Green Hope’s spring play, The Spongebob Musical, follows Spongebob and his friends as they attempt to save Bikini Bottom from a nearby volcano eruption. The play traverses themes of perseverance, community and finding unexpected heroes. The uplifting play with catchy music captivated the audience.
Brian Pollard (‘26), who took on the role of Spongebob, said that the play was a blast for both the cast and the audience, but also had an important message. “While on the outside it’s a cartoonish story, it also deals with themes such as political corruption, the impacts of widespread fear, racism, and changing culture in times of crisis,” said Pollard. “It is an inspiring story of determination and community, and I am very glad I had the privilege to be one of the people telling it.”
Pollard felt personally connected to the story as it reminded him of his high school experience. Especially towards the end, when the volcano is about to erupt and destroy everything. “Instead of panicking, they decide to enjoy the time left they have with each other. I only have one more year left with the people that I’ve hung out with for so long before we all start new chapters of our lives, but that doesn’t mean anything has to change between us,” shared Pollard. “We can take the time that we are given and make our senior year our best year yet.”
According to Pollard, getting into the character of Spongebob was tough but worth it. “Breathing can get really challenging when combining all of the songs with the silly antics on stage, but through lots of hard work and practice we were all able to do it!” Outside of rehearsals, he practiced at home to enhance his vocal skills. “I also spent a lot of time working at home with rehearsal tracks and a piano to learn the music and with family to practice lines.”
Pollard connected to the character of Spongebob. “I love the energy that SpongeBob brings to the room and his positive attitude,” said Pollard. “He works his hardest to do what is best for his friends and community and help them be the best they can be, and that is something that I aspire to do.”
Zoe Phillips (‘27), who played Spongebob’s pet snail Gary and was a Foley Artist, also enjoyed being a part of the play. “I spent a lot of time with my castmates, going over how we wanted to perform and make sounds, and learning about a specific acting style called Commedia Del Arte to heighten our performance,” she said, adding that partaking in a variety of things made the show fun for her. “I loved my cameo moments throughout the show, having one at the beginning, middle, and end.”
According to Phillips, musicals require more effort than a typical production. “Musicals take a lot more energy than plays because they require singing and dancing, along with being much more over dramatic than a regular play.” The audience appreciated the enthusiasm of the cast. “One thing people really liked was our energy onstage, and how we kept the show interesting to watch even through the slower moments.”
Like Pollard, Phillips felt that the play’s message connected to current times. “Even though it’s a very silly show, the message translates to modern day politics very well. A major plot point is that crisis causes people to turn on each other, and the only way to overcome problems is to work together,” said Phillips.
Mr. Peter Comperatore, the director, also thought the play was well received by the audience. “The audience seemed to have a really good time, especially on Saturday afternoon when we had a special kids performance. The younger audience really loved the play,” he said. Part of what made the musical so captivating to the audience was the set design and costumes.
Mr. Comperatore praised the tech crew and costume designers for making the play possible. “They contributed a tremendous amount to creating the visual world of Bikini Bottom. It is quite challenging to take something like a cartoon and make it feel authentic yet not absolutely ridiculous,” Mr. Comperatore shared. “The tech team really worked hard to bring the spirit of the cartoon to life in a semi-realistic way.”
The actors rose to the occasion as well, putting in the work to maintain and personify the signature cartoon spirit of the show. “We worked a lot on the “cartoon energy” and what makes Spongebob work in its original form and brining that spirit to the stage in everything we did,” said Mr. Comperatore. The hard work of everyone involved was worth it. “It was a show that spread joy.”
