by Rachel Hunter
The Gouverneur High School auditorium will briefly transform into the whimsical, underwater world of Bikini Bottom for the stage adaptation of “SpongeBob The Musical.”
Performances of “SpongeBob The Musical” take place on Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23, 7 p.m. curtain time both nights. Tickets will be available at the door. The cost is $12 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. Local audiences can look forward to high-energy performances, showcasing the vocal and acting talents of the local high school students.
“SpongeBob The Musical” is the musical adaptation of Nickelodeon’s long-running animated children’s sitcom of the same name. It is set in the undersea city of Bikini Bottom, inhabited by happy-go-lucky and ever-optimistic yellow sea sponge SpongeBob SquarePants (portrayed by Faith Leader) and his equally quirky circle of friends and neighbors. SpongeBob’s pleasant existence is abruptly interrupted when it is discovered that Mt. Humongous, a nearby volcano, will erupt within the next 48 hours and completely obliterate Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob, trying to prove to himself and the world that he is not “just a simple sponge,” resolves to save the day when everybody else has given up all hope. Other characters included are: Patrick (Sylvia French), Squidward (Emalyn Kulp), Sandy (Charley Newvine) Mr. Krabs (Tiamane Hull), and so many more.
“SpongeBob The Musical” is an original story in its own right, and local audiences should know that it is not just the retelling of an episode from the ever-popular animated children’s sitcom. “SpongeBob The Musical” promises lots of family-friendly fun. It’s tells a timeless story of identity, crisis, and community that is also a witty allegory that examines and critiques the politics of the modern era, and it does so in such a way where children will appreciate and understand the plot line, while adults can read between the lines and extract even more from the musical’s message.
“SpongeBob The Musical” also features an eclectic score of music, each song having been written by a different musical artist with the purposes of recreating the type of musical hodgepodge exhibited by the original television series. Musical artists featured includes bands and singers such as: Aerosmith, Panic! at the Disco, Cyndi Lauper, David Bowie, the Flaming Lips, Plain White T’s, Yolanda Adams, Sara Bareilles, Lady Antebellum, John Legend, and more.
The Gouverneur High School Spring Musical Director Emily Bason told the Gouverneur Tribune Press that this year’s musical has drawn great interest from the student body, and features one of the biggest cast and crews in recent school history. From line and lyric memorization to staging, elocution, and so much more, the GHS students have been working for weeks to make this production one to remember. Mrs. Bason is proud of the students’ hard work and efforts, and the entire North Country community is invited to enjoy the shows on March 22-23.
Mark your calendars today to enjoy “SpongeBob the Musical” on Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23, 7 p.m. curtain time both nights, at the GHS auditorium. Tickets will be available at the door. The cost is $12 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. For more information on the Gouverneur Central School District, visit gcsk12.org.