YOUTH AUDITION NOTICE: Finding Nemo Jr - Phoenix Arts Academy

Title: Finding Nemo JR

Presented By: Phoenix Arts Academy / Phoenix Ensemble

Genre: Junior Musical / Family Musical

Synopsis: Finding Nemo JR brings the beloved underwater adventure of Nemo, Marlin and Dory to the stage. The story follows Nemo, a curious young clownfish born with a "lucky fin", as he embarks on an adventure that takes him far from home. His anxious and overprotective father, Marlin, sets out to find him, meeting an unforgettable cast of sea creatures along the way, including the optimistic Dory.

The production explores family, courage, friendship, adventure and learning to embrace the things that make us different.

Audition Date: Saturday August 29th, 2026

Audition Time:

• 10AM – 11:30AM – Junior Ensemble Group Audition

• 12PM – 1:30PM – Leads & Senior Ensemble Group Audition

• 2PM – 5PM – Lead & Featured Senior Ensemble Individual Audition

Audition Location and Address: Phoenix Ensemble, Beenleigh Showgrounds. Access via the gate at 60 James Street, Beenleigh QLD.

Audition Requirements:

Junior Ensemble – Prep to Grade 4:

• Participate in a group dance and singing workshop.

• Learn a short routine and part of a song.

• No preparation is required.

• Students in Grades 3–4 wishing to audition for Nemo must also attend an afternoon individual audition.

• Prepare 30 seconds–1 minute of a song from a Disney movie or musical.

• Sing with a backing track with no lead vocals.

• Bring a device or USB containing the backing track. A YouTube link is also acceptable.

Lead Roles & Senior Ensemble – Grades 5–12:

• Participate in the group dance and singing workshop from 12:00pm–1:30pm.

• No preparation is required for the group session.

• Students wishing to be considered for a lead or featured Senior Ensemble role must also attend an afternoon individual audition.

• Individual auditions will be conducted in groups of four, with approximately 30 minutes per group.

• Prepare 30 seconds–1 minute of a song from a Disney movie or musical.

• Backing track must not contain lead vocals.

• Bring a device or USB containing the backing track. A YouTube link is also acceptable.

• Present acting scenes with a partner.

• Audition scenes are provided in the audition pack and do not need to be printed or memorised, although auditionees are encouraged to read through them several times beforehand.

• Senior Ensemble – Ensemble Only: Students who only wish to participate in the Senior Ensemble and attend the reduced rehearsal commitment do not need to complete the individual audition.

• Auditionees should wear comfortable, casual clothing suitable for movement and closed-in shoes. Sneakers are recommended; dance shoes are welcome but not required.

• Bring a bottle of water.

Audition Registration: Register for Finding Nemo JR auditions

Audition Pack: Finding Nemo JR Audition Pack

Performance Dates & Times:

• Friday 2 October 2026 – 6PM

• Saturday 3 October 2026 – 10AM & 1PM

Performance Location: Phoenix Ensemble, Beenleigh Showgrounds

Rehearsal Dates: September 21st - October 2nd, 2026

Rehearsal Times: Monday–Friday, 9AM - 3PM daily, except Friday 2 October, which will have a later start before the first performance.

Rehearsal Location: Phoenix Ensemble, Beenleigh Showgrounds

Performer Age: School-aged students from Prep to Grade 12 in 2026

Creative Team:

• Director: Julianne Clinch

• Music Director: Kym Brown

Production Website: Phoenix Arts Academy - Finding Nemo Jr

Other information:

• The production is open to all school-aged students from Prep to Grade 12 in 2026, not just current Phoenix Arts Academy students.

• Casting will be gender fluid depending on the diversity of participants. Students may be cast as characters of a different gender, and character genders may be changed where appropriate.

• There are no strict age restrictions for individual roles. The creative team will consider each student's strengths, preferences and suitability for the role.

• Lead roles will have solos and dialogue to memorise.

• Lead Roles & Featured Senior Ensemble - Participants will attend the full 10-day project from 21 September–2 October, plus all performances.

• Junior & Senior Ensemble - Participants will attend the first Monday and the second week of the project, plus performances.

• Production Fees - Lead Roles & Featured Senior Ensemble: $300

• Production Fees - Senior & Junior Ensemble: $200

• Fees cover production costs including scripts, backing tracks, costume pieces, some base costume elements that participants will keep after the production, and a show T-shirt.

• Students must bring their own lunch and snacks each day and will likely need to provide their own performance shoes.

Available Roles/Character Breakdown:

• Nemo - A curious young clownfish born with a "lucky fin", who brims with wonder and eagerness for adventure.

• Marlin - Nemo's anxious and overprotective father, who prefers the safety of his anemone to the unknowns of the open ocean.

• Dory - An optimistic, bubbly and sociable blue tang who experiences frequent short-term memory loss.

Junior Ensemble | Prep–Grade 4.

The Junior Ensemble participates in group singing, dancing and scenes as:

• Reef Kids

• Moonfish

• Turtle Kids

• Gulls

Supporting roles cast from the Junior Ensemble:

• Pearl - An excitable and friendly flapjack octopus.

• Sheldon - An H₂O-intolerant seahorse with an appetite for trouble.

• Squirt - The fearless, buoyant offspring of Crush the turtle.

• Tad - A self-admittedly obnoxious butterflyfish.

Senior Ensemble | Grades 5–12.

The Senior Ensemble participates in group singing, dancing and scenes as:

• Assorted Fish

• Sharks

• Jellyfish

• Turtles

• Gulls

Supporting Senior Ensemble Roles – Solo Singing

• Bubbles - A friendly yellow tang who is captivated by bubbles and exclusively uses the word "bubbles" to communicate.

• Bloat - An open-minded and supportive blowfish who is proud to be part of the Tank Gang.

• Gurgle - A nervous royal gramma fish who enjoys the regulated cleanliness of the aquarium tank.

• Peach - A mature, down-to-earth starfish who offers guidance and reassurance to all.

• Gill - A relentless and inspiring leader with a set of battle scars and a torn fin who will stop at nothing to return to the freedom of the ocean.

• Professor Ray - Nemo's enthusiastic, encyclopaedic stingray teacher.

• Bruce - The intimidating ringleader of the sharks who is dedicated to adopting a vegetarian diet.

• Anchor & Chum - Two of Bruce's loyal shark cronies.

• Crush - A laid-back, 150-year-old sea turtle who knows how to hang loose.

Supporting Senior Ensemble Roles – Acting

• Coral - Nemo's brave mother and Marlin's wife.

• Nigel - A friendly, sharp-eyed pelican who is proud to know all the local happenings of Sydney Harbour.

• Reef Kids' Parents - Supporting acting roles within the ensemble.