Finding Fabio? Finding Elmo? Finding Miko?
No, “Finding Nemo” is now showing at the Hopkins Center for the Arts thanks to absolutely no help from Dory in remembering Nemo’s name.
The show is centered on an impressive cast of actors bringing to life the sea creatures from the beloved Disney movie. It is also successful thanks to a series of puppets that look eerily similar to their animated counterparts. Attendees can follow Marlin the clownfish and Dory, the forgetful blue tang, on their quest to bring Nemo home.
People can also watch two area actors. Cici Evans, of Champlin, and Leah Rimstad, of Maple Grove, each have roles in the production.
Cici Evans
In this production, Evans performs as Sheldon, a seagull and in the ensemble.
She started acting when she was 3 years old, participating in community ed theater camps in the summer. She made the switch from competitive swimming to full-time acting when she was 10.
Evans loves that the “Finding Nemo” show is immersive with the audience.
“You feel like you are underwater the whole time,” she said. “There are also some interactive elements that make it fun for the whole family.”
She thinks families will love the colors, the lights and the moving set, which keep the production entertaining.
“If you go to the show, make a day of it and check out the local shops and restaurants,” she added. “Hopkins is such a fun area. It will be one of those summer memories that will stick with you for a lifetime.”
She has previously performed in theater for the young production, “Galactic Wonders: A Space Adventure,” at Stages. Theatre For The Very Young shows are meant for the youngest audience members who are about 6 months to 5 years old. They are more immersive and hands-on for that age group, she added.
Evans is a student at Anoka Middle School for the Arts. There she has played Alice in “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and Ada in “Disney’s Newsies, Jr.”
“I also run a business called Cici’s Creations which I started when I was 8,” she said. “I sew scrunchies and scrunchie wallets and sell them at local craft fairs, retail shops in my community and online. Over the past few years, I have also had roles in national commercials that include Hess Trucks, Skin Block, and Gothom Steel, and local print ads for Kemps.”
Evans wants to continue to act more Stages shows and work with print ads and commercials. “When I am old enough, I would also like to mentor young kids with a passion for theater,” she added.
Leah Rimstad
Check out Leah Rimstad in the role of Peach and the ensemble.
She started performing in school theater when she was in first grade. “But taking classes at Stages Theatre as I got older is what truly made me fall in love with acting,” she said. “Stages education brought me so many opportunities, and I would never be the person I am today without it.”
What Rimstad likes most about “Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr” is seeing the immense joy it brings to audiences.
“‘Finding Nemo’ was a childhood favorite movie of mine, and hearing kids in the audience smile at this familiar story brings me so much joy,” she said. “It’s a full circle moment to tell this story on stage, I’m honored to be a part of it.”
She added that audiences should expect lots of fun and laughter with the whole family. “It’s a production enjoyed by all ages, you might just even find yourself wanting to sing along,” she said.
Rimstad also interns in the classroom for the Stages Theatre education classes.
“If your child hopes to perform on stage one day, Stages Theatre is the best place to start,” she said.
Classes for fall education for children ages 2 years through 12th grade have registration open now.
She previously performed in “Maybe,” “Disney’s Newsie’s Jr,” and “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr” at Stages.
Rimstad attends Eden Prairie Online School. After she finishes school, she plans to study fashion design in college with the hope of working in costume design professionally one day.
In her free time, she likes fashion design, visual arts and attending concerts.
Performances
The Stages production of “Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr” runs now through Aug. 4. Ticket pricing is $21 for adults, $19 for seniors, and $19 for children. For more information, visit stagestheatre.org.
-Natalie Cierzan contributed to this article.
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