11-11-2022 11:46pm

CYT's The SpongeBob Musical at Hononegah Performing Arts Centre, Nov. 17 - Nov. 20

Michael McGinnis Editor

The Spongebob Musical

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."

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

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