extend the world , changing from scene to scene , and casting nearly the entire 1,500-person theater as an enchanting undersea world . Some of the especially striking new digital set pieces include a 32-foot sunken submarine and a 15-foottall fish tank volcano .
The most beloved facets of the original musical are present , including the soundtrack written and composed by Robert and Kristen , with some notable changes to the storyline and enhancements with puppets , costumes , and choreography . The most significant change is the musical ’ s point-of-view and script , newly narrated by the Tank
Gang of fish from Dr . P . Sherman ’ s office in Finding Nemo , who are now at the Marine Life Institute from Finding Dory , and recounting Nemo ’ s journey from the original film .
The super-sized puppets from the original musical are still at the forefront of the production , including holdover characters like Nemo , Marlin , and Dory , albeit bigger and more detailed . For instance , Bruce the shark is so large that he ’ s wielded on rods by two performers ; Mr . Ray is wheeled out by a bicyclist , like a nautical kite ; and a giant Crush the sea turtle is the size of a Volkswagen Beetle , brought more fully to life by animated sea
turtles on the LED screen behind him . The puppetry goes way beyond familiar ventriloquism in that characters are seamlessly blended with their performers via color-coordinated costumes , including extras clad in seaweed-looking accents , or full-body leotards designed to make them look like ocean water . Similarly , Cast Members flow across the stage , creating a sense of ocean current , as luminous LED seaweed billows in the tide .
The main stage extends into the audience ’ s bench-style seats , allowing for more expressive performances and interaction ; Cast Members are known to wave at kids , and masterfully mimic