets, have not returned to Disney World parks yet.

 

Dewayne Bevil

Orlando Sentinel