Each summer, area theater students produce and present a theater production at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport. This year’s Summer Stock production will be “The Sponge Bob Musical” to be presented July 29, 30, and 31. The production is directed by Lycoming College Theatre Professor Dr. C. Austin Hill, who directed the 2019 Student Summer Stock production of “Newsies.”

The Community Arts Center’s production of “The SpongeBob Musical” is part of the Student Summer Stock Program, which provides an opportunity for students to create alongside working professional theatre-makers to bring new passion and skills back to their community and educational programs. The previous productions under the Student Summer Stock program include shows such as “Newsies,” “Oklahoma!,” “Peter Pan,” “Man of La Mancha,” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

“We are incredibly excited to be planning one of the very first productions of ‘The SpongeBob Musical’ in this area — one of the first productions of the show ANYWHERE, really. On the heels of our production of ‘Newsies’ in 2019, canceling the Student Summer Stock in 2020 was difficult and sad for everyone involved,” Director Hill told Webb Weekly. “We thought it would be a great idea to bring the project back with a HUGE title like this one. But even more, we wanted a production that had some important things to say. ‘The SpongeBob Musical’ FEELS like it was written in response to all of the things that we’ve all been dealing with throughout 2020 — from the COVID pandemic and shutdown to the important social justice movements — somehow, this 2016 show is even more viscerally relevant than it was when it was written. And best of ALL, it will provide wonderful opportunities for our 7-12th grade actor/singer/dancers. The show is fun, funny, clever, colorful, and wildly inventive. It’s the perfect way to spend our summer.”

Officials at the Community Arts Center are excited and pleased to be hosting the annual Summer Stock program.

“It is such a joy getting to see kids in the theatre once again. You can tell from the rehearsals that these kids have missed performing live. We are so glad to play a part in providing opportunities for theatre enrichment and the chance to bring a really fun show to the Williamsport community,” said Courtney Fowler, Coordinator of Marketing Community Communications for the Community Arts Center.

An adaptation of the beloved Nickelodeon sitcom “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “The SpongeBob Musical,” follows the happy-go-lucky sea sponge, SpongeBob SquarePants, as he lives in his hometown of Bikini Bottom. The town learns the news that a nearby volcano, Mount Humongous, will erupt soon and destroy Bikini Bottom. As the town breaks into a panic, SpongeBob takes it upon himself to try and prove to himself and others that he is not “just a simple sponge” and saves the town from destruction when everyone has lost hope.

The twelve-time Tony Award nominee, with new songs from artists such as Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Plain White T’s, David Bowie, and more, “The SpongeBob Musical” provides a fun and family-friendly story, while also exemplifying a narrative of identity, crisis, and community. Michael Miller of stageagent.com states, “SpongeBob SquarePants 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 message.”

The production team presenting “Sponge Bob” includes Production Team:
Director: C. Austin Hill
Production Stage Manager: Sara Altieri
Assistant Stage Manager: Makenzie Shimko
Choreographer: Allison Hill
Assistant Choreographer: Mckayla Cobb
Producers: Chuck Still and Fred Parks
Music Director: Diana Welshans
Technical Director: Titus O’Neil
Conductor: William Ciabattari
Sound Designer: AJ Robins
Costume Designer: Bonnie Hall
Assistant Costume Designer: Haley Millard
Props Designer: Emma Klopp
Light Designer: Heath Hansum
Scenic Designer: Jay Innerarity
Scene Shop Staff: Lizzy Hall and Nicole McCauley
Costume Shop Staff: Lydia Hall
The SpongeBob Musical Cast:
SpongeBob SquarePants: Sloan Wood
Patrick Star: Ava Loehr
Sandy Cheeks: Maria Blas
Squidward Q. Tentacles: Michael Harry
Eugene Krabs: Cale Blakely
Pearl Krabs: Kendall Eichenlaub
Sheldon J. Plankton: Chase Bower
Karen the Computer: Sydney Smith
Patchy the Pirate: Aubrey Lenker
The Mayor of Bikini Bottom: Lydia Hall
Perch Perkins: Lukas Michaels
The Electric Skates: Olivia Ciabattari, Grace Barkauskas, and Regan Oaks
Mrs. Puff: Kaidyn Rogers
Larry the Lobster/Gary: Artie Dammer
Old Man Jenkins: Jayar Rhoades
The Foley Artist Fish: Simon Uhter
Primary dancers/Ensemble: Ramsey Uhter, Muireann Tran, Mary Herndon, and Regan Oaks, (+Lydia Hall on taps.)
Ensemble:

Grace Barkauskas, Hadley Milhomme, Olivia Rogers, Elijah Nilson, Cadi Durant, Lew Shaffer, Alanna Ramos, Caitlyn Killian, Kelly Long, and Olivia Ciabattari.

Tickets are available by contacting: http://www.caclive.com or contacting the box office at 570-326-2424.