Schaumburg Summer Theatre makes a splash with 'SpongeBob Musical'
Schaumburg Summer Theatre presents Broadway's award-winning "The SpongeBob Musical" for three more performances Aug. 5-7 at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg.
Based on the Nickelodeon animated series created by Stephen Hillenburg, "The SpongeBob Musical" finds SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy, Squidward and all of Bikini Bottom facing the destruction of their underwater world, until a most unexpected hero rises to take center stage.
"The SpongeBob Musical" is the 32nd production from Schaumburg Summer Theatre (SST) and marks the company's revival after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic.
Visually stunning and hilarious by turns, director Melissa Crabtree says the show also offers an uplifting message.
"Our goal as a company during this production has been to find and scatter joy," Crabtree said. "The show encourages the same, reminding us that hope, positivity and courage have the power to change the world."
For Joshua Dizon of Rolling Meadows, playing SpongeBob is a "dream come true. 'SpongeBob' was my favorite show growing up. Being in the role lets me act like a little kid again," Dizon said. "The optimism of the character is something that has certainly rubbed off on me over the past several weeks."
Also featured in the musical are Dominic Anthony of Hoffman Estates as Patrick, and Gurnee resident Courtney San Pedro as Sandy. Matthew Schufreider of Chicago plays the hapless Squidward, Tim Eterno of Palatine plays Mr. Krabs, John Delany of Palatine portrays Plankton, and Aneesa Phillips of Bloomingdale plays Pearl.
A cast of sea creatures, backed by a 17-piece orchestra, includes Sam Albrecht of Algonquin; Fae Logan and Vienna Loga of Barrington; Russell Levin of Elgin; Jules Furgal of Elmwood Park; Hoffman Estates residents Samantha Knapp, Anthony Luzwick, Vincent Luzwick, Natalia Morales and Marcus Pallan; Lilith Myers of Lake in the Hills; Owen Peterson of Lombard; Claire Jolie Goodman and Micki Smolenski of Mount Prospect; Megan Smid and Sawyer Hauk of Naperville; Bob DiLeo of Palatine; Hailey Benoit of Roselle; Paige Zapinski of Schaumburg; and Kailianna Smith of Wood Dale.
"The SpongeBob Musical" is directed by Melissa Crabtree, with vocal direction by Sarah Inendino, orchestra direction by Vinny Inendino, costumes by Donica Seminaro, set design by Phil Seifritz, lighting design by John Scrip, and audio design by Austin Meyer. Mike Frale is the assistant director.
"The SpongeBob Musical" features a book by Kyle Jarrow, with original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alexander Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T's, They Might Be Giants and T.I., and songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny and Andy Paley.
Additional lyrics are by Jonathan Coulton, with additional music by Tom Kitt.
Second weekend performances for "The SpongeBob Musical" will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 5 and 6, with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. on Aug. 7.
Tickets, $24 for adults and $18 for students and seniors, can be ordered by calling the Prairie Center box office at (847) 895-3600 weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or by visiting www.prairiecenter.org.
Nickelodeon, SpongeBob SquarePants, and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. "The SpongeBob Musical" is presented through special arrangement with Concord Theatricals, www.concordtheatricals.com