Spring Musical Cast Spotlight: Noah King and Nancy Street
- Deborah Newman
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
by Rachel Crowley
In Disney/Pixar’s “Finding Nemo Jr.,” the story captures themes of optimism, trust, patience, emotional growth, the importance of letting go, and maintaining a cheerful disposition. These themes are beautifully illustrated through the unforgettable journey of Marlin and the quirky yet wise Dory.
Marlin, a hesitant and anxious clownfish, becomes overly cautious after losing his wife and all but one of their eggs in a barracuda attack. His fear leads him to fiercely protect his only surviving son, Nemo. However, Dory’s cheerful and optimistic nature helps Marlin view life differently. As they journey together, he learns to trust, live in the moment, and take things one step at a time. This emotional growth, fueled by Dory’s optimism, brings their heartwarming underwater adventure to life.
This production features a secondary storyline highlighting friendship, and this focus, along with its other enchanting aspects, made it an excellent choice for STEP VA’s spring musical. This spring, STEP VA Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities and their families through creative expression and sensory exploration, proudly presents their stage adaptation of Disney/Pixar’s “Finding Nemo Jr.”
One of the participants who continues to flourish with STEP VA is Noah King, who decided to return to performing on stage for this production. This year, he is back on-stage playing Marlin, who is Nemo’s dad and Coral’s husband. He is an overly cautious, anxious, and protective clownfish who is hesitant to trust others, but still manages to show a funny and lovable side. This is a change from working as part of the tech crew last year in “Seussical Jr.”
Preparing for his role as the serious character in the show is fun for him because it reflects his current mindset. He explains, “I like playing a more serious character in this show because I happen to be pretty serious myself these days.”
This show marks King's fourth time acting in the cast of a STEP VA’s spring musical but his fifth overall involvement which includes his previous work in the tech crew. King previously played Pig Pen in “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” and the adult Simba in Disney’s “The Lion King Kids.” In addition, he portrayed two roles in “A Special Covid-19,” written by Step VA’s very own Noah Finch. He was the father of Tim Croakee and the friend named Jeffrey.
Unlike many of his castmates, who return each year to hang with their friends, King is the first to credit his love for musicals and the enjoyable experience as the reason he returns to STEP VA’s spring musical. He explains, “I’ve enjoyed musicals for years, and when STEP VA started doing licensed musicals, it sounded like a lot of fun, so I kept coming back.”
King explains that what he enjoys most about rehearsals is, “Maybe the singing, dancing, and acting, but mostly the musical part. However, I do enjoy the music and the choreography.” While others find choreography challenging, Noah appreciates and embraces the entire creative process. “I hope the audience will enjoy it as much as I do,” he says.
That does not mean rehearsals are always easy. For him, it is the energetic younger performers that make the rehearsals more challenging because they bring an abundance of energy which sometimes needs gentle redirection to stay focused on the production. He states, “Trying to keep the younger Nemos under control is tough.”
Reflecting on what he is looking forward to when STEP VA performs on stage, King expressed his excitement, saying, “Helping to tell this amazing story through music and dance.” He adds, “I am looking forward to the show and was thrilled to figure out how I could participate. "Finding Nemo’ is one of my favorite Disney/Pixar films. I saw it as a kid, and it has been a long time since I have seen it, I might watch it again before the show!”
Emphasizing his hopes for the audience, King highlighted the importance of connection through the show, sharing his belief that it could inspire people in a personal way. “I hope the audience will enjoy the music and dance in this show, but I also hope that the show helps people get in touch with their own fathers. The story is really a father-son story at its core. Obviously, I hope the show will inspire more people to recommend us in the future,” he said.
STEP VA proudly welcomes Nancy Street to the stage for her first spring musical, portraying Dory, the cheerful and forgetful regal blue tang. While this is her debut in a musical production, Nancy is no stranger to performing, having shown her talents in STEP VA summer camp showcases and chorus. She also participated in “Little Shop of Horrors” during high school, adding to her theater experience.
When asked about her familiarity with “Finding Nemo Jr.,” Nancy lights up and exclaims, “Oh, I love Dory!” Reflecting on her role, she shares, “What I like about Dory is that she is forgetful, funny, and silly.” Nancy describes bringing Dory to life as an imaginative and joyful journey, fully embracing the character’s vibrant personality. “It’s just so much fun!” she adds.
When asked about her involvement in this year’s spring musical, she expressed her deep love for both singing and acting. She enthusiastically shared, “I really enjoy singing and acting,” adding that these are the aspects of rehearsals she enjoys the most.
When asked about the challenges of the rehearsals she explains, “Probably singing while talking.” The challenge of singing while talking comes from the fact that balancing the transition between the two is particularly tricky. It is a delicate skill that requires precision, accuracy, and practice.
As STEP VA prepares to take the stage, she reflected on her hopes for the audience. “I hope they have as much fun as we did creating it,” she shared with a smile. She wishes for the audience to learn and take away meaningful lessons from the performance. “It's a chance to show how we put it all together and how great this musical is,” she added. Reflecting on her experience, she expressed her joy in being part of STEP VA, saying, “I like being part of STEP VA. It’s been an amazing journey.”
Come cheer on King and Street as they embark on an unforgettable underwater adventure, diving into the beloved roles of Marlin and Dory and making a splash on stage! In STEP VA’s stage version of Disney/Pixar's “Finding Nemo, Jr.” this weekend at Courtland High School, with American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation 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.
Color-printed programs and flowers for cast members are also available for advanced purchase, HERE.
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.