For the 2026 season, Louisville One-Act will be showcasing their new play Finding Nemo Kids. Although some may not realize, the one-act season is already in full swing. Members have been attending rehearsals, learning the choreography, running lines, and practicing music since mid August. However, there is one major difference between this year’s innovative play and those of the past: this year’s one-act will include puppets.
This news, revealed last spring, came as a surprise to many.
Sophomore and social media captain Brooke Armbrust said, “I was really confused; I had no clue how it was going to work.”
Puppets are not something you usually see in a one-act play, but the team is up for the challenge. This starts with all the preparation. This means both cast and crew members are together in the art room and building most of the puppets by hand. By using PVC pipes, foam, and lots of fabric, these students are able to successfully put the pieces together to make figures that represent the fish and other sea creatures featured in the play.
Practicing and learning to perform with these added features will be another new experience for these students. The cast has already put in a lot of time and effort to learn all of the steps and choreography for this play. It takes one thing to act with facial and physical features, but it’s brought to a whole new level with the puppets. “I think the sharks will be good. It’s two people, so they will be pretty big,” said Junior Jacob Heard. This will help the team stand out against competition to the judges.
The cast, crew, and coaches hope again for a winning season. Last year, the One Act team made it all the way to state and received second, and now, the team is aiming for first. “Last year, we got second at state. It makes us push ourselves to be that good again,” Armbrust said. With this unique story in hand, the cast and crew are confident in winning.
Overall, every member of the team is excited for this competition season. Through all of the hard work, late nights, and stressful rehearsals, Finding Nemo Kids is sure to come out on top.