Spring Musical Cast Profile: Alexander and Raymond

Fredericksburg, Virginia—STEP VA Inc., the local 501(c)3 nonprofit that “empowers people with disabilities and their families through creative expression and sensory exploration,” is now in its 12th year of operation and fifth year of offering the Spring Musical Experience. This year, the organization is hosting Disney/Pixar's “Finding Nemo, Jr.” and cast members include participants from across STEP VA history, such as Alexander and STEP VA veteran Raymond Nelson.

Alexander

Alexander is the last of the “Reef Kids,” the friends the titular Nemo makes when he first goes off to school. Cast as Tad, the butterfly fish, the role is the largest role Alexander has had out of the three STEP VA Spring Musical Experiences he's had. In his first foray on stage, he played a baby rhino when  the group staged its first licensed musical, Disney's “The Lion King, Kids!” and he came back the next year as miniature Woodstock in “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

He returns to the cast this year excited for everything that it offers.

“Acting! Singing! Dancing! Seeing everybody,” he said, when asked what his favorite component is in rehearsal. “I feel proud!”

Alexander returns each year to the Spring Musical Experience, as he says, “Because it is awesome! I love StepVA!”

He's one of many examples of STEP VA living its mission, growing with the experiences and his experiences helping him grow in the roles he gets. He's come a long way since his days as a baby rhino, but that doesn't mean he likes every single element of the process.

“I don't like 'Heads on Top,'” he said, referring to an activity that choreographer Ellen Daniels has the cast do before they get into the acting, singing, and dancing he likes so much.

And this year, he has even more to be proud of: in landing the part of Tad, he's been trusted with his biggest part yet. When asked what that's like, Alexander said that, to him, I means he's “being the actor!” and added that “I feel excited,” though he also admits to missing his mom, sometimes.

He definitely gets to be a full-fledged actor in the role of Tad. While being a school friend may not be much of a stretch, he is learning more lines and will have to convince the audience he's terrified of the sharks, with whom he shares an important scene—and his favorite song of the show, “Fish are Friends, Not Food.”

Sharing several scenes with Alexander is Raymond Nelson, who has been with STEP VA since the beginning of the organization. One of the founding participants, Nelson has participated in every Spring Musical Experience, having been cast by Noah Finch in that worthy's “A Special Covid-19” in 2021. That year, he was the news anchor Mario Longtooth, and he followed that up with the role of Mufasa when STEP VA staged its first licensed musical, Disney's “The Lion King, Kids!”

A gifted musician and talented pianist, Nelson landed the choice role of Schroeder in “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” and went on to play The Mayor of Whoville in last year's “Seussical, Jr.” He returns, each year, he said, because “I love performing in musicals!”

Like many of his cast mates, he enjoys the social side of things.

He says “playing my parts and going to see my friends” are his favorite aspects of the weekly rehearals, and with this show, his favorite song is “Big Blue World.”

Raymond

After five years of spring musicals and a dozen years with STEP VA as a whole, Nelson is one of the “old guard” and that may or may not lend to casting decisions, as he's again taking on a role that allows him to lead—both literally and figuratively. He'll grace the boards first as Professor Ray, the school teacher for Nemo and the Reef Kids, including Tad. Playing the part of the a blue and white spotted eagle ray is the role that resonates with Nelson the most and what he's  most excited about for he show, though it's not his only role. After that brief stint, Nelson will resurface—so to speak—as Anchor, one of the sharks, and he's also part of the sea turtle flotilla in the second half of the show.

For someone with as much experience under his belt as he has, Nelson hasn't found the multiple parts to be burdensome. If anything, he seems to be thriving with the challenge.

“It's been a very unique experience,” he said. “It's exciting to have three parts.”

Nelson is ready for the greater Fredericskburg area see him as Professor Ray and all his other parts, while Alexander's particularly looking forward to “seeing everybody” and “showing my family,” especially his older sister who has missed his previous performances while away at college.

Swim on over to Courtland High School and join “everybody” who will be watching Alexander and Nelson leave their watery mark on the stage inSTEP VA's version of Disney/Pixar's “Finding Nemo Jr.”

The show is April 12-13 (6 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively) and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available for audience members at the show on Saturday, April 12 (6 p.m.). Tickets are $15 (kids under five are free) and are on sale now. CLICK HERE to purchase.For more information or to donate to STEP VA, visit www.stepva.org.

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STEP VA, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides sensory-based theater and arts programs for individuals with disabilities. Its vision is to transform the world by offering each individual the opportunity to flourish in the community.