Spring Musical Cast Spotlight:Grant Hobbs and Imani
- Step VA, Inc.
- Apr 7
- 5 min read
by Rachel Crowley
In most Disney/Pixar movies there are themes of friendship and teamwork. In these productions this shines through by how characters rely on each other to achieve their goals by working together. There is no better example of that than in “Finding Nemo Jr.” This story is brought to life by the vibrant group of marine animals that live inside the Sydney Harbor Aquarium known as the “Tank Gang”
Through the inspiring story of “Finding Nemo Jr.,” the audience is reminded of the power of friendship, teamwork, courage, and embracing one’s unique strengths. Through these qualities, Nemo learns to believe in himself, embrace his unique qualities, and overcome challenges he never thought possible. The cast of STEP VA Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities through creative expression and sensory exploration, is remarkably similar, as each participant supports one another, working together to bring this heartwarming tale to life on stage. This spring, experience the magic and inspiration on stage as STEP VA brings “Finding Nemo Jr.” to the stage.
One of those participants who continues to grow with STEP VA is Grant Hobbs, back on-stage playing Gurgle, the nervous, germophobic, royal gramma fish. Preparing for his role as one of the fish that live inside the fish tank is fun for Hobbs because it brings flexibility and creative freedom. He explains, “My role requires very few lines, which gives me plenty of time to fake talk and swim in the background. This allows me to build my very own version of Gurgle through my mannerisms.”
This show will be Hobbs’ third time in the cast of a STEP VA spring musical. Hobbs previously played Dr. Seuss in “Seussical Jr.” and Charlie Brown in “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”
For Hobbs, the most enjoyable part of rehearsals is spending time with friends and watching the production grow. “I enjoy talking with my friends and seeing the show slowly come together,” he said. That does not mean rehearsals are always easy. For him, it is the music composition that makes the rehearsals more challenging. He explained, “Learning the singing parts when a song has more than two singing parts” is hard.
He is beyond thrilled to be performing on stage. He asserts that “Dancing in the show on stage and saying his lines!” are the things he looks forward to when STEP VA gets to perform on stage in April. Reflecting on his hopes for the audience, he said he hopes they will learn “to have fun, to trust their instincts, and to listen to others.”
Another cast member who continues to flourish within STEP VA is Imani. She is back on stage this spring playing Peach, the insightful, experienced, and sensible starfish. Preparing for this role is fun as it gives her the opportunity to explore a tender connection through the song “Not My Dad,” where she shares an emotional conversation with Nemo.
This show will be her fourth time in the cast of STEP VA's spring musical. She last played the Green Bird Girl, the leader of the bird flock and one of Mayzie La Bird's sidekicks in “Seussical Jr.” Previously, she portrayed Peppermint Patty, a member of the Peanut Girl Gang, in “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown” where she also participated in the preshow. Before that, she took on the role of Sarabi, Simba's mom, Mufasa's wife, and the queen of the Pride Lands in Disney's “The Lion King Kids.”
For her, it is the connection with castmates and the variety of experiences that make rehearsals most enjoyable. She admitted, “I love hanging out, acting, singing, dancing, learning American Sign Language with my friends, being in interviews for the Marketing and Media Committee team, and contributing to the Musical Selection Committee.” She added, “I especially enjoy being part of the ensemble songs ‘Go with the Flow’ and ‘Just Keep Swimming Together.’"
That does not mean rehearsals are always easy for her. For Imani, it was her return after being ill for a week that made rehearsals most difficult. “I missed a couple of rehearsals, and it was challenging because I was catching up with the rest of the cast after I was sick for a week,” she explained.
She is thrilled to perform in “Finding Nemo Jr.” because it tells a warm and authentic story. Reflecting on the upcoming performance, she expressed, “I'm looking forward to sharing this heartfelt, touching, and comedic tale of Marlin, the Tank Gang, which includes Gill, Bubbles, Deb, The Bloat Brothers, Gurgle, Peach, and Nemo's friendships and relationships with all the dads in the audience.”
She shared, “My favorite characters from “Finding Nemo Jr.” are Gurgle, Dory, Bubbles, Pearl, Kai, and Pearl’s parent.” These characters bring unique personalities and interactions that add charm and depth to the story, making it meaningful.
She added, “I really hope to do a good job because it's a huge responsibility to portray Peach, the mature and down-to-earth Starfish which is a leadership and supporting role.” These previous experiences on stage have helped her for this role as part of the “Tank Gang.”
As STEP VA prepares to take the stage in April, she reflected on her hopes for the audience. She wishes for them to learn and take away meaningful lessons from the performance. “I hope the audience will learn some sign language and other important lessons, like understanding that disability is not a bad word. It means we are born with it, and our disabilities do not define us. We are unique in our own way, and it is a part of who we are. We love to celebrate our identity and culture,” she shared.
Come support Hobbs and Imani as they ride the waves and swim their way through the roles of Gurgle and Peach of the “Tank Gang,” in STEP VA' s stage version of Disney/Pixar's "Finding Nemo, Jr.". April 12 & 13, 2025 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 tickets. 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.