by Jeris Rathbun
This year’s 2024-2025 musical season was announced on Nov. 4 when Aurora High School’s choir director Jason Frew revealed that “SpongeBob SquarePants” will be this year’s pick. Participants in Aurora’s Music department will perform the musical.
Auditions for each role took place in early December, and any possible callbacks were submitted by mid-December. The official roles were then announced before Christmas break, allowing cast members to prepare during the holidays. Since coming back from break, participants have been practicing two to three times per week, alongside any work that gets done during choir class.
“It has been a little bit crazy since roles were announced because of Christmas break, trying to learn songs, lines, as well as position blocking; however, each practice makes the show come to life a little more,” senior Grayce Gustafson said. Grayce will be playing the part of Sandy Cheeks.
The Broadway musical first premiered in June 2016 at the Oriental Theater in Chicago. Then, after a month of previews, the musical opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre in December 2017.
This year’s musical was adapted from the beloved animated Nickelodeon show SpongeBob SquarePants, created by Stephen Hillenburg and first aired in 1999, and has been a household name ever since. SpongeBob SquarePants the Musical follows SpongeBob and his friends’ attempts to save Bikini Bottom from a volcanic eruption that can potentially wipe out all life in the place they call home.
“I’m excited to see how the musical will turn out. I remember being quite skeptical upon first hearing what this year’s musical would be, but knowing Mr. Frew, I knew it would turn out in the end, and thus far it has,” junior Eva Yllescas said, starring as SpongeBob.
Its singing and dancing dynamics has characterized this musical's multi-layered story alongside the stage antics. With these attributes in mind, the musical is sure to be a hit among all age groups. The musical caters to a younger audience through the bright and neon costumes and sets, and child-like humor that is presented in the show, while also showing depth and meaning within its musical numbers that appeal to more mature audience members.
Will SpongeBob and his friends be able to remain hopeful and balance holding out optimism for Bikini Bottom against the impending doom of losing all that they have? To find out, save at least one of the three dates that Aurora will be performing the show. The Aurora High School is set to perform through March 27-29 in the Aurora Middle School Theater.