Kidstage: Finding Nemo Jr.

ABBIE CHEN, she/her (Chum). This is Abbie's first show at Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE! Previous credits include Disney’s The Lion King JR. at her middle school and Matilda the Musical at Broadway Bound Children’s Theatre. Abbie loves yellow!! 

ALEXIS YUN, she/her (Nemo) is thrilled to be performing in Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE pro­duction of Disney's Find­ing Nemo JR.! Alexis is a second-year at Village Theatre Institute in Everett. Her KIDSTAGE credits include: Chip in Disney's Beauty and the Beast and Royal Page in Disney’s Descendants. Alexis enjoys acting, singing, dancing, playing the piano, and crafting.

ALICE REED, she/her (Bubbles) is thrilled to be a part of this big blue world! She is a proud Village Theatre Institute and KIDSTAGE kid. Past credits include The Ad­dams Family Young @ Part (KIDSTAGE) and She Kills Monsters (Studio East). She'd like to thank her family and her community for their love and support.

ARIA CHIPLONKAR, she/her (Vacationer) is excit­ed to be part of her first Village Theatre’s KID­STAGE production!! She has been performing with Big Star Perform­ing Arts Studios for over four years. Some of her performances include: “Part of Your World” from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Mamma Mia! medley, “I Know Things Now” from Into the Woods, and many more. She is grateful for the opportunity and would like to thank her coaches and family for their continued support. Let's keep swim­ming!!

BASMA ALMASHARI, she/her (Squirt) is ex­cited to be in her second show! In her free time, Basma enjoys playing soccer and baking. She would like to thank her parents for their support. And she hopes you enjoy the show!

BENJAMIN FENG, he/him (Tad) likes singing very much. He started elementary school choir when he was six years old. He has participated in school choir events every year since then. Credits include: Blue Sky Art School recitals (2021-2024), his school choir (2019, 2023, and 2024); Klahanie Community Spring Festival (2019-2022); Adam Xuan Personal Con­cert (2023); and the Kirkland City Spring Festival (2024).

CAROLINE HUBER, (Cor­al, Ensemble) is excited to be in her first Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE production. She looks forward to the memo­ries she will make and things she will learn being involved in her first production. She would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her, she knows her Papa in heaven would have come to every show, and special thanks to her mom for driving her to all of the rehearsals! Just keep swimming!

CARTER SHIFLETT, he/him (Bloat) is incredibly excited to be in Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE production of Disney's Finding Nemo JR. Most recently, Carter per­formed in The Addams Family Young@Part and Into the Woods JR. at KIDSTAGE, as well as several KIDSTAGE produc­tion camps in previous years. Carter also previously performed as Fritz in The Nutcracker (Issaquah Dance Theatre) for multiple years. Apart from theater, Carter also enjoys activities like reading, playing viola, and drawing. 

CHARLIE BIXLER, (Nigel). G’day mates! Charlie has performed in numer­ous Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE productions, including Lurch in The Addams Family Young@Part and working on wardrobe crew for The Prom, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, and The SpongeBob Musical. Charlie is also a proud Institute student and excited to return to the stage! 

CHARLOTTE DAVIS, she/her (Breeze) is so excited to be a part of the cast of Disney’s Finding Nemo JR.! This is Charlotte’s first produc­tion at Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE. Charlotte has previously performed in seven shows at Redmond Academy of Theatre Arts, including Matilda JR., Honk JR., and James and the Giant Peach JR. Hope you enjoy the show!

CHARLOTTE MICHEL, she/her (Peach, Vocal Captain) is thrilled to participate in her first Village Theatre’s KID­STAGE production! She has been taking classes for many years, in singing, acting, dance, ballet, and musical theatre. Charlotte loves participating in the school choir and plays on the girls' basketball team. She hopes this is the first of many performances with KIDSTAGE!

CHLOE TRAN, she/her (Anchor, Dance Captain) is so excited to be play­ing Anchor! She was most recently seen as Bruce in Matilda (At the Ridge Theatre), Pugsley in The Addams Family Young@Part and Gary in The Spongebob Musical (Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE). When she’s not at rehearsal (or the dance studio!), she loves to spend time with loved ones! She would like to thank her friends and family for all their support, and hopes you enjoy the show!

ELLE MARGOLIS, (Professor Ray) is so excited about her first show at Village The­atre’s KIDSTAGE! Her past credits include: Atina/Princess No. 3 in Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR., Storyteller No. 1/Dragon Voice Trio in Shrek JR., Elsa in Disney’s Frozen JR., Hortensia in Matilda, and Grandpa Joe in Willy Wonka (Broadway Bound Children’s Theatre). Elle would like to thank her parents for helping her to get where she is today.

ELLIOT PARK, they/them (Marlin) is jazzed to be a part of this pro­duction! Previous Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE credits include The Ad­dams Family Young@Part and The Prom. Recently, they were seen as Orcus in She Kills Monsters (Studio East). Big thanks to their friends, family, and everyone in between. They hope you enjoy the show!

GABI GONZALEZ, they/them (Bruce) is so thrilled to have another opportunity to perform on the stage once again! Their other credits include Parent/Godspell Ensemble in The Prom, Pirate Ancestor and Gomez U/S in The Addams Family Young@Part, and Gilly Goldfish and Sar­dine in The SpongeBob Musical! Gabi also enjoys playing instruments in their free time like trumpet, clarinet, and more.

JOSEPHINE GEHRKE, she/her (Lead Puppeteer, Ensemble) has been act­ing and singing at Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE for years and has done camps at Village Theatre and Studio East. She has been in all of her elementary school plays. She most re­cently played Rajah in Disney’s Aladdin at her middle school. She also likes writing and singing songs in her free time.

MAEBRY SMITH-PAUL, she/her (Crush) is incredibly excited to be in this show of Disney’s Finding Nemo JR. She’s a Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE kid aspiring to be in more productions at KIDSTAGE and other theaters. Past shows at KIDSTAGE include: Ancestor and Lurch U/S in The Addams Family Young@Part, and Queen Iduna in Disney’s Frozen. She hopes you enjoy the show and spread the word of this amazing production. And remember, always “Go with the flow!”

MALCOLM DOTY, he/him (Gill) is so excited to playing the role of Gill! You may have previously seen him as Mal in The Addams Family Young@Part and Ensemble in The Prom (Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE)! In his free time, Malcolm loves to sit down with a good game and listen to his favorite music. He would like to thank his amazing family for the support and love!

MAX FOSTER, he/him (Lead Puppeteer, Ensem­ble) is thrilled to have a role in his first musical production! This experi­ence, along with Village Theatre Institute, is a highlight of Max's year!

MEGAN BRYANT, she/her (Gurgle) has been performing on stage since three and has always enjoyed creat­ing a new world through the art of theatre. Her past Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE produc­tions include: Ensemble and Emma U/S in The Prom, Ancestor and Grandmama U/S in The Addams Family Young@Part, and Dottie Fishette and Pearl Krabs U/S in The SpongeBob Musical. Megan most recently performed as Agatha Trunchbull in Matilda JR. at her middle school. She hopes that you enjoy Disney’s Finding Nemo JR.!

MYRA MISRI, she/her (Sheldon). Singing/Choir: singing classes (Western Classical) for last five years and very passion­ate about it. Myra has sung at multiple events which had 120+ people in attendance. She has also been part of a choir for the last few years, and has performed in choir concerts as well. Some songs performed are: “You Raise Me Up,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” “O Holy Night,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and “Red River Valley.” 

ROSLYN NICHOLAS, she/her (Dory) is hyped to return for her fifth Vil­lage Theatre’s KIDSTAGE production! Last seen at KIDSTAGE as: Ensemble in The Prom, Uncle Fester in The Addams Family Young@Part, Ensemble in The Spongebob Musi­cal, and Little Red in Into the Woods. She also performed in Village Theatre's 2023 Mainstage Gala, Something Wonderful, and the 2023 Sing It Forward. Huge thanks to her family, her friends, and her own ability to just keep swimming.

VICTORIA PHAL, she/they (Pearl) is excited to perform in her first Vil­lage Theatre’s KIDSTAGE production. Victoria played Hei Hei in Dis­ney’s Moana JR. (Kettle­works Performing Arts) and Bruce in Disney's Finding Nemo JR. (Youth Theatre Northwest). She enjoys acting, singing, and breakdancing. She lives with her parents, two brothers, two dogs, two cats, and fish.

VIVIAN WOOD, she/her (Kai, Ensemble) has always loved to make people happy through performance and sing­ing. This is Vivian’s first performance with Vil­lage Theatre’s KIDSTAGE. Vivian’s recent work includes the role of Miss Trunchbull in Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical (Broad­way Bound Children’s Theatre) and the role of Gomez in The Addams Family: High School Edition (Youth Theatre Northwest). Vivian would like to thank her family for supporting her and for putting up with her constant singing.

RICO LASTRAPES, he/him (Director) is a Tacoma-based creative who received his BFA in acting from the University of Central Florida. He is excited to be making his directorial debut at Village Theatre's KIDSTAGE! Other KIDSTAGE credits include Choreographer/Associate Director for Disney's Newsies, Choreographer for The Prom, and Music Mentor for KIDSTAGE Originals (2021-present). He is currently the KIDSTAGE Institute Program Manager in Issaquah. Rico has also been seen onstage most recently in White Christ­mas (The 5th Avenue Theatre), The Hello Girls (Taproot Theatre), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Seattle Shakespeare Com­pany). ricolastrapes.com | IG: @Musical.Rico.La

AIMEE HONG, she/her (Music Director). Village credits: Associate Music Director for Little Shop of Horrors, Pit Musician for Mamma Mia!. KIDSTAGE Institute Instruc­tor. Music directed at Seattle Children's Theatre, Bainbridge Performing Arts, Renton Civic Theater, SecondStory Reper­tory, The Lesser-Known Players, Reboot Theater Company, St Luke's Theater Com­pany, and Burien Actor's Theater. She has also taught for Bellevue College, Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE, Studio East, Youth Theatre Northwest, the Seattle Opera, and the Seattle Symphony.

MACKENZIE NEUSIOK, she/her (Choreog­rapher) is a choreographer and performing artist that works throughout the Salish Sea. Credits include: Mean Girls (Lakeside Upper School), Ride the Cyclone, Chicago (Ballyhoo Theatre), and Legally Blonde (Se­attle Musical Theatre). When not working on a show, she works as a dance, Pilates, and barre instructor. Mackenzie is a mem­ber of the Coharie Tribe.

BELLA RIVERA, they/them (Scenic Design­er) is a Chicanx designer and painter. They have worked with Village Theatre’s KID­STAGE as props designer on The Addams Family: Young@Part and The Lightning Thief: the Percy Jackson Musical, and as a painter/props artist for multiple Village Theatre mainstage shows. Past projects include work with Seattle Public Theater, Macha Theatre Works, ArtsWest, Freehold Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Book-It Repertory Theatre, Washington Ensemble Theatre, Seattle Gilbert and Sul­livan Society, and Cornish College of the Arts. bellariveradesign.com

JANELLE KIMBROUGH, she/they (Costume Designer) is excited to be working with Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE for the first time with the Issaquah team. Prior Village Theatre credits include associate cos­tume designing for Songs for a New World. KIDSTAGE Everett projects include Matilda the Musical JR. (2022), Shrek the Musical JR. (2018), and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2016). They are thankful for everyone who has put them on this journey and guided them towards successes.

BRANDON CULLINAN, he/him (Lighting Designer) is the head electrician for Village Theatre in Everett, and is delighted to be working on Disney’s Finding Nemo JR. as his Village design debut. Previous Seattle-area design credits include Pippin (Cornish College of the Arts), and Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR., Shrek JR., and Into the Woods School Edition (Broadway Bound Children’s Theatre). Brandon holds his BFA in lighting design and technology from the University of New Mexico.

SANDRA HUEZO-MENJIVAR, they/she (Sound Designer) is a freelance sound designer, audio engineer, and teaching artist based in Seattle. They are delighted to be making a return to live theatre after taking a hiatus to focus on an internship at KEXP 90.3 FM. Past credits include: The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical (Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE); Meet Me at Dawn (Radial Theatre Project), Born with Teeth (ArtsWest), and Desdemona's Child (Cornish College of the Art). You can find them on Instagram @Menjivar_Sound.

INDIRA RAMPERSAD, she/her (Props Master) is so excited to be returning to Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE prop land for her fourth show! In addition to working with Village, she practices in and around Seattle as a theatre artist and educator, teaching at Billings Middle School, stage managing at ACT Theatre, and serving as Education Associate at Seattle Public Theater. She thanks her family and friends for their endless support and the amazing cast and crew for their incredible work!

ETHAN SWIM, he/him (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be stage managing this won­derful production. Most recently, Ethan was the production assistant and assis­tant stage manager cover for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Village Theatre). He has worked in New York City and the Seattle area at various theatres. Ethan would like to thank his partner Drew, and family, for their constant love and support. "The world is your oyster and we'll all be Cosmopolitans". IG: @ethan_swim22

EMILY DOORENBOS, they/she (Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to work again with Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE. They are a sound designer and stage manager. They have been involved in many produc­tions and theater companies, including Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and While They Last (KIDSTAGE), Sense and Sensi­bility (Village Theatre), Christmastown (Seattle Public Theater), Dream Hou$e (Washington Ensemble Theatre) and The Veil (Dacha Theatre). They thank their friends and family for all their support.

KRISTEN ANDERSON-LOPEZ, (Book, Music and Lyrics), Broadway credits include: co-creator/writer of In Transit (Broadway's first a cappella musical) and Disney’s Frozen. Other theatrical works include Up Here (La Jolla Playhouse), Disney’s Finding Nemo: The Musical (Disney World, running since 2006). Film: Pixar's Coco (Oscar® Best Original Song win for "Re­member Me"), Disney’s Frozen (Oscar and Grammy Award® wins for "Let It Go"), Disney's Frozen 2, Disney’s Winnie the Pooh. TV: songs for 87th Academy Awards (Emmy® nomination), "The Comedians," "The Wonder Pets." 2014 recipient, and now proud board member, of the Lilly Awards. Williams College grad, BMI Work­shop, Dramatists Guild council. She lives in Brooklyn with Robert and their two daughters.

ROBERT LOPEZ, (Book, Music and Lyrics). Broadway credits include co-creator/writer of The Book of Mormon (nine Tony® Awards including Best Book, Best Original Score and Best Musical), co-creator/song­writer of Avenue Q (three Tony Awards including Best Original Score and Best Musical). Other theatrical works include: Disney’s Frozen (Denver Center), Up Here (La Jolla Playhouse), 1001 Nights (Atlantic Theater). Film: Pixar's Coco (Oscar® Best Original Song win for "Remember Me"), Disney’s Frozen (Oscar Best Original Song win for "Let It Go"). TV: songs for The 87th Academy Awards, "The Simpsons," "South Park," "Scrubs," "The Wonder Pets." Other projects include Disney's Frozen 2. One of 12 artists to win Emmy®, Grammy®, Oscar and Tony Awards (EGOT). Yale University grad, BMI Workshop, Dramatists Guild council. A NYC native, he lives in Brooklyn with Kristen and their two daughters.

LINDSAY ANDERSON, (Book Adaptation) is a New York City-based lyricist and book writer. Off-Broadway: co-writer/creator of A Never-Ending Line (Players Theatre). Other writing credits include Down Under Rescue Sanctuary and The Game Room (Brooklyn Children’s Theatre); The Jane Goodall: Experience, and Branded (Philadel-phia Fringe Festival). Graduate of Dickin­son College and Headlong Performance Institute. Lindsay is a proud member of Maestra Music Inc. and the Tony-honored BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Work­shop. Recipient of the 2018 BMI Founda­tion Jean Banks Award for her musical, One Swipe Away.

MYRNA CONN, (Music and Orchestra Ar­rangement and Adaptation) is a composer, music director, and teaching artist based in New York City. Broadway: Pretty Woman (Key 1/ Conductor & Key 2 sub). National Tour: Come From Away (Associate Conductor). New York music directing credits include Bagels from Benny (92nd Street Y), Fountain (New Victory LabWorks), and National Lampoon Presents: SHIZ (Fein-stein’s/54 Below & UCB Theatre). Myrna is a songwriter and pianist for Story Pirates, a group of actors, comedians, improvisers, and musicians who adapt stories written by kids into sketch comedy and musical theatre. Graduate of Northwestern Uni­versity, where she was awarded the Craig Carnelia Songwriting Award and the Sarah Siddons Society Scholarship. Myrna is a member of the advanced class of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, Local 802 AFM, and Maestra Music, Inc.

MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL (MTI) is one of the world's leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broad­way and beyond. Founded in 1952 by com­poser Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engag­ing art form. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists, and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials, and dynamic theatrical resources to over 100,000 professional, community and school theatres in the US and in over 150 countries worldwide. MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theatre, and has created special collec­tions to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI’s Broad­way Junior™ shows are 30- and 60-min­ute musicals for performance by elemen­tary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students.

MTI maintains its global headquarters in New York City with additional offices in London (MTI Europe) and Melbourne (MTI Australasia).