Primary Production 2026

Disney and Pixar’s FINDING NEMO JR.

Playing at MECS in Mount Evelyn

The atmosphere was electric as students waited with bated breath to discover what this year’s Primary Production would be. All week they had received clues that gave glimpses of the underwater theme of our show.

Many guessed correctly, but there was collective cheering and rounds of laughter when Mr Pirie entered, stage left, sporting his new Marlin suit!! The students were delighted!! MECS Primary is poised to stage Disney and Pixar’s Finding Nemo Jr in September 2026 in our very own gymnasium. Show dates and times will be released soon.

The charming 60-minute musical, is based on the beloved 2003 Pixar film Finding Nemo. The Primary School cast includes our whole student cohort, students supported by our wonderful staff, and directed by Penny Mentiplay, our Primary Music Teacher.

“I am thrilled with the response of our Senior Primary students. It’s amazing to have 55 of our 85 strong SP cohort auditioning next week for main roles,” said Ms Mentiplay upon seeing the queue for sign ups after the announcement at GT last Thursday.

Dive into the big blue world of Disney and Pixar’s Finding Nemo JR.! This new stage musical is a 60-minute adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo, with new music by award-winning songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Marlin, an anxious and over-protective clownfish, lives in the Great Barrier Reef with his kid Nemo, who longs to explore the world beyond their anemone home. But when Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin faces his fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean. With the help of lovable characters such as optimistic Dory, laid-back sea turtle Crush, and the supportive Tank Gang, Marlin and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves. Featuring memorable songs such as 'Just Keep Swimming', 'Fish Are Friends Not Food' and 'Go With the Flow', Finding Nemo JR. brings a vibrant underwater world to life on stage in a story full of family, friendship, and adventure.

Disney and Pixar’s Finding Nemo JR. is presented through special arrangement with and all materials are provided by Music Theatre International. For more information about licensing Finding Nemo JR. or other Disney shows, please visit www.DisneyMusicals.com.

SCHOOL/THEATER COMPANY/ORGANIZATION bio

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 70,000 professional, community, and school theatres in the US and in over 60 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.

Penny Mentiplay

Primary Music Teacher