The mission of Youtheatre is to create an inclusive environment in which to inspire and enrich the lives of all youth, regardless of income or ability, by providing educational opportunities and promoting appreciation of the arts. Youtheatre is open to all area youth in grades 1-12.
Youtheatre's Production of The SpongeBob Musical for Grades 6-12!
Performances: October 6 (7 PM) and 7 (2 PM), 2023
Auditions: Monday, August 7 and Tuesday, August 8 at 6 PM
Audition Workshop: Saturday, July 29 from 10 AM - NOON
Director: Samantha Henry • Assistant Director: Timothy Frost • Music Director: Zachary Thomas • Choreographer: Jordan Gottschalk
When the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home, SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world. With lives hanging in the balance and all hope lost, a most unexpected hero rises up. The power of optimism really can save the world!
AUDITIONS for the on-stage cast will begin promptly at 6 PM Monday, August 7 and Tuesday, August 8 at Marathon Center for the Performing Arts located at 200 W. Main Cross Street in Findlay. Check-in will begin 30 mins before auditions begin. Callbacks, if needed, will be Wednesday, August 9 at 6 PM.
All students in grades 6-12 who wish to audition or apply for the technical crew must register and complete the following required forms:
Register for Auditions and Technical Crew
All students in grades 6-12 who wish to attend the Audition Workshop must complete the following registration form:
Register for the Audition Workshop on July 29 (Open to all, not mandatory for those auditioning!)
Students only need to attend one day of auditions. Those auditioning for the on-stage cast need to come prepared for movement. Youth interested in technical crew will only need to register online.
All youth participating in the production (as an on-stage cast member or technical crew member) and their parents must attend a mandatory meeting on Monday, August 14, at 6:00 PM at Marathon Center for the Performing Arts. Informational packets will be handed out and questions will be answered. All on-stage cast members will be measured for costumes. A read-through of the script will continue for the on-stage cast members until 7:30 PM.
Youtheatre strives to teach the importance of commitment, therefore, attendance and punctuality are documented and may affect future Youtheatre participation.
REHEARSALS: 6 – 8 PM Monday – Thursday beginning Monday, August 14. We will also practice on select Sundays in September. Dress rehearsals will be held nightly during the week of the show and are mandatory for all cast/crew members. Students may not be needed at every rehearsal. A detailed rehearsal schedule will be released after casting which will attempt to comply with any listed conflicts.
PARTICIPATION FEES: All youth participating in the production must pay the following participation fee according to their role in the production: $75 for on-stage cast members and $45 for technical crew members.
PARENT COMMITMENT: Youtheatre is a family affair! At the parent meeting on Monday, August 14 at 6 PM, parents will be asked to volunteer on pre-show and show-week parent committees. Committees cover every aspect of producing a show, including building and painting sets, costumes, backstage supervisors, dressing room supervisors, cast party and many more. Our shows would not be possible without the dedication and investment of each family!
Youtheatre's Production of Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr. for Grades 3-5!
Performances: March 8 (7 PM) and 9 (2 PM), 2024
Auditions: Monday, January 15 and Tuesday, January 16 at 6 PM
Audition Workshop: Saturday, January 6 from 10 AM - NOON
Director: Samantha Henry • Music Director: Erica Bickhart • Choreographer: Jordan Gottschalk
Marlin, an anxious and over-protective clownfish, lives in the Great Barrier Reef with his kid Nemo, who longs to explore the world beyond their anemone home. But when Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin faces his fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean. With the help of lovable characters such as optimistic Dory, laid-back sea turtle Crush, and the supportive Tank Gang, Marlin and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves. Finding Nemo JR. brings a vibrant underwater world to life on stage in a story full of family, friendship, and adventure.
AUDITIONS for the on-stage cast will begin promptly at 6 PM on Monday, January 15 and 6 PM on Tuesday, January 16 at Marathon Center for the Performing Arts located at 200 W. Main Cross Street in Findlay. Check-in will begin 30 mins before auditions begin.
All students in grades 3-5 who wish to audition or apply for the technical crew must register and complete the following required forms:
Register for Auditions and Technical Crew
All students in grades 3-5 who wish to attend the Audition Workshop must complete the following registration form:
Register for the Audition Workshop on January 6 (Open to all, not mandatory for those auditioning!)
Students only need to attend one day of auditions. Those auditioning for the on-stage cast need to come prepared for movement. Youth interested in technical crew will only need to register online.
All youth participating in the production (as an on-stage cast member or technical crew member) and their parents must attend a mandatory meeting on Thursday, January 18, at 6:00 PM at Marathon Center for the Performing Arts. Informational packets will be handed out and questions will be answered. All on-stage cast members will be measured for costumes. A read-through of the script will continue for the on-stage cast members until 7:30 PM.
Youtheatre strives to teach the importance of commitment, therefore, attendance and punctuality are documented and may affect future Youtheatre participation.
REHEARSALS: 6 – 7:30 PM Monday – Thursday beginning Monday, January 22. We will also practice on select Sundays in February. Dress rehearsals will be held nightly during the week of the show and are mandatory for all cast/crew members. Students may not be needed at every rehearsal. A detailed rehearsal schedule will be released after casting which will attempt to comply with any listed conflicts.
PARTICIPATION FEES: All youth participating in the production must pay the following participation fee according to their role in the production: $75 for on-stage cast members and $40 for technical crew members.
PARENT COMMITMENT: Youtheatre is a family affair! At the parent meeting on Thursday, January 18 at 6 PM, parents will be asked to volunteer on pre-show and show-week parent committees. Committees cover every aspect of producing a show, including building and painting sets, costumes, backstage supervisors, dressing room supervisors, cast party and many more. Our shows would not be possible without the dedication and investment of each family!
CHARACTERS
- Nemo: A curious young clownfish who brims with excitement to explore the wonders that lie beyond the Great Barrier Reef. Born with a “lucky fin” – or what humans would call a limb difference
- Marlin: An anxious clownfish and Nemo’s overprotective father, who, after the tragic death of his wife Coral, prefers the safety of his anemone to the frightening unknowns of the open ocean. Forced to travel across the sea in search of Nemo, Marlin develops the courage to face the unpredictable ocean and the wisdom to trust others – including his own kid.
- Dory: An optimistic and bubbly blue tang, experiences frequent short-term memory loss and finds herself wandering through the ocean with no place to call home. Sparking friendships with whomever she meets, Dory immediately offers to help Marlin find his lost child, and the two set out on an adventurous journey through the ocean. Along the way, Dory’s kindness and bright spirit ease Marlin’s fears, and the unlikely duo finds comfort and family in each other.
- Coral: A loving mother-to-be clownfish, married to Marlin, who will stop at nothing to protect her eggs.
- Sea Chorus: Functions as the general ensemble, creating the environment of the play and becoming the characters that Marlin and Dory interact with on their journey to Sydney. They will also help with the transitions from the Ocean to the Aquarium Tank. Roles include: Angelfish, Damselfish, Barracuda, Moonfish 1-6, Jellyfish, Sea Turtles, Grouper, Lobsters (1 & 2), Octopuses (1 & 2), Electric Eels (1 & 2), & Seahorses (1 & 2).
- Reef Kids: Nemo's classmates
- Pearl, a friendly flapjack octopus who is, quick to befriend Nemo.
- Sheldon, an H2O-intolerant seahorse with an appetite for trouble who taunts Nemo to swim beyond the reef.
- Tad, a self-admittedly obnoxious butterflyfish who joins Sheldon in encouraging Nemo to swim past the Drop-Off.
- Reef Parents: Sheldon’s Parent, Pearl’s Parent, and Tad’s Parent
- Professor Ray: A stingray and Nemo’s enthusiastic teacher, takes pride in sharing the curiosities and marvels of the world with the class and encourages every student to be a brave explorer.
- Scuba Mask Dancer: A performer responsible for floating the diver’s mask through the water whenever it appears onstage.
- Bruce: An intimidating great white shark, is the sharks’ ringleader. Despite Bruce’s best efforts to adopt a vegetarian diet, Bruce loses control and is sent into a frenzy, threatening to devour every fish in sight. Part of the Sharks.
- Chum and Anchor: Two of Bruce’s shark friends, try to live vegetarian lifestyles but are eventually forced to restrain an out-of- control Bruce from eating innocent fish. Part of The Sharks.
- Fish "Friends": Forced to attend the sharks’ party but aren’t quite so convinced that their hosts will be satisfied with a kelp-only diet.
- Bubbles: Part of the “Tank Gang” that helps Nemo escape the Sydney Harbor Aquarium and return to the ocean. A yellow tang who is captivated by bubbles, is the first to welcome Nemo to the tank. This friendly fish exclusively uses the word “bubbles” to communicate.
- Bloat: Part of the “Tank Gang” that helps Nemo escape the Sydney Harbor Aquarium and return to the ocean. An open-minded and supportive blowfish, is proud to be part of the Tank Gang family and helps keep everyone’s spirits up, even when things seem bleak.
- Gurgle: Part of the “Tank Gang” that helps Nemo escape the Sydney Harbor Aquarium and return to the ocean. Frightened of strangers and the germs they carry with them, is a royal gramma who enjoys the safety and regulated cleanliness of the tank.
- Peach: Part of the “Tank Gang” that helps Nemo escape the Sydney Harbor Aquarium and return to the ocean. A mature and down-to-earth starfish, offers guidance and reassurance to all those who need it.
- Gill: Part of the “Tank Gang” that helps Nemo escape the Sydney Harbor Aquarium and return to the ocean. A relentless and inspiring leader who will stop at nothing to return to the freedom of the ocean. This Moorish idol fish believes in the Tank Gang and concocts countless plans to bust them out of the aquarium. Gill is the first fish Nemo has ever met with a similar “fin difference,” quickly becoming a mentor and inspiration for the young clownfish.
- Nigel: A sharp-eyed pelican, Nigel is the Tank Gang’s feathered friend and only connection to the outside world. This bird is someone you can count on to know all the latest news on the happenings of Sydney Harbor.
- Seagulls: A pesky group of birds who persistently try to snatch an unlucky Vacationer’s snack on the boardwalk.
- Sea Turtles & Sea Turtle Kids: Righteously mellow creatures featured in “Go With the Flow.”
- Crush, a 150-year-old sea turtle who knows how to hang loose, teaches Marlin a thing or two about being a good parent.
- Squirt, offspring of Crush, fearlessly twirls through turbulent waters of the ocean and enjoys trying out cool new moves in the high-speed EAC.
- Kai and Breeze each have individual singing solos in “Go With the Flow”.