‘Finding Nemo’ performance brings skater out of her shell

Talk about jumbo shrimp. The colorful costumes in “Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo,” which opens Thursday at John Paul Jones Arena, pack a visual punch for audience members — and the potential of a literal one as well.

“You really have to be aware of where you are, even when you are backstage,” said skater Karly Fraeyman, who plays Jacques the shrimp in the Disney on Ice production. “You could be backstage and turn around to talk to someone and knock someone out with your tail.”

The 20-year-old Romeo, Mich., native said that some of the show’s vivid costumes weigh as much as 40 pounds. But the payoff comes when the skaters glide across the show’s creative sets — just wait until you see the cloud of jellyfish — and bring a beloved animated film to life.

“It is a lot of work that we put into it, but it’s a lot of fun, and it shows,” Fraeyman said. “The costumes are really elaborate and pretty heavy, actually. It makes it a lot of fun to watch.”

Jacques is a member of the Tank Gang, a band of new friends that clownfish Nemo makes when he’s plopped into an aquarium at a dentist’s office. Jacques dives into the plot to help his little orange pal escape and reunite with his father, whose frantic search for him propels the show’s story.

Fraeyman, who started skating at age 5, said she has been a fan of the 2003 film for years.

“I watched it many times before I ever tried out for the production,” said Fraeyman, who’s in her third year with the show.

She has played several other characters during her time in the cast, and she and her colleagues are ready to fill in for each other if one of the 40-member company members is ill or injured.

“Other people can step up into the roles,” she said.

When Fraeyman’s visiting her home rink back in Michigan, she encourages her friends to try out for Disney on Ice shows.

“I competed for a while and I always preferred show skating to competition,” she said.

The advantages include “really cute” fan mail, which often includes children’s drawings, and traveling from city to city.

And Nemo isn’t the only one who likes seeing what’s out there in the world at large.

“I would say that’s my favorite part of it,” Fraeyman said of the traveling. “It’s a great experience.”

Rehearsals are demanding, and the skaters work daily to stay in shape.

“We have long days learning the numbers, and we also skate during the week before and after the show,” she said.

“It’s fun. We all love it. It’s not work to us,” Fraeyman said.

AT A GLANCE

Disney on Ice presents “Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo”

7 p.m. Thursday; runs through Nov. 1

John Paul Jones Arena

$42 to $14

http://www.johnpauljonesarena.com

(888) JPJ-TIXS (575-8497)