CAMDEN – The Camden/Rockport Middle School will perform Disney’s Moana, Jr., for one weekend only Thursday, Friday, March 30 and 31 at 7 p.m. And Saturday, Sunday, April 1 and 2 at 3 p.m.

This heartwarming, coming-of-age story follows the strong-willed Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific to save her village and discover the truth about her heritage. Moana and the legendary demigod Maui embark on an epic journey of self-discovery and camaraderie as both learn to harness the power that lies within.

“With its empowering message of bravery, Moana, Jr., is sure to awaken your inner hero or inspire your child,” said a press release from CRMS. 

Alyssa Anderson, performing arts teacher for grades five through eight, lended insight into the school’s first show since the pandemic and its new Bisbee Theater.

“This is the first show we’ve had since COIVD,” she said. “Also the first night time show we’ve had in our new theater, the Bisbee Theater. Our cast consists of 40-plus sixth, seventh, and eighth graders and we have a few fifth graders joining us as nonverbal scarf water.”

Anderson explained that a, “scarf water,” is someone who waves a scarf to create the water and give the impression the water is moving.

Anderson said they also have a number of student volunteers, parent volunteers and staff. It makes for a large diversity of kids.

“We have a really exciting, quirky, fun group of kids who are all coming together with similar interests,” she said. ”They’re all from different places from within the school and it’s been a lot of fun. A lot of new friendships have been made and there are a lot of leadership opportunities with older students teaching younger students.”

Anderson said the students are working the whole show, which is different than any show they have done before.

“Usually when we do a show, we hire out a facility and it comes with its own tech staff and equipment,”  said Anderson. “And that makes this a great opportunity because the kids are really running the sound and they are really running the lights. They are making decisions, creative decisions and are very much a part of the decision process, so it has been a very cool, collaborative experience.”

She said the lead roles are double-cast.

“We double-cast just the lead roles. It’s an opportunity to let other people shine. It also gives us a built in understudy. Just the lead roles of Moana, Maui, Hei Hei, and Pua are double-cast. All the rest of the roles are just one person and stay the same.”

The new Bisbee Theater has been a learning experience for everyone.

“We are very much still learning about our theater so I would call these experiences a pioneering experience,” she said. “All the stumbling blocks and mishaps were going to happen to the first persons to do a show and that happens to be Moana Jr. We have all worked tirelessly and as much as we can to learn and it’s going to benefit the school, the program and the curriculum during the day now that we have a better understanding of the facility and we have kids now who are trained and aware of how to use everything.”

Theater seats 224 with four of the seats being handicap-accessible.

“I think the main thing is that for the first time ever it’s a student driven show,” she said. “It’s also a great reflection of our new performing arts curriculum. It will continue to build and it makes these after school enrichment opportunities even more special. “

Disney puts out shows specifically for eighth grade and lower.

“It’s more appropriate for their voicing,” said Anderson. “The ranges aren’t so low, or so high, it’s more accessible musically. It’s a shorter plot with a little less dialog. It’s designed to run about 60-minutes in length, but it’s the same story as the animated version.”

Tickets prices $5 for kids 5 and under, $10 for all others. CRMS estimates the theater’s 220 seats in the new Bisbee Theater will sell out quickly. Tickets are purchased first come first served. Tickets can be purchased at Eventbrite and remaining tickets will be available at the door for purchase with cash or check made payable to Camden Rockport Middle School.