From a Jellyfish Fields-themed set to car-sized Krabby Patties, Paly Theatre students and staff are working hard to bring Bikini Bottom’s fantastical underwater world to life in their spring production of “The SpongeBob Musical” — with each note of music, dance step and hairstyle designed to recapture the wonder so many students remember from childhood.
Paly Theatre will perform “The SpongeBob Musical” from April 24 to April 27 in the Performing Arts Center at Palo Alto High School. Based on the long-running series, “SpongeBob SquarePants” by Stephen Hillenburg, the production features various original pop songs by Panic! At The Disco, John Legend, They Might be Giants and more.
Students — including dozens of cast members, several full ensemble and a large tech crew — have spent months preparing for the show, either practicing on their own or at one of many after-school rehearsals. For most, it’s the energy and creativity of “SpongeBob” that makes it all worthwhile.
Senior Liam Giffen, acting as Patrick Star, said the team has been committed since winter to building a show that’s not only technically strong but also full of fun.
“We have been rehearsing since about the end of January,” Giffen said. “It’s been a pretty long process because we want to sound well, but we [also] want good characterization and to be entertaining.”
According to sophomore Noah Espinoza, who plays Plankton and works on the costume crew, balancing elements of performing both a play and a musical has pushed him to work harder than ever.
“I had rehearsal about three or four times a week, practicing lines outside of school and learning choreography,” Espinoza said. “We have to juggle not only the acting, but the singing and the dancing. … That means when things come together at the end, it’s just so rewarding to see how everyone’s been working hard on their own separate parts of it.”
According to Sarah Thermond, program director, the colorful theme of “SpongeBob” has been difficult to replicate for the design team.
“The show presents a lot of exciting challenges for our Stage Tech & Design class, since the locations, props and characters are all so out of the ordinary,” Thermond said. “There are definitely a few ‘firsts’ for me in terms of tricks and elements we are including onstage, which is always exciting.”
The production boasts a large array of colorful costumes, including rainbow festival-inspired braids, sparkling coats and feather hats. According to senior and assistant costume designer Clara Fesslmeier, students found their own materials to hand-make these costumes.
“For the last month and a half, we’ve been sewing and cutting things and pulling things from a huge costume closet in the Haymarket,” Fesslmeier said. “We’ve just been looking through a bunch of things and buying these things.”
Senior Raz Mazor-Hoofien, hair and makeup designer, said that students not part of the wardrobe department have also helped work on costumes.
“We made over 60 fake hair pieces,” Mazor-Hoofien said. “It’s a lot of work. A lot of actors actually came in on some of their free time to help us braid, coming together as a community with consistent hard work, effort and teamwork.”
Not only are the costumes handmade, but parts of the set are too. Backdrops resembling the iconic Jellyfish Fields from “SpongeBob” and other recognizable settings were painted by students, who spent hours replicating the whimsical land of Bikini Bottom.
Thermond said that the theme of “SpongeBob” was chosen for its heartwarming messages.
“It [SpongeBob] has a great message about the value of community, and believing in yourself and each other,” Thermon said.
According to Fesslmeier and many others, the musical took a significant amount of effort from students and is worth watching.
“Please come,” Fesslmeier said. “It was hard, it was difficult to put together, and it looks great.”
“The SpongeBob Musical” will take place at 7 p.m. April 24, 25 and 26 and at 2 p.m. April 26 and 27 in the PAC.
Tickets are $10 for students/seniors and $15 for adults, for sale on the Paly Theater program’s website
