First look at 'Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!' as previews begin

By WDWMAGIC Staff · Friday June 10, 2022 1:51pm ET · "Finding Nemo The Big Blue and Beyond"
First look at 'Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!' as previews begin
See photos from the early previews of the new Finding Nemo musical at DIsney's Animal Kingdom.

Cast member previews begin today for 'Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!' and Disney has shared more pictures from the reworked show at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Watch the video below for a quick look at the Finding Nemo show from the previews.

The freshly reimagined return of this popular stage show on June 13 2022 invites guests into the undersea setting that charmed audiences around the world in the Disney and Pixar smash-hit animated film, “Finding Nemo.”

The fully updated, 25-minute show immerses audiences in the story of Marlin and Nemo – an overprotective clownfish father and his curious son – through a production that combines music, puppets, dancers and animated backdrops. “This show incorporates many of the songs from the original musical, as well as amazing puppetry and live performers that fill the stage,” said show director James Silson, Disney Live Entertainment.

This underwater adventure is a reimagined retelling of Disney and Pixar’s “Finding Nemo: The Musical,” which debuted at the theme park in 2007 and ran for more than 13 years. As in the original production, Marlin and Nemo each go on a separate journey that ultimately teaches them how to love and understand each other better. Except in this algae-friendly adaptation of that beloved tale, the storytellers are a group of fish living at the Marine Life Institute.

The 1,500-seat Theater in the Wild transports guests to an undersea world through innovative special effects, sound and lighting, and the theatrical puppetry of Michael Curry, who co-designed the richly detailed character puppets seen in the Broadway version of Disney’s “The Lion King.” Main characters such as Marlin, Nemo and Dory are represented by live performers operating animated puppets. Some puppets are larger-than-life – such as Crush, the cool sea turtle, who is nearly the size of a car.

In addition to a new script, the show features new set pieces and a custom LED video wall that visually extends the physical sets on stage – including a 32-foot-long sunken submarine. “We’ve taken a new approach to the set for ‘Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!’,” said art director Matt Fiuza, Disney Live Entertainment. “We were inspired by 3D cut paper art and sculptures as we developed the scenic in the show. Our team had such an exciting time looking at our tank set through this brand-new lens of this watercolor sculpture aesthetic.”

The current schedule lists six shows per day, with two in the morning and four in the afternoon.

Morning performances:

  • 10:30am
  • 11:30am

Afternoon performances:

  • 12:30pm
  • 2:30pm
  • 3:30pm
  • 4:30pm

'Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!' offer Lightning Lane access and is included with Genie+.

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So no more wire work it appears, there’s the cost saver. Also I can’t imagine how the plot is going to make sense and how short all these songs are going to be to fit in a 25 min package.
The stage looks VERY empty to me in that teaser video.
↩ replying to WondersOfLife
Those are the 2 winners in my book as well. I wish the acoustics and seating was better at DAK - that really makes a difference for the Hyperion theatre experience.

Are you familiar with Shakonohey at Dollywood and Katonga at Busch Gardens? Those were pretty amazing theme park productions you might like to look up on YouTube.
↩ replying to Kittlesona
That was my thought as well. Granted, I haven't seen the original Nemo in a long time, but it definitely seemed more.....full of people and things.
↩ replying to Kittlesona
That was my thought as well. Granted, it's been a few years since I've seen the original, but it definitely seemed.....bigger.
↩ replying to TrainChasers
I am not, but I will certainly look those up! Especially since I'm just a couple of hours away from Dollywood. Is it still running there?
So has anyone on here been to a cast member preview yet? The original show was in my top 5 Disney parks stage shows and top two for WDW. Anxious to find out how much they've screwed it up! Won't be back to see for myself until September
The clip looks good. Some of the staging is improved by lighting and the projection backdrop. We will see!
I don't understand why they replaced the original set pieces with flat "paper inspired" ones... Yikes, those look cheap. What was wrong with the original set pieces?

..So there goes the spectacle.
↩ replying to WondersOfLife
It’s not, it’s been several years but it was super impressive for a theme park show. Dolly Parton wrote the music for it.

Have you ever seen the Christmas shows they do?

Agreed. I’ll wait to see the show in person but I don’t think it will have the same spectacle as before.
↩ replying to TrainChasers
A friend of my dad, his name is Tim Brosnan, used to perform at Dollywood. He performed in their Christmas show “Babes in Toyland” seeeveral years ago. He wrote a few of our shows for our children’s theatre company.

Dollywood has some great entertainment!
Based on some social media chatter from some cast, it sounds like there may be a soft opening (for guests) today.
Here is the new sign -