Finding Nemo Jr. Creative

Director

Kristina Charlton

Kristina Charlton is making her directorial debut with Finding Nemo, Jr. She is currently a member of the JCCT Board of Directors, current chair of JCYAT and director of our JCYAT summer workshop. Kristina and our team of volunteers were able to welcome 97 youth this past June for our annual workshop. You may recognize her from some of her work on stage. Kristina most recently performed alongside her husband (Shawn) and children ( Jack + Lilly) in Elf: The Musical and A Broadway Revue Live at The Park Theatre Civic Centre. On our JCCT stage, Kristina had audiences rolling with laughter portraying a dog as the title character “Sylvia” in JCCT’s 2022 production of Sylvia. You may have also seen Kristina as Miss Shields in the JC Players 2021 production of A Christmas Story or in her acclaimed role as Doralee (Dolly Parton) in the JCCT production of 9 to 5. Outside of the theater, she manages rental properties and real estate in/around Jackson County. Kristina is also the co-creator of Sugar Coated Candy and The Pink Wagon Market!

Assistant Director/Production Manager/Set Design

Shawn Charlton

Shawn has had an absolute blast helping as assistant director and producer for this show! One of his favorite parts of this experience is getting to share it with his wife and two children. Shawn was most recently on the JCCT stage as Greg in “Sylvia”. You may have also seen him in past JCCT productions of “9 to 5” and “Babes in Toyland”. He has also had the pleasure of playing Buddy the Elf in the Jennings County Players production of “Elf” and as the narrator/adult Ralph in “A Christmas Story” for the players as well. For over 16 years, Shawn has worked as an educator for youth in secure detention. He also owns and manages his own entertainment company, which allows him to perform as a live musician and DJ for events all over Indiana and multiple other states.

Tech Manager/Set Design

Paul Keller

Paul Keller has been a mainstay at JCCT on stage, behind the scenes and serving as board president. He has been in productions like Little Shop of Horrors, All My Sons, and 9 to 5. He recently portrayed the charming yet villainous Tony in Dial M with his real-life wife, Megan. Paul works at Aisin, enjoys teaching music lessons, and playing brass and woodwind instruments as well as singing at Immanuel Lutheran Church. He’d like to thank his daughters, Lexi, Emily, Olivia and Annie, for tolerating his daily performances and dad jokes.

Sound

Benjamin Neawedde

Benjamin Neawedde is excited for his first stage crew role with JCCT. He has been onstage for 3 JCCT shows, most recently including The Princess who Had No Name. When he isn't at the theater, he likes to read and compete on his school's robotics team. Benjamin would like to thank the Directors as well as the cast for making this show so much fun to be a part of.

Lighting

Paul Angle

Paul is excited to be handling the lighting design on such an incredible show. He has been working tech on each show in some capacity over the last season and loves the creativity that comes with working with a director to bring their vision to life!

Costumes

Alexis Ruddick

Alexis Ruddick has been helping with this production making costumes. Previously, she has helped at the Park Theatre with costuming for Elf the Musical and their cabaret. Alexis is a lifelong quilter and seamstress. She has enjoyed the challenge of creating wearable costumes while maintaining the characters. Her highlight of this production has been witnessing the kid’s reaction when they see the costumes. She wants to thank her kids for being human mannequins for the past several months and her husband for his patience. Also, thanks to Kristina Charlton for letting her have the creative freedoms to run with this project.

Props

Megan Keller

Megan Keller has been assisting with JCCT productions behind the scenes with costumes and sets since 2017. You may have recently seen her onstage in Dial M as Margot. She’s also performed in Almost, Maine, Taking Leave or 9 to 5. A native of Oklahoma, she has lived in Brownstown since 2010. When Megan isn’t volunteering at JCCT, she’s spending time with family and friends or teaching 3rd grade at Immanuel Lutheran School. She’s grateful to a fabulous production team, cast and crew. Finally, thank you to JCCT for providing many opportunities for performers and crew alike, and a special thank you to our patrons who support JCCT’s mission to provide quality live theatre productions for Jackson County and surrounding communities.

Stage Manager

Destiny Long

Destiny Long is very sad as this is her last show with JCYAT. She has loved every moment at the theater, and participated in many shows including The Princess Who Had No Name as Snow White, The Magicians Nephew as the Wicked Witch and The Enchanted Bookshop as Margie. She recently graduated High School and will be training as a Barista soon. She won't quit acting though, in March she helped out with a movie directed by Rob Minot and starred Noah Emmerich. She is excited for this performance and would love to thank all the wonderful directors, family members and friends that helped her achieve her dreams.

Stage Crew

Izzy McGill

Izzy McGill is relieved to be back at JCYAT after surviving a bear attack in The Princess Who Had No Name, lightning strikes in The Mysterious Case of the Missing Ring, and being pelted with a slingshot in The Enchanted Bookshop. Hopefully she’ll have better luck in this production! Izzy loves crafting, running, hanging out with her friends, and will be starting at Columbus North High School this fall. She’d like to thank her family, friends, the Charlton’s, and everyone who helped with this production!

Stage Crew

Sabrina Long

Sabrina Long is excited to help out with her fourth play. She portrayed Inspector Change in The Mysterious Case of the Missing Ring and the Queen of Hearts (her favorite role) in the Enchanted Bookshop. She enjoyed helping backstage on Schoolhouse Rock and she's excited to be assisting backstage again for this play. She enjoys taking care of animals, especially dogs, reading, and listening to music. She would like to thank Kristina and Shawn for directing and all of her friends at the theater who've made this play enjoyable.

Original Creative Team

KRISTEN ANDERSON-LOPEZ (Book, Music and Lyrics) Kristen Anderson-Lopez's Broadway credits include: co-creator/writer of In Transit (Broadway's first a cappella musical) and Frozen. Other theatrical works include Up Here (La Jolla Playhouse), Finding Nemo: The Musical (Disney World, running since 2006). Film: Pixar's Coco (Oscar® Best Original Song win for "Remember Me"), Frozen (Oscar and Grammy Award® wins for "Let It Go"), Winnie The Pooh. TV: songs for 87th Academy Awards (Emmy® nomination), "The Comedians," "The Wonder Pets." 2014 recipient, and now proud board member, of the Lilly Awards. Upcoming projects include Disney's Frozen 2. Williams College grad, BMI Workshop, Dramatists Guild council. She lives in Brooklyn with Robert and their two daughters.

Robert Lopez (Book, Music and Lyrics) - Robert Lopez's Broadway credits include co-creator/writer of The Book of Mormon (nine Tony® Awards including Best Book, Best Original Score and Best Musical), co-creator/songwriter of Avenue Q (three Tony Awards including Best Original Score and Best Musical). Other theatrical works include: Frozen (Denver Center), Up Here (La Jolla Playhouse), 1001 Nights (Atlantic Theater). Film: Pixar's Coco (Oscar® Best Original Song win for "Remember Me"), Frozen (Oscar Best Original Song win for "Let It Go"). TV: songs for The 87th Academy Awards, "The Simpsons," "South Park," "Scrubs," "The Wonder Pets." Upcoming projects include Disney's Frozen2. One of 12 artists to win Emmy®, Grammy®, Oscar and Tony Awards (EGOT). Yale University grad, BMI Workshop, Dramatists Guild council. A NYC native, he lives in Brooklyn with Kristen and their two daughters.

Lindsay Anderson (Book Adaptation) - Lindsay Anderson is a New York City-based lyricist and book writer. Off-Broadway: co-writer/creator of A Never-Ending Line (Players Theatre). Other writing credits include Down Under Rescue Sanctuary and The Game Room (Brooklyn Children’s Theatre); The Jane Goodall: Experience, and Branded (Philadelphia Fringe Festival). Graduate of Dickinson College and Headlong Performance Institute. Lindsay is a proud member of Maestra Music Inc. and the Tony-honored BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. Recipient of the 2018 BMI Foundation Jean Banks Award for her musical, One Swipe Away.

Myrna Conn (Music and Orchestrations Adaptation) - Myrna Conn is a composer, music director, and teaching artist based in New York City. Broadway: Pretty Woman (Key 1/ Conductor & Key 2 sub). National Tour: Come From Away (Associate Conductor). New York music directing credits include Bagels from Benny (92nd Street Y), Fountain (New Victory LabWorks), and National Lampoon Presents: SHIZ (Feinstein’s/54 Below & UCB Theatre). Myrna is a songwriter and pianist for Story Pirates, a group of actors, comedians, improvisers, and musicians who adapt stories written by kids into sketch comedy and musical theatre. Graduate of Northwestern University, where she was awarded the Craig Carnelia Songwriting Award and the Sarah Siddons Society Scholarship. Myrna is also a member of the advanced class of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, Local 802 AFM, and Maestra Music, Inc.