'The SpongeBob Musical' to bring belly laughs & joy to Midland stage

MIDLAND − Absorb the many reasons "The SpongeBob Musical" is the right show at the right time for audiences at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center.

Broadway’s award-winning hit, with stage lighting worthy of the Vegas strip, will be presented at the Midland Center's MainStage Theater from April 29-May 1, and May 6-8.

"This show is the most surprising musical I've ever worked on," director Justin Fortunato said. "The music alone is a tapestry of some of the biggest names of music over the last 100 years from David Bowie to Steven Tyler to John Legend, and Sara Bareilles to Panic! At The Disco. And this show is a hodgepodge of musical styles. And quite frankly, it is unbridled joy. And unbridled nonsense. These characters go through crazy situations. If you're a fan of the cartoon you'll love it. Even if you've never seen the cartoon, you'll find yourself in the theater cheering for a yellow sponge to overcome the odds."

Adapted from the iconic Nickelodeon animated series, beloved characters SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy, Squidward and the rest of the Bikini Bottom gang will come face-to-face with catastrophe, until a most unexpected hero rises to save the day.

The Tony Award-winning show became the surprise add-on bonus to Lincoln Park's 2021-2022 Highmark Subscription Series the center first announced in July.

Highlighting timeless topics of friendship, community and the power of unity and inclusion, "TheSpongeBob Musical" represents a unique visual and aural experience for audiences of all ages, Fortunato, Lincoln Park's artistic producing director, said.

With music from other famed artists like Cyndi Lauper, T.I. and Lady A, "it's a brilliant, joyful show about community and friendship and with everything happening in the world, and everything that was happening when we chose this show. We wanted to find a part of our season that would give you a really, really deep belly laugh. And I can't remember a time that I've laughed this hard at a musical."

A cast of 42, mixing Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School students with a few professional actors, will deliver the smiles.

The principal cast: Cameron Tino (SpongeBob SquarePants), Adam Stater (Squidward), Connor Vaccari (Patrick), Grace Plassmeyer (Sandy Cheeks), Payton Health (Sheldon Plankton), Joe York (Eugene Krabs), Moriah Cary (Pearl), Brady Patsy (Perch Perkins), Mandie Patsy (Mayor), Connor Bahr (Patchy the Pirate) and Amara Comans (Karen the Computer).

Tickets cost $18 to $25 at LincolnParkArts.org or by calling724-576-4644.

Bringing an animated series or movie to the stage always poses special challenges.

"Cartoons don't have to follow the rules we follow when it comes to gravity," Fortunato said. "So it's so exciting to figure out the way movement happens in any cartoon, from the aural experience of sound effects, to the way we're able to use stage magic to reinvent this story for the stage. I think a lot of times, people hear 'The SpongeBob Musical' they may picture just mascot-ed people on stage, and that couldn't be further from the truth. Much like shows like 'Shrek' or 'The Little Mermaid' it's taken the cartoon and elevated it to, certainly my favorite form of entertainment, which is live theatre."

A pop-culture institution for more than 20 years, and Nickelodeon's highest-rated series, "SpongeBob" offers something for everyone, Fortunato said.

"You're going to be able to come to this show and experience these cartoon characters brought to life by these artists who do everything," Fortunato said. "And when you layer on the stage magic that happens in this show from flying, to bubble machines, to pyrotechnics with a live 16-piece band, it honestly is the most fun you will ever have in a theater. By the end of it, I promise − the one guarantee I can make − is that your toes are going to be tapping and you're going to be having fun and you'll be smiling when you're leaving."

Fundraiser

In conjunction with "The SpongeBob Musical," Lincoln Park announced a donation campaign benefiting Allegheny CleanWays.

The musical tells the story of an unlikely hero saving his underwater home from a volcanic eruption. Throughout the production, audiences see the volcano grow and the landscape change as discarded human household items are added, representing the pollution of our oceans and rivers. To increase awareness of and raise money for organizations working to protect local waterways, Lincoln Park is debuting a reusable branded water bottle and donating $5 from every sale to Allegheny CleanWays, where the mission is to "engage and empower people to eliminate illegal dumping and littering.”

“Live theatre helps to promote social dialogue and can bring light to issues in a number of ways,” Rick Orienza, marketing and communications manager at Lincoln Park, said. “Despite the absence of oceans in our area, our rivers are so vital. Using our platform to draw attention the work the Allegheny CleanWays organization and volunteers do to keep our rivers clean is one small way Lincoln Park can have a bigger impact on the community other than providing entertainment.”

The reusable stainless steel water bottles can be purchased for $20 by visiting LincolnParkArts.org or on-site during the show. Purchases of the water bottle include a free “Best Day Ever!” branded sticker.

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times, and easy to reach at stady@timesonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: 'The SpongeBob Musical' brings belly laughs & joy to Midland stage