Finding Nemo Musical Auditions in Orange Beach Invite Kids, Parents and Seniors This Weekend

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Young performers, parents and grandparents all have a shot at the spotlight this weekend. Expect Excellence Performing Arts is holding Finding Nemo musical auditions in Orange Beach on Friday, Oct. 16, and Saturday, Oct. 17, for a 60-minute family stage show based on the beloved underwater adventure.

No prior stage experience is required, and families are encouraged to try out together.

A show built for families

The Finding Nemo Family Musical is open to performers in grades 3 through 12 as well as senior citizens, and the organization’s audition schedule includes a session running from seventh grade through adult. Director Jacob Morris will lead the production.

Organizers say the show is designed to welcome performers at every experience level, from first-timers to seasoned local actors. The goal is as much about community as it is about theater.

“This is a chance for families to share the stage, make memories, build friendships, and create something special together,” the organization said in its announcement.

Audition schedule

Auditions are split by age group across two days:

• Grades 3-6: Friday, Oct. 16, 4 to 6:30 p.m.
• Grade 7 through adult: Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Dance call: Saturday, Oct. 17, 3 to 4 p.m.

Families interested in auditioning should contact Expect Excellence Performing Arts for audition location, sign-up details and any materials performers should prepare.

Production timeline

Those cast in the show will be making a commitment that runs through the winter:

• Rehearsals begin: December 2026
• School field trip performances: Feb. 25, 2027
• Public performances: Feb. 26 through March 7, 2027

The school field trip performances give local students a chance to see live theater during the school day, and give the cast an audience of young fans before the public run opens.

What families should weigh before auditioning

Because the show invites whole families to take part, it is worth looking at the calendar together before signing up. Rehearsals start in December, which means early practices will overlap with the holiday season, school winter break and travel plans. Parents auditioning alongside their children will want to make sure work schedules can accommodate rehearsals as well.

The performance run itself is compact. The school field trip performances fall on Thursday, Feb. 25, and the public run opens the next day, Friday, Feb. 26, continuing through Sunday, March 7. That stretch covers two weekends, so cast members should plan on being available for both, along with any final dress rehearsals in the days before opening.

The 60-minute running time is also a plus for families. A show of that length is easier for younger performers to sustain and for young audience members to sit through, which makes it a good introduction to live theater on both sides of the curtain.

The story on stage

The musical is based on “Finding Nemo,” the 2003 Disney-Pixar animated film. The story follows Marlin, an overprotective clownfish father, as he crosses the ocean to find his son, Nemo, after the young fish is captured by a diver and placed in an aquarium. Along the way Marlin teams up with Dory, a cheerful blue tang with a short-term memory problem, and meets sea turtles, sharks and other ocean characters.

The story’s themes of family, courage and letting children grow up make it a natural fit for a production that puts parents and kids on stage together. For a beach community like Orange Beach, where the Gulf of Mexico is right outside the door, a show about life under the sea has extra appeal.

About the license

The Finding Nemo Family Musical is presented by special arrangement with Music Theatre International. MTI is a New York-based licensing agency that grants schools, community theaters and professional companies the rights to stage well-known musicals, providing scripts, scores and other materials. Licensed productions like this one are how many popular shows reach local stages around the country.

Why community theater matters

Productions like this one give young performers a place to build confidence, practice public speaking and learn teamwork, skills that carry over into school and work. For older participants, community theater offers a creative outlet and a chance to stay active and connected.

Putting multiple generations in the same cast adds something more. Parents and children rehearse side by side, grandparents share the stage with grandchildren, and families come away with a shared experience. On the Eastern Shore and along the Baldwin County coast, youth and community theater has grown into a strong tradition, with programs drawing large casts of local students each year.

Tips for first-time auditioners

• Arrive early to fill out any paperwork and settle nerves before your turn.
• Dress comfortably, especially if you plan to attend Saturday’s dance call.
• Know your schedule. Check rehearsal expectations starting in December and the February-March performance dates before committing.
• Have fun. Organizers stress that no experience is needed and that the production is meant to welcome newcomers.

If you go

• What: Auditions for the Finding Nemo Family Musical, presented by Expect Excellence Performing Arts
• Who can audition: Performers in grades 3-12, adults and senior citizens; families welcome to audition together
• Grades 3-6: Friday, Oct. 16, 4 to 6:30 p.m.
• Grade 7 through adult: Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; dance call 3 to 4 p.m.
• Where: Orange Beach; contact Expect Excellence Performing Arts for location and sign-up details
• Director: Jacob Morris
• Show dates: Feb. 26 through March 7, 2027, with school performances Feb. 25
• Experience required: None