Movie News

Nemo treads the boards

Thu 19 Oct 4:30 PM

Delightful underwater adventure Finding Nemo is to be made into a stage musical.

Following reports that DreamWork's Shrek is to be staged on Broadway, the 2003 Pixar animated feature about a clown fish who searches for his rebellious son after he is scooped up by a diver, will be performed at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park in Florida.

Like Shrek, the stage version will see characters Nemo, Marlin and Dory appear as animated puppets operated by live performers. And the aquatic feel will be produced by animated backdrops, special lighting, sounds and effects.

The 30 minute musical will feature tap-dancing, bike riding puppets and a punk rock performance by great white shark Bruce.

Staged in the 1,500-seat theatre from January 2007, the show represents the first time Disney makes a musical out of a non-musical animated movie.

And just as Shrek is cashing in on the success of award-winning adult puppet show Avenue Q by hiring its director, the Nemo team are using its co-creator and co-composer to write orginal songs for the musical.

But unlike the extortionate prices of Broadway, Finding Nemo: The Musical will be included in the admission fare to the Animal Kingdom.