Something’s Fishy! John Tartaglia’s Imaginocean Opens at New World Stages

One day while vacationing, John Tartaglia (Avenue Q, Shrek) got the bright idea to bring his favorite parts of the trip—the sea life he discovered while snorkeling—to life on stage, using the puppetry skills he’s famously honed on shows like Disney’s Johnny and the Sprites. Just over a year later, the triple-threat writer, actor and puppeteer is now debuting the splashy fruits of his labors, Imaginocean at New World Stages. The show, featuring new music by William Wade and direction by Donna Drake, tells the neon-hued story of fish friends Tank, Dorsel and Bubbles as they go on an extraordinary adventure together. The production drew out a swimming school of guests during its official opening on March 31, meaning Tartaglia, who voices several of the production’s lead characters, and fellow stars Drake and Michael Shawn Lewis got to party with pals like Avenue Q alums Ann Harada and Christy Carlson Romano, upcoming White’s Lies star Peter Scolari and fellow New World Stages citizen Michael Urie, among others, at the show’s bubbly bash. Click through to see this whole gang make a splash at Imaginocean’s opening night.