IT’S A SCARY WORLD OUT THERE NEMO: Cast members Jaten Brown and Reba-Lynn Moody rehearsing a scene as Marlin and Nemo in Finding Nemo, JR.

COLQUITT- Summer is heating up, but the cast members of Cotton Hall Theater’s production of Finding Nemo, JR. are splashing around under the big, blue sea in Colquitt, Ga. Finding Nemo, JR. takes audiences to the great barrier reef for a story of true love and fatherhood featuring all the characters audiences love from the animated film.

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.

“I am most excited about being on stage playing a character that matches my energy,” said Reba-Lynn Moody, the young cast member in the title role. “I’m excited to play Nemo, because the character has a lot of similarities to me, but in a fish.”

Cotton Hall is the first theater in the area to bring the show to the stage, with the film currently celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Featuring a cast of local actors from Colquitt, Blakely, Bainbridge, Arlington, Edison, Donalsonville and beyond, Finding Nemo, JR. is a great event to attend as a family. The concession stand will feature an assortment of goodies, including show-themed slushies as well as Cotton Hall’s signature popcorn. Behind the scenes, it’s a family affair as well.

There are lots of people working to make this show come together. At every rehearsal, the building is filled with a team of sewing ladies, a great group of parents, and a wonderful crew working on all sorts of projects—sewing, painting, and hot-gluing to craft the many details it takes to put on a show. It takes every one of those people to make it happen.

Finding Nemo, JR. will run June 16, 17, 23, and 24, 2023 at Cotton Hall Theater in Colquitt, Ga. Friday performances begin at 7:00 with Saturdays at 2:00 and 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $12 each and can be purchased at www.swampgravy.com or by calling the Box Office at 1-229-758-5450.