ADRIAN — Ever since the animated series “SpongeBob SquarePants” first splashed its way onto TV screens in 1999, an entire generation of kids has grown up charmed by the adventures of SpongeBob and his friends from the imaginary undersea town of Bikini Bottom.
But you don’t need to be a kid — in fact, you don’t even need to have seen a single episode of the TV series — to fall in love with “The SpongeBob Musical” and its whimsical characters, says Debra Ross Calabrese, who is directing the show at the Croswell Opera House this winter.
“It’s such a warm, loving show, and the characters are jumping right out of the TV screen onto that stage,” Calabrese said.
The musical opens with SpongeBob and his friends getting ready for another day in Bikini Bottom. But it isn’t long before their peaceful existence is threatened by an underwater volcano, and they must race against time to stop their homes from being destroyed.
At the center of it all, of course, is SpongeBob SquarePants, a character Calabrese said the audience can’t help but love.
“SpongeBob is such a kind, loving earnest character,” she said. “He always sees the good in everything.”
In this production, the role is played by Steven Kiss of Temperance, a frequent Croswell performer whose recent credits include Frank Farmer in “The Bodyguard,” Gerry Goffin in “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” and Billy Crocker in “Anything Goes.”
The role of best friend Patrick Star is played by Matthew Johnston of Maumee, Ohio. SpongeBob’s cranky neighbor, Squidward, is played by Jeffrey Beam of Sylvania. Sandy Cheeks, a squirrel (yes, a squirrel) who’s also a scientist and inventor, is played by Sabriyah Davis of Toledo.
Jeffrey King of Temperance plays Eugene Krabs, owner of the Krusty Krab, where SpongeBob works. Hallie Yuen of Adrian plays his daughter, Pearl, who has no interest in taking over the business.
The antagonists of the piece are the scheming owners of a rival restaurant, Sheldon and Karen Plankton, played by real-life married couple Maxwell and Meg Lam.
Michael and Erin Yuen of Adrian play Perch Perkins and Mrs. Puff, sharing the stage for this show with three of their children. Kylie McElrath of Adrian is Patchy the Pirate. And the mayor of Bikini Bottom is played by Angie Sword Heath — who, in real life, is the mayor of Adrian.
In the ensemble are Trent Aneed, Haylie Blohm, Amelia Bowman, Emma Brooks, Zameon Conway, Becca Glover, Christopher Harlan, Libby Pifer, Ja’Vaughn White, Briella York, Kai Yuen and Wylie Yuen, all of Adrian; Madison Good and Amanda Nummy, both of Ann Arbor; Mitchell LaRoy of Blissfield; AJ Landingham of Carleton; Delayna Garcia of Cement City; Jordan Marquez of Dundee; Luke Durling and Jase Sword, both of Hudson; Michael Cicirelli of Jackson; Tori Bruce and Ella Flumignan, both of Onsted; Abigail Lipsitz of Saline; Macy Schmidt and Dean Sumner, both of Tecumseh; Jerold King of Temperance; Joshua Egnatuk of Luckey, Ohio; and Reed Schwieterman of Maumee, Ohio.
The show features music in an eclectic variety of styles by a list of well-known artists that includes John Legend, Cyndi Lauper, They Might Be Giants, David Bowie, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, and Broadway star Sara Bareilles.
“You’re going to be walking out humming those songs, I promise,” Calabrese said.
The task of leading the cast and orchestra through that mix of musical genres falls to vocal director Aaron Roos, who played Dewey Finn in last summer’s “School of Rock,” and conductor Ray Novak.
The look of SpongeBob’s colorful undersea world is being created by costume designer Abby Sage Hall, scenic designer Leo Babcock, properties master Beth Flumignan, lighting designer Rachel Slupe, and projection designer Crosby Slupe.
“It’ll be a feast for the eyes,” Calabrese said.
The show’s many sound effects are being created by Karl Kasischke. The stage manager is Conner Raymond.
“The SpongeBob Musical” opens Friday, Nov. 22. Tickets range from $22 to $44 for adults, $15 to $35 for students. Ticket buyers are reminded that the Croswell never sells tickets to any show for more than the advertised cost, so any website trying to sell tickets at a higher price is a scam.
Performance dates and times are:
- Friday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 24 at 2:30 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 30 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 1 at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets may be ordered by visiting the Croswell box office at 129 E. Maumee St., calling 517-264-7469, or going online to croswell.org.
