SpongeBob SquarePants, that anthropomorphic, yellow sea sponge with his animated laugh and bizarre set of underwater friends, was a cultural phenomenon in the early 2000s. So impactful was Stephen Hillenburg’s 1999 cartoon that even today, kids of the SpongeBob generation can be separated into two categories: those whose parents didn’t allow SquarePants’ high-pitched antics to overtake their television (therefore depriving them of participating in endless insider references), and those who were cool.
Just kidding…well, sort of–it really was a big deal whether or not you watched SpongeBob. And, no matter how silly, nonsensical or plain ridiculous the show might seem looking back, those who grew up with the characters of Bikini Bottom tend to have a fondness for the cartoon even as adults.
While it might not resonate with the SpongeBob rookie, those who feel nostalgia for that absorbent and yellow and porous cartoon sponge will find Beck Center’s production of “The SpongeBob Musical” to be boatloads of fun.
In “The SpongeBob Musical,” the titular sponge wakes up in his usual chipper mood, ready to make this day “the best day ever.” While on his way to work, he greets fellow citizens of Bikini Bottom, including his curmudgeonly neighbor, Squidward Tentacles; his best friend and loyal supporter, Patrick Star; the brilliant squirrel scientist, Sandy Cheeks; and his greedy boss, Mr. Krabs. But this is no normal day. A nearby volcano suddenly shows signs of erupting, threatening to destroy Bikini Bottom in little more than a day. While the evil genius Plankton and his computer wife, Karen, scheme to convince residents to abandon their home, SpongeBob is determined to rally his friends to disrupt the volcano’s impending eruption.
“The SpongeBob Musical” premiered in 2017 with a book by Kyle Jarrow and musical production conceived by Tina Landau to rather positive reviews. One of the keys to a successful adaptation is paying proper homage to the original source material, and director Scott Spence has filled Beck Center’s cast with talented actors who are more than capable of emulating the cartoon’s colorful characters.
Not only are the cast’s acting chops up to par, but they are vocally adept. Guided by music director Larry Goodpaster and accompanied by an orchestra, the cast deftfully tackles a variety of songs that were conceived by a slew of artists, including Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, David Bowie and Tom Kenny, to name a few.
Seth Crawford as the lead character has large, rectangle-shaped pants to fill, and he steps up to the challenge with a beaming smile, jaunty gait and infectious positivity. It’s no simple task to bring SpongeBob’s characteristic voice, laughter and personality to life, but Crawford does a great job emulating the 2-D icon.
A loveable Tripp DeMille is cast as the bumbling, naive Patrick Star. DeMille nails the pink seastar’s deep voice and simplistic cadence. Patrick’s subplot is one of the more inessential tangents partaken by a secondary character, but DeMille manages to make even these moments more delightful.
Grace Pressley is Sandy Cheeks, the squirrel from Texas who lives in Bikini Bottom thanks to her underwater air dome. Pressley uses an endearing twang and a can-do attitude to portray Sandy, and her vocal performance is stellar.
Also delivering spot-on voices are Michael Glavan as Squidward Tentacles and Tyler Ferrebee as Mr. Krabs. Glavan’s Squidward is properly grumpy–and a character that is far more relatable and humorous as an adult–and Ferrebee’s Krabs is just as grubby and money-driven as ever.
Chris Richards and Sara Nearenberg are the squabbling evil couple, Plankton and Karen. Richards is just maniacal enough to capture the small villain’s essence, and Nearenberg’s nasally, robotic voice is charming. Together, they make for entertaining scoundrels.
A large ensemble of supporting fish dressed in colorful outfits proper for any reef dweller execute high-energy choreography by Lauren Marousek. The most captivating dances utilize glowing sponges and tap shoes.
The 2017 Broadway Musical received 12 nominations at the following year’s Tony Awards, but it only took away one win for Best Scenic Design. The Broadway design used various bits of flotsam and jetsam to create the structures of Bikini Bottom and even featured a Rube Goldberg machine. While not nearly as complex, Tim McMath’s flower-patterned proscenium and Nickelodeon-esque color palette fit the Bikini Bottom brand. Saturated lighting by Jaemin Park and amusing projections featuring SpongeBob’s signature playful font help sell the underwater setting.
“The SpongeBob Musical” does a great job of weaving together childish antics with jokes geared toward adults. Sure, those familiar with the cartoon might laugh harder at the couple of inside jokes thrown in, but many adults who don’t fall into the previous category will still get a chuckle out of the many jokes about the tedium of bureaucracy or Squidward’s self-loathing.
Families looking to attend with children should be advised that this is not Disney On Ice; you won’t find any mascot-like, foam body suits here. Apart from Squidward and Mr. Krabs, who wear an extra pair of legs and meaty crab claws, Inda Blatch-Geib keeps the overall costuming simplistic. Also rather straightforward is the show’s plot, which is entertaining, but contains quite a few detours that give the large cast of characters individual moments to shine. In total, the show runs two and a half hours (including intermission), which might find some kids squirming in their seats.
Beck Center for the Arts’ “The SpongeBob Musical” is an energetic, colorful and campy production that’s determined to entertain. Whether or not you find it successful might hinge on your familiarity with that sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea. But if merely reading that last sentence made the SpongeBob SquarePants theme song automatically begin playing in your head, you’re likely the intended audience.
“The SpongeBob Musical” runs through January 4, 2026 at Beck Center for the Arts. 17801 Detroit Ave, Lakewood. Tickets can be purchased by calling (216) 521-2540 or by visiting beckcenter.org, $18-46.
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