Musical productions centered on the world’s most famous sponge are coming to two Bay Area schools in Houston, Texas!
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| Ryan Hoxie as SpongeBob, Jayden Strawn as Patrick, Grace Chauvin as Sandy and the rest of the cast rehearse a scene from Clear Springs High School’s production of “The SpongeBob Musical." Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28 through Feb. 5. Kirk Sides / Houston Chronicle. |
The SpongeBob Musical is set for Jan. 28 through Feb. 5 at Clear Springs High School in League City and Jan. 28 through Feb. 6 at Friendswood High School in Friendswood.
The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical from 2017 is based on Nickelodeon TV’s hit animated comedy
SpongeBob SquarePants, a zany look at undersea life created by marine science educator Stephen Hillenberg.
“It is incredibly fun and family friendly,” FHS theater director Kathy Powdrell told Don Maines for the
Houston Chronicle. “It’s also a witty allegory that children will appreciate, and adults can read between the lines and extract even more from the musical’s message.”
“It is silly fun and not too heavy,” said CSHS theater director Mark Stonebarger. “In a world full of ‘heavy,’ kids still love watching the TV show today.”
At Clear Springs, the show is full of energy, said Stonebarger, noting that its star, Ryan Hoxie, is a former basketball standout.
“Luckily, our SpongeBob is in great shape,” he said. “That guy is built like a gymnast.”
Portraying other residents of Bikini Bottom are Jayden Strawn, Alex Reyes, Grace Chauvin, Ben Sandoval, Carson Campbell, Andie Rodriguez, Helena Byerman, Alex Fletcher, Jordan Tobias, Caleb Morris, Nick Delcid, Chris Kovich and Kyleigh Jackson.
The Electric Skates are portrayed by Sophia Guillory, Lia Nelson, Taylor Pleasant, Atsuko Price and Leyla Ruiz.
The show’s narrator, who says “Ah, the sea …,” is Ayden Moreno.
Foley Fish are played by Mahlijah Harry and Miray Tadres.
Some 20 more students portray a chorus of townsfish, sea anemones, sponges, sardines and pirates.
Collaborating with Stonebarger, the show’s director, are assistant director and choreographer Rozie Curtis and producer/music director Rob Phillips, who also designed and edited the program.
The technical director is Madison Martin, assisted by Heather Cuney.
Ethan Martin is the stage manager, assisted by Alyssa Blanco and Cole Prouty.
The company manager is Jada Rodrigues; the dance captain is Baileigh Martin.
Sound design is by Dylan Patman, with costumes designed by Rozie Curtis and Sonia Martin.
Costume assistants are: Hiro Otani, Carol Napier, Ryan Prouty, Ana Sanchez, Patty Hammer, Sarah Chauvin, Nikki Scheer, Alex Byerman, Stacy Strawn, Paige Martin, Christine Kovich, Nicole Morris, Angie Campbell and Rebecca Nepomnichy.
Rozie Curtis and Kasey Strickler designed wigs and makeup.
Trent Martin and Bryan Byerman constructed the set, along with students in technical theater classes.
Students on the technical crew include: Madeline Guillory, Dylan Patman, Stephen Cupitt, Peyton Hair, Timothy Owen, Vanessa Clark, Robert Jones, Brianna Parker, Connor Stelly, Jadyn Calvan, Jeremy LaCount, Reagan Rives, Elena Cruz, Tia Case, Olivia Benson, Kyle Waddell, Callia Haines and Aaron Fultz.
The show at CSHS ends a month of musicals at Clear Creek ISD high schools, said Sydney Hunt, the district’s senior communications specialist.
Earlier in January, Clear Creek High thespians performed “The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy;” Clear Falls High performed “High School Musical;” and Clear Lake presented “The Pajama Game.”
Clear Springs High
For love of a sponge
"The SpongeBob Musical" will be onstage at two Bay Area schools Jan. 28 through Feb. 5.
Clear Springs High School's production
When: 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28 through Feb. 5
Where: 501 Palomino Lane, League City, TX 77573
Admission: $12-$16
Information: 281-284-1300
Friendswood High School's production
Where: Myrlene Kennedy Auditorium, Friendswood High School, 702 Greenbriar Dr, Friendswood, TX 77546
When: 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28-30; 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 3-5, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6.
Admission: $15; Tickets can be bought the day of the performance at the door using cash or through Friendswood Performing Arts Etix, at
https://bityl.co/AfJP.
Information: 281-996-6516
Friendswood High School
“We interrupt this program …”
Fans can also catch a performance of “The SpongeBob Musical” at Friendswood High School, where sophomore Jimmy Perry leads the cast as SpongeBob SquarePants.
Maris Morgan plays Sandy Cheek, the iconic “science squirrel,” with Grant Newman as Patrick Star and Luke Johnstone as Eugene Krabs.
Connor Adams, a junior, portrays Squidward Q. Tentacles — “and yes, he will have four legs,” said Powdrell.
Sheldon J. Plankton is played by senior Jon Sims and his wife Karen is played by senior Ashley Campbell.
Among others in the cast are Mia Killian, Hayden Hobbs, Justin Paulder, Abilyse Caudle and Dagan Ray.
“The technical crew is working hard to create the underwater world of Bikini Bottom,” said Powdrell.
Student crew members include senior Coy White as the set construction head and James Nelsoto as the sound engineer, and Nathan Turnbaugh is the light crew head, assisted by junior Jason Enochs.
The costume crew head is senior Maddie Schatzke.
Projections are run by senior Max Bischoff.
The pit band is led by foley artists Andrew Krebs and Taylor Wiederhold, who perform a variety of sound effects.
“The show examines and critiques the politics of the modern era and features an eclectic score of music, each song composed by a different musical artist, with the purpose of recreating the type of musical hodgepodge that was exhibited by the original TV series,” said Powdrell.
As SpongeBob says, “I’m ready!”
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| Friendswood High School sophomore Jimmy Perry plays SpongeBob in that school's production of “The SpongeBob Musical.” The show runs Jan. 28 through Feb. 6. Courtesy Friendswood ISD. |
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| The cast of "The SpongeBob Musical" rehearse a scene at Clear Springs High School. Kirk Sides / Houston Chronicle. |
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| Benjamin Sandolval as Plankton and Helena Byerman as Karen, rehearse a scene from “The SpongeBob Musical” at Clear Springs High School. Kirk Sides / Houston Chronicle. |
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| Jayden Strawn as Patrick, Ryan Hoxie as SpongeBob, Grace Chauvin as Sandy and the rest of the cast rehearse a scene from "The SpongeBob Musical" at Clear Springs High School. Kirk Sides / Houston Chronicle. |
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| The cast of Clear Springs High School’s production of "The SpongeBob Musical" rehearse a scene. Kirk Sides / Houston Chronicle. |
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| Ryan Hoxie as SpongeBob, Alex Reyes as Squidward and Jayden Strawn as Patrick, rehearse a scene from "The SpongeBob Musical" at Clear Springs High School. Kirk Sides / Houston Chronicle. |
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| Ryan Hoxie as SpongeBob, Carson Campbell as Mr. Krabs and Jayden Strawn as Patrick, rehearse a scene from Clear Springs High School’s production of “The SpongeBob Musical.” Kirk Sides / Houston Chronicle. |
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