Youth Theater

Wed, Aug 13

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Finding Nemo Jr. Auditions

K – 5th Graders

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Wed, Sep 10

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Musical Theater Classes

For 1st – 12 grade students

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Upcoming

Finding Nemo Jr. Auditions – August 13 and 14

The Franke Center’s Youth Theater is pleased to announce auditions for its production of Finding Nemo Jr on August 13th and 14th at The Franke Center- 214 E. Mansion St. in Marshall. All students entering Kindergarten through Fifth grade in the Fall of 2025 are welcome to audition! The show dates are October 16th-19th. The production team includes Director and Choreographer Angela Gerten and Music Director Marge Smith.

In MTI’s version of Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr., Nemo’s anxious and overprotective father, Marlin, lives with his son in the Great Barrier Reef. When Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin must overcome his fears and embark on a journey across the ocean to find him. With the help of Dory, Crush, and the Tank Gang, both Marlin and Nemo learn to trust others and find themselves, facing challenges and eventually finding each other.

All audition materials will be given at both the optional Audition Workshop on August 9th as well as at the Learning Day for Auditions on August 13th. Students will learn a short choreography routine, a short section of music to sing, and monologues.

To register for auditions please complete the following steps:

Click here to pay the $10 non-refundable registration fee to audition. If cast, there is an additional participation fee of $110 for each selected cast member. Sibling discounts and scholarships are available. Please put $10 as the amount and put your child’s name in the Note field. Cash or check is accepted at Registration as well.

Complete the Audition Registration Form https://forms.gle/8AVbJm9CWBFBypEo8
Please join the Franke: Finding Nemo Jr Band group on the Band App using this link. All Cast Lists, information regarding auditions, and choreography videos for practicing will be posted here. We will use this app to update parents of scheduling, etc during the show. https://band.us/n/afacb0C2o5L0N
Bring a current, non-returnable photo to auditions with you.

To register for the *optional* Audition Workshop on August 9th please complete the following steps:

Click here to pay the $25 non-refundable registration fee to participate. Scholarships are available. Please put $25 as the amount and put your child’s name in the Note field. Cash or Check is accepted at Registration as well.

Complete the Audition Workshop Registration Form https://forms.gle/3tFurdaoLizbWHmPA

The audition dates and times are as follows:

Saturday, August 9th- Optional Audition Workshop for Finding Nemo Jr.

Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Graders- 10:30-12 pm

3rd, 4th, and 5th Graders- 1:00-2:30 pm

Wednesday, August 13th – PLEASE ARRIVE 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO YOUR AUDITION START TIME to complete the registration process. A parent or guardian needs to stay for the first 30 minutes of their student’s time slot for a Parent Audition Meeting.

Kindergarten- 3:00-4:00 pm

1st and 2nd Graders- 4:00-5:00 pm

3rd, 4th, and 5th Graders- 5:00-6:30 pm

Thursday, August 14th – please arrive 15 minutes prior to your audition start time to get signed in and settled. Kindergarten- Students will be notified if they need to attend today. Auditions are closed to all parents.

1st and 2nd Graders- 3:30-5:00 pm

3rd, 4th, and 5th Graders- 5:00-6:30 pm

Friday, August 15th – Call Backs. Students will be notified if they are needed.

For more information, contact Allison Ebner at [email protected] or 269-274-5795 or Jennifer Popovits at [email protected] or 810-394-6265.

2025-2026 Season

Finding Nemo Jr.

Hadestown

Beetlejuice Jr.

About

Since 2004, The Franke Center Youth Theater has been providing extraordinary theater experiences for young people! The Youth Theater stages plays, offers performance workshops, and performs educational outreach throughout Calhoun County. Director Allison Ebner and Producing Director Jennifer Conley Darling, along with their many devoted volunteers, are committed to promoting education, creativity, imagination through the performing arts.

Our staff and performers recently won 13 National Youth Arts awards! Click here to learn more.

Get involved!

We announce our upcoming auditions, plays, and workshops in the newspaper, on social media, and on our email list. To stay up to date with upcoming opportunities: