‘SpongeBob: The Musical’ Senior STAGES production promises ‘The Best Day Ever’

Theatre Woodstock’s Senior STAGES program will bring SpongeBob: The Musical on stage between May 22 and June 1. (Adam Glass photo)

Emily Stewart, Echo Correspondent

Theatre Woodstock’s Senior STAGES show for this season will bring lots of under the sea fun.

The Senior STAGES youth program, made up of high school students, will bring SpongeBob: The Musical to the Theatre Woodstock stage from May 22 to 31 on 22 Reeve St. The musical will feature SpongeBob SquarePants and all his friends in the Bikini Bottom as they save their community from a possible volcano eruption.

The musical is based on the celebrated cartoon by Stephen Hillenburg with a book by Kyle Jarrow. Audiences can also expect to hear songs from a multitude of pop icons from Cyndi Lauper, Panic! At the Disco, Yolanda Adams, Sara Barellies, Joe Perry and Stephen Tyler of Aerosmith, and songs by David Bowie, Andy Paley, and Spongebob’s voice actor Tom Kenny.

“This is a perfect show for the entire family. It's big, bright and fun and features all the SpongeBob characters you know and love with our own little spin,” director Sydney Brockway said to the Echo. “As a first foray into experiencing theatre, for your children, it's a perfect night out. As someone without children, especially if you've never been to Theatre Woodstock before, it's a perfect way to understand the calibre of productions we put on. We've always had audience members say they are blown away by the talent on stage, often comparing it favourably to professional productions they have seen.”

Brockway said that the flexibility and inclusion of Spongebob: The Musical drew her in to the production. The complexity of the set is up to the crew and the production notes said that the characters can be portrayed by any gender.

“SpongeBob can be played by a girl, and Patrick could be played by a non-binary person etc. etc.; it's a show that accepts each group of performers as they are and gives artistic teams the chance to cast people regardless of their gender or ethnicity,” she said.

Each cast member will play between three to four characters on stage. The musical will also feature many new faces, including those who are entering the STAGES senior group from the second stages program and Oxford County residents who have never acted on stage before.

Brockway has been involved with the Senior Company of STAGES since 2019 and directed their Something Rotten! production last year. She said her favourite part of being involved is seeing the community built through the theatre program for high school students in the region.

“Each year, we have a dedicated group of young people who come in with positivity, enthusiasm, kindness, and the desire to put on a fantastic show. They work so well together and develop a bond that lasts beyond closing night,” Brockway said. The theatre really does become a place where everyone can be themselves and find like-minded friends outside of a school setting. It has been a pleasure seeing so many of them grow up throughout the STAGES program and grace the stage as a graduate. We're going to miss so many of them next year!”

Tickets are $32 for adults, $20 for students, $18 for youth 12 years old and under, and $20 on Thrifty Thursdays for all seats. To purchase tickets, either visit the box office on 22 Reeve St., call 519-537-2582, or visit theatrewoodstock.com