“Together, we swim together,” sing the underwater critters in “Finding Nemo,” onstage in a charming and energetic Orlando Family Stage production. That sums up the strength of this production, as well; everyone involved is on the same page, or in the same current, as the case may be — so the show happily bubbles along.

And here’s how the theater is making sure the community swims together: Tickets priced as low as $10 are available for youths, so as many people as possible can see the show.

Most everyone, I would imagine, is familiar with “Finding Nemo,” the hit 2003 film from Disney-Pixar about Marlin, a timid clownfish father who’s desperate to find his missing son and gets an assist from a friendly fish named Dory, who has no short-term memory.

A stage show based on the film has been playing multiple times each day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom since 2007 (it was revamped in 2022), with the story adaptation, music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, the married team behind such Disney hits as “Frozen” and “Coco.” (Robert Lopez also co-created Broadway’s “Avenue Q” and “The Book of Mormon,” so that’s quite a theater pedigree.)

The full-scale theatrical version of the show clocks in at an hour at Orlando Family Stage, allowing more room for emotional beats to breathe than in the much shorter theme-park version. And director Eric Quang Gelb has captured the emotional moments in fine style, though a couple of touching scenes on a rock far to the front of the stage may be obscured for those seated on the sides of the Universal Orlando Foundation Theatre.

The stage hits the mark: Designer Cindy White takes the audience under the sea, assisted by George Jackson’s seascape lighting. Daisy McCarthy Tucker’s costumes nicely fit the motif while letting the puppets pop without distraction. That’s right, puppets. Every performer is a puppeteer in this show, and the characters look just as the movie depicts them. (What If Puppets designed Nemo and friends, with an assist from Nic Parks on additional elements.)

Music director Justin Hornback and sound designer Anthony Narciso make sure the vocals are heard over the recorded tracks, and the singing sounds great, from Blake Rushing Mitchell’s soaring and swooping notes in Crush the sea turtle’s “Go With the Flow” to Rhyse Silvestro’s “Not My Dad” as Nemo.

Silvestro does fine work in capturing both Nemo’s childlike impulsivity and his more adult reflections. He’s joined by a strong cast, including Woodrow Jackson Helms, who wisely doesn’t overplay Marlin’s anxiety and makes him all too human.

Sarah Ann Mae is a ray of sunshine as muddled Dory, and Brent Jordan makes a strong impression as Gil, a fish determined to break out to freedom in the sea.

The story still feels like it has a few gaps — how do Nemo’s tank-mates find freedom? — and it took me a second to realize an offstage voice was meant to be a visiting bird. But no minor issues can detract from the story’s heart.

In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Orlando Family Stage is offering pay-what-you-wish youth tickets for all performances. There is a $10 minimum, but the tickets don’t come with any seating restrictions.

“We know that prices are going up everywhere, and we want to help balance that for families,” says executive director Chris Brown. “Thanks to dedicated support from our donors and centennial sponsors, we’re able to offer children’s tickets as pay-what-you-wish, creating more opportunities for families to experience the magic of live theater together.”

‘Finding Nemo’

• Length: 60 minutes, no intermission

• Where: Orlando Family Stage, 1001 E. Princeton St. in Orlando

• When: Through May 10

• Cost: Adult tickets from $28, youth tickets from $10 (pay what you wish)

• Info: orlandofamilystage.com

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