CYT's The SpongeBob Musical at Hononegah Performing Arts Centre, Nov. 17 - Nov. 20
The stakes are higher than ever in this Rockford-area musical premiere.
In its Rockford-area premiere, The SpongeBob Musical will play for five performances at the Hononegah Performing Arts Center, Nov. 17 - Nov. 20. The show is produced by Christian Youth Theater (CYT) - Rockford Chapter, which has also presented A Christmas Carol, Madagascar Jr, Beauty and the Beast, and Annie Jr., all at the Hononegah Performing Arts Center. The original Broadway show, based on the Nickelodeon series, earned 12 Tony nominations.
In this dynamic stage musical, the stakes are higher than ever, as SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face the total annihilation of their undersea world. Chaos erupts. Lives hang in the balance. And just when all hope seems lost, a most unexpected hero rises up and takes center stage. The power of optimism really can save the world!
Though the show is based on a children's series, and the cast are all under 18, there's enough humor for grownups, what with a protest song for misunderstood pirates, a plankton who likes to be called "Big Guy," and of course, "the most dependable, most responsible, most absorbent sponge I've ever met."
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Most of the SpongeBob cast already have years of theater experience. Emily Loner, who plays Spongebob, previously sparkled as the Ghost of Christmas Present in last year's A Christmas Carol and as King Julien in Madagascar Jr. Solomon Rossman (Squidward) memorably brought to life a dry, snooty butler in Beauty and the Beast. Noah Ceniseros (Patrick Star) was Gaston's sidekick LeFou in Beauty and the Beast. Ryan Sherman (Mr. Krabs) appeared as the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, as the con man Rooster in Annie Jr, and as Melman the neurotic giraffe in Madagascar Jr. Nate Kenrick (Plankton) was previously Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, Bob Cratchitt in A Christmas Carol, and Mason the Chimp in Madagascar Jr. Ava Ellis (Karen) and Gabriella Negrete (Sandy Cheeks) have appeared in at least the last five CYT shows - Gabriella calls CYT a family of "people that love doing the same things as you."
Auditions for CYT Rockford's February 2023 show, Willy Wonka Jr., will open on Nov. 18, and is open to those who are currently enrolled in a CYT class, which start Nov. 28.
Since 1980, CYT has become the largest children’s theater organization in the country with more than 38 locations in 25 different cities and enrolling 18,000 students annually. The Rockford chapter is part of CYT Chicago, which produces 18 of these musical theater productions each year in 10 different areas in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Props, sets, and costumes come from CYT Chicago's warehouse in Cary, IL (you can rent them too - from more than 40 different shows).
CYT as a theater school offers classes in dance, improv, drama and/or singing to the public for various age levels from 8 to 18. Children ages 5-7 aren't in the big stage musicals, but Tune Town teaches them audition preparation, dance, acting, rhythm and singing.
CYT chapter coordinator Lora Negrete told us, "It’s gonna be such a fun show! We are the first in the area to do it!"
Performances
- Thursday, Nov 17th @ 9:30am
- Friday, Nov 18th @ 7:00pm
- Saturday, Nov 19th @ 2:00pm
- Saturday, Nov 19th @ 6:00pm
- Sunday, Nov 20th @ 2:00pm
Tickets
Tickets are available online for less or at the door for more.
* Prices may vary by performance.
- $15.00: Standard Ticket Price
- $13.00: Child Ticket Price
(Max Child Age: 17) - $13.00: Group Ticket Price
(Ticket Minimum: 10) - $13.00: Senior Ticket Price
(Min Senior Age: 60) - $13.00: Military Ticket Price
- $17.00: At Door Price
All ticket sales are final.
Cast
- + Backstage Vocalist
- * Soloist
SPONGEBOB: Emily Loner
PATRICK STAR: Noah Ceniseros
SANDY CHEEKS: Gabriella Negrete
SQUIDWARD: Solomon Rossman
PLANKTON: Nate Kenrick
KAREN: Ava Ellis
MR. KRABS: Ryan Sherman
PEARL KRABS: Lorelai Fishe
PATCHY THE PIRATE/ANOTHER FISH: Cooper Wellen
ELECTRIC SKATE/COWBOY FISH 1: Kelly Schemel+
ELECTRIC SKATE/COWBOY FISH 2: Olivia Van Hise+
ELECTRIC SKATE/COWBOY FISH 3: Kaitlynn Rundblade
FRENCH NARRATOR: Allison Pfeil+
PERCH PERKINS: Luke Meyer
MAYOR OF BIKINI BOTTOM: Sophie Pauli
LARRY THE LOBSTER: Isaiah Stauffer
OLD MAN JENKINS: Malachi Ellis
MRS. PUFF: Jordan Helgerson
CORAL ENSEMBLE:
Brielle Bailey
Aleyah Bailey
Paisley Brockett
Parker Brockett
Quinn Brothers
Lydia Derry
Lucy Ellerbroek
Ethan Helgerson
Zoey Homola
Harper Hoskinson
Camille Juliano
Ruby Milsaps
Cruz Negrete
Demi Schuckman
Makenah Schwanebeck
Isabelle Stauffer
PLANKTON CREW:
Lucy Axe+
Lydia Derry
Anna Fager
Owen Johnshon
Kelly Schemel
Lucy Schneiderman +
Makenah Schwanebeck
Olivia Van Hise
JELLYFISH/SPONGE ENSEMBLE:
MayBell Berkman
Ella Hill
Kaylee Kramer
Molly Matuska
Liviana Negrete
Talia Rossman
Lillian Thomas
Cole Young
ATLANTIC ENSEMBLE:
GIRL FISH/TEEN FAN 1: Lucy Axe
GIRL FISH/TEEN FAN 2: Grace McLarty+
GIRL FISH/TEEN FAN 3: Anna Fager
BUSTER BLUE TANG/A FISH: Molly Matuska
Rayce Dempsey
Ava Johnston
Allison Pfeil
Kaitlynn Rundblade
Jacob Swain
Cooper White
SARDINES:
LEAD SARDINES
SARDINE 1: Kaylee Kramer+
SARDINE 2: Liviana Negrete+
SARDINE 3: Ella Hill+
SARDINE 4: Lucy Schneiderman
SARDINE 5: Gillian Nothnagel+
Lucy Axe
MayBell Berkman
Anna Fager
Molly Matuska
MayBell Berkman
Allison Pfeil
Kelly Schemel
Olivia Van Hise
Cole Young
MOUNT HUMONGOUS ENSEMBLE:
Anna Fager
Allison Pfeil
Kaitlynn Rundblade
Kelly Schemel
Olivia Van Hise
PIRATES:
MayBell Berkman
Rayce Dempsey*
Cruz Negrete*
Ava Johnston
Paige Kohlmeier*
Kaitlynn Rundblade*
Isaiah Stauffer
Jacob Swain
Lillian Thomas
Cooper White
PACIFIC ENSEMBLE:
JOHNNY THE BARTENDER/GARY THE SNAIL: Cole Young
SECURITY GUARD/MOB FISH 1: Talia Rossman
SECURITY GUARD/MOB FISH 2: Owen Johnson
MayBell Berkman
Lily Frew
Ella Hill
Paige Kohlmeier
Kaylee Kramer
Liviana Negrete
Gillian Nothnagel
Kelly Schemel
Lucy Schneiderman
Lillian Thomas
Olivia Van Hise
ANEMONE TAPPERS/MONEY DANCERS:
Lucy Axe
Anna Fager
Gillian Nothnagel
Allison Pfeil
Kaitlynn Rundblade
Kelly Schemel
Olivia Van Hise
Cole Young
