Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Why it's none other than SpongeBob SquarePants and he’s taking the stage this weekend with his Bikini Bottom pals to tell the story of how their community came together in order to save their piece of paradise.
The Coal City Theatre Department is set to stage The SpongeBob Musical—Youth Edition this weekend—Nov. 14-16—in the Coal City Performing Arts Center. The cast of sixth, seventh and eighth graders from Coal City Middle School have been preparing to share the story of the day the citizens of Bikini Bottom discovered a volcano was set to erupt and destroy their piece of the sea.
The musical—full of signing and dancing—focuses on how the underwater community came together in the face of danger and demise, and how every community has an unsung hero or two among them.
“The cast has embraced the story and their storytelling is something you don’t want to miss,” Director Jack Micetich said of the show that features some of the most well known animated characters on television—SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star and Sandy Cheeks—a squirrel straight out of Texas.
The musical is based on the popular animated series created by Stephen Hillenburg and features a book by Kyle Jarrow. The music features original songs from artists including Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, The Flaming Lips, John Legend, They Might Be Giants and plenty more well known musicians. The music will have audience members moving in their seats and playing on repeat as they exit the performing arts center.
“The student voices have really come together, and vocally it’s one of the strongest casts we have worked with,” Micetich said.
Featured musical numbers include—Bikini Bottom Day, [Just a] Simple Sponge,
Hero is My Middle Name, and When the Going Gets Tough to name a few.
The cast is led by Jett Johnson in the title role of SpongeBob SquarePants and his best friend Patrick Star is played by Derek Maxwell. The only non-sea creature in the show—Sandy Cheeks—is played by Gabby Byers.
Eathyn Rivera takes the stage as the grumpy Squidward; Landyn Pierard is this show’s Mr. Krabs and his daughter, Pearl, is played by Ryleigh Kargle. Carson Picchi takes on the villainous role of Plankton and standing by his side is his wife, Karen, a role portrayed by Pearl Friddle.
There is also Cele Gordon, as mayor of Bikini Bottom; Tristan Brncich, as Larry the Lobster; Caroline Grunwald, Mrs. Puff; Danny Matsko, Perch Perkins; Ryan Hausman, Old Man Jenkins; the trio known as the Electric Skates—Layne Motzny, Brayden Brncich and Jelenie Opyd; the Sardines played by Rylie Peters, Adelia Gonzalez and Abi Donnelly, and narrating it all is eighth grader Patrick Doerfler.
In all there are 61 students taking the stage for this production. “As their director, I could not be more proud of their hard work this fall,” Micetich said.
Rounding out the cast are: Allyson Lemmons, Aubree Dearth, Bailey Gabehart, Bella Street, Blaise Doerfler, Brayden Sorensen, Brinley Gigler, Caius Taylor, Callie Lehnus, Chloe Ragland, Collin Ness, Estella Frashier, Fiona LIndley, Gia Bianchetta, Grayson Bailey, Grayson Marizza, Isabella Mulenbruch, Jackson Pruim, Jake Benson, Julian Carver, Kaitlyn Walker, Kenley Dearth, Keslyn Hawkins, Kylee Looper, Lili Connor-Mikos, Lilly Harney, Lily Harding, Mollee Offdenkamp, Myla Kramer, Nolan Ramirez, Peyton Thomposon, Raegan Enerson, Raegan Jeschke, Ryder Sorensen, Sylvia Leman, Timmy Wegner, William Zimmer, and Zoiey Jones.
“We are very excited for show week and to share this story with audiences,” Micetich said.
So at this point you might be wondering just how this cast of characters comes together to save their undersea world, well you will just have to attend the show to see how it all turns out, but we’ll give you a hint—friendship, community and a bit of optimism.
Shows are Friday, Nov. 14 and Saturday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for all patrons. Reserved seat tickets are available at bit.ly/CCTheatreDept or at the door [cash only] beginning one hour prior to each show. On-site sales will close five minutes prior to each scheduled performance.
The SpongeBob Musical—Youth Edition is presented through special arrangement with Concord Theatricals.