Just Keep Swimming! Coolidge Drama Dives Into ‘Finding Nemo JR.’ This January
Things are fishy at Coolidge Middle School in Reading, MA right now. Scent-free, thank goodness … Yet still flooded with drama because of the 72 student cast and crew members, deep into rehearsals & prep for their upcoming production of Disney and Pixar’s Finding Nemo JR.
While you’re probably familiar with the overarching storyline that follows fervently protective father fish, Marlin, on his journey to, well, find Nemo – his son … Kids (and the audience, of course) also get to explore themes of bullying, self-doubt, and how humans impact the environment.
During a meeting with parent volunteers back in the Fall, Director Stephen MacDonald emphasized some of the real ways in which, even behind the scenes, environmental mindfulness was going to be part of the process. This includes things as simple – yet effective – as repurposing certain set pieces, costumes and decorations.
Meanwhile for the students, Coolidge Drama continues creating opportunities for connections across grade levels. “The 7th and 8th graders in the show are so nice and supportive and welcoming”, reports 6th grader, Quinn Briere, who explained that she’d been worried about how the older kids would treat those new to middle school, “I’ve made genuine friends in this process.”
That experience reflects MacDonald’s intentions with the program overall, “We hope the impact goes far beyond the performances. The performing arts, much like sports, develops teamwork and confidence that stays with these kids forever.”
Now on his 19th show with Coolidge, MacDonald has a system for selecting productions, “We looked for a show that could showcase a large group of diverse students. Finding Nemo Jr. has 45 roles with speaking or singing solos, which lets us put more of our amazing kids in the spotlight.”
With a large group of previous participants now in high school this year, this show marks a bit of a “new era” for the Coolidge drama program. The team wasn’t sure what the turnout would look like for auditions. But a wave of 6th-graders rolled in and will help bring the “Big Blue World” of the Great Barrier Reef to life January 16th-18th
Catch the Show:
- Where: Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center
- When: January 16th 7pm, January 17th 7pm, January 18th 2pm
- Tickets: https://cur8.com/projects/CoolidgeDrama
