Review by Ravyn Jones, William Mason High School Critic Team
Full of bubbles, coral, and fun, Highlands High School's The SpongeBob Musical landed with a splash! This nostalgic romp through Bikini Bottom filled the audience with delight as they cheered nonstop.
In The SpongeBob Musical, based on the fan-favorite Nickelodeon show SpongeBob SquarePants, the citizens of Bikini Bottom panic as they discover a volcano is about to erupt and destroy their city. As time runs out, SpongeBob and friends plot to stop the catastrophe while others panic, search for someone to blame, or take the situation to their advantage.
Highlands High School put on a show that was simply beautiful. The design of the show felt incredibly cohesive—the lighting, set, costumes, hair, and makeup all worked to create a cartoony feeling that brought the audience into their childhood favorite show.
The star of the show was Emil Sztanyo, who really was reminiscent of the titular SpongeBob SquarePants, mimicking his iconic voice and optimistic mannerisms in a way that showed he'd done his research. Alongside Emil, Eva Sarakatsannis captivated the audience with her performance as Sandy Cheeks, the chipper Southern squirrel. Together, Emil and Eva had wonderful costar chemistry as they portrayed best friends embarking on an adventure to save their city.
Elliot Martin's performance as Pearl Krabs was another standout moment of the show. Martin's strong soprano voice was perfect for belting out Pearl's frustrations with her father's focus on money over her. The performances of Jake Hagerty and Sophie Uhl as villains Plankton and Karen the Computer were a comedic high point. Their song "When the Going Gets Tough," where Plankton breaks into a rap number and Karen joins him for a hip-hop duet, had the audience laughing and cheering in equal measure.
But the technical elements were what really brought this show together. The set design, led by Jack Langlinais and Harrison Schultz, was incredibly reminiscent of a cartoon world, and when the curtains opened on it for the first time, an audible gasp could be heard from the crowd! The props crew, led by Lucy Runyan, was crafty in their execution as they both created props from scratch, such as the microphone of reporter Perch Perkins, and refurbished others, such as SpongeBob's pet snail Gary.
SpongeBob SquarePants is a cartoon that has entranced generations of people, and the cast and crew of Highlands High School's production of The SpongeBob Musical really understood what makes this so special, from the comedic characters to the bright colors to the heartfelt story. Hearing Norah Shadwell perform as Squidward, Ben Pfetzer as Mr. Krabs, or any of the other incredible cast, it was clear to see that this was a show full of spirit and a deep love and understanding for not only the musical or the TV show, but for the memories they bring.
Review by Justin Hughes, Taylor High School Critic Team
Under the sea and onto the stage, the lively company of Highlands High School made waves with an unforgettable performance of The SpongeBob Musical.
Adapting from the 1999 Nickelodeon classic, SpongeBob SquarePants, The SpongeBob Musical premiered in June of 2016, taking audiences at Chicago's Oriental Theatre on a plunge into Bikini Bottom. Based on the conceptual ideas of Tina Landau, The SpongeBob Musical features a book by Kyle Jarrow, and its bubbly score was composed by various artists such as David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, and more! The SpongeBob Musical follows the unsuspecting hero, SpongeBob, as he joins forces with his friends Sandy Cheeks and Patrick Star to save the town he loves and prove he is not (Just a) Simple Sponge.
The company at Highlands High School displayed undeniable skills while testing the values of true friendship, belonging, and unity. Flamboyant and captivating onstage portrayals worked in cohesion with meticulous technical elements, allowing audiences to have the "Best Day Ever."
At the forefront of this production stood Emil Sztanyo with an effervescent portrayal of the show's namesake, SpongeBob. Sztanyo's performance notably displayed a variety of sentiments as he navigated from eternally optimistic and quirky to introspective and sentimental. Sztanyo's physical acting left audiences in billows of laughter and perfectly complemented his vocals in songs such as "Bikini Bottom Day" and "(Just a) Simple Sponge".
Playing the money-motivated Eugene Krabs stood Ben Pfetzer. Pfetzer took on this role with a very clear inspiration, paying homage to the original character. His accent and vocal inflections matched those of Mr. Krabs from the cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants and were a consistent facet of his performance. Further enhancing his dazzling portrayal were over-the-top gestures and acting choices that left audiences in a humorous hysteria. Some of his most notable moments were alongside his daughter Pearl Krabs. Elliot Martin took on the role of Pearl Krabs with immense stage presence and dedication. She won audiences over in numbers such as Daddy Knows Best and Bikini Bottom Boogie with a well-established belt. Her acting played very well off of Pfetzer, and the pair's essential contrast allowed this production to shine.
Highlands' production was brought to life through the collective efforts of both the crew and cast members. The costume crew, led by Barrett Becker and Megan Reichert, meticulously thought out and designed costumes with distinct references to original characters. True craftsmanship was on display as their costumes were repurposed from prior productions. Each costume was modified and created with pops of color and maintained the "cartoonish style" of SpongeBob SquarePants. Another memorable facet of this vivacious production was the diligent and adaptive sound crew led by Violet Hisey. The sound crew masterfully blended their works with that of the orchestra to maintain a well-balanced sound throughout the production. Although faced with minor difficulties at times on entrances, the sound crew prevailed, giving consistent support to the onstage performers.
Highlands High School proved to be anything but simple with wonderful performances and diligent tech crews in their heartwarming portrayal of The SpongeBob Musical.
Review by Nyla Shahanavaz, Walnut Hills High School Critic Team
The SpongeBob Musical made a splash at Highlands High School , diving into a sea of laughter, energy, and heart with dazzling performances and an inspiring message.
The SpongeBob Musical, inspired by the beloved Nickelodeon cartoon, premiered on Broadway in 2017 and earned a grand 12 Tony nominations. The composition for the musical includes songs from various artists such as David Bowie and Cyndi Lauper. The show follows SpongeBob's daring journey to save Bikini Bottom from certain impending doom - the explosion of Mt. Humongous. As SpongeBob aims to stop the explosion with Sandy's newfound "Eruptor Interrupter," he explores profound themes of friendship, prejudice, and the tension between government control and media influence.
This production of The SpongeBob Musical was a bright, bold explosion of talent and teamwork. The pit orchestra was particularly impressive, working marvelously with the cast to create a wonderful-sounding atmosphere. The elaborate set designs played a key role in the production, enhancing the zany nature of the show.
Emil Sztanyo as SpongeBob captured the true essence of the character through cheerful expressions and joyful inflections of voice. Sztanyo perfectly balanced the complexity of naivety and enthusiasm of the character with incredible vocal talent, conveyed in his rendition of "(Just a) Simple Sponge." Teamed alongside Sandy Cheeks (Eva Sarakatannis) and Patrick Star (Noah Varland), the dynamic trio showcased the power of friendship and resilience in their performance of "Chop to the Top" and "(I Guess) I Miss You."
Jake Hagerty as Plankton enthralled the stage with endless humor. Hagerty's phenomenal physicality paired with vivid facial expressions left the audience tearing up with laughter. His rendition of "When The Going Gets Tough" was beautifully voiced and an exceptional exhibition of talent. Peyton Pope (Perch Perkins) vocal cadence and commanding presence truly added a layer of depth through the commentary of the show. Pope effortlessly demonstrated the satirical aspect of the media's influence, also highlighting the cunning power of media on the citizens of Bikini Bottom.
The sound crew, led by Violet Hissey, further elevated the atmosphere of the show with unique sound effects, orchestrated by the Foley Fish (Emily Twehues). The set design (Shreya Vaghela and Harrison Schultz) remarkably depicted the cartoon-esque vision of Bikini Bottom onstage while also using ingenious techniques to focus on recycling, drawing attention to the ongoing problems in our world today.
Highland High School's production was a spectacular display of talent with hints of important messages of friendship and self-expression. They should be incredibly proud of their production of The SpongeBob Musical.
Excerpts From Other Top Reviews
"The costumes in this show, designed by Barrett Becker and Megan Reichert , were perfect for every character's portrayal. They were colorful and fun, and each moment there was a new beautiful outfit to look at. They were all carefully designed to fit each character's color scheme and vibe, and they added a significant amount of intrigue to the performance."
-Camdyn Drohan, Loveland High School Critic Team
"While there were many other residents of Bikini Bottom that made a lasting impression, there were two of particularly exceptional note: Patrick Star (Noah Varland) and Sheldon Plankton (Jake Hagerty). Varland brought amazing energy to the stage, synthesizing extremely well both physically and vocally with his yellow counterpart. This was more than evident in BFF, a very lighthearted number that perfectly encapsulated the friendship of the sponge and star. On the other end of the spectrum, Hagerty proved that being evil doesn't mean you can't boogie down as he delivered a killer rap solo and breakdance in No Control. Ultimately, the supporting cast thoroughly rounded out this show and made the town of Bikini Bottom come to life."
-Zychik Rozhkov, Campbell County High School Critic Team
"The significance of visual elements within this production cannot be understated, as both the scale and world of characters are immensely different from that of our own. The set, designed by Jack Langlinais and Harrison Schultz, utilized recyclable material to promote the show's support of an anti-pollution message. The incorporation of elements such as pool noodles and marine equipment demonstrates the level of detail infused into the design. While the facade of the production appears bright and colorful, hidden ladders and coves, as well as movable pieces, allowed for actor interpretation and utilization of the space. The costume crew, led by Barret Becker and Megan Reichert, dressed every single performer with modernized clothing that reflected both the original cartoon designs and a scientifically accurate portrayal of their aquatic species, balancing the desire for effortless audience interpretation with the creative interpretations of the crew."
-Alexandra Hess, Campbell County High School Critic Team
"Bringing the bright sea world of Bikini Bottom to life was Lucy Runyan and the crew's awe-inspiring props. The creative use of recycled materials to symbolize trash left in the water, as well as oversized items to emphasize the show's cartoon connection, allowed for each scene to shine, even in the smallest details. Barrett Becker, Megan Reichert, and the crew's magnificent costumes continued to bring this iconic TV show to life throughout the course of the show. With over 50 quick changes and more than 200 total garments, the costumes never failed to evoke a sense of childlike joy."
-Ashlyn Fuhrmann, William Henry Harrison High School Critic Team
"Patchy the Pirate, played by Garrett Cutajar, had the audience in laughter starting off the show, being escorted off by security. Pearl Krabs and Eugene Krabs, played by Elliot Martin and Ben Pfetzer, embodied their characters in the song, 'Daddy Knows Best,' with Pearl belting flawlessly."
-Hannah Hodge, Taylor High School Critic Team
"Despite being a square, the true star of the show was undoubtedly SpongeBob SquarePants, who was portrayed by Emil Sztanyo. Sztanyo perfectly captured SpongeBob's naive, silly, and bubbly personality, delivering a charming and authentic performance. On top of his acting, his vocals absolutely shone in 'Simple Sponge.' SpongeBob's BFF, Patrick Star, was brought to life by Noah Varland. Varland's portrayal of Patrick was animated, fun-loving, and an audience favorite. This dynamic duo was everything from your childhood and more."
-Eshanya Kapoor, Larry A. Ryle High School Critic Team
"Highlands High School's production of The SpongeBob Musical was everything you'd hope for from a show based on such a beloved cartoon. It was quick and lively, exciting and bubbly, nothing short of the beloved sponge in a pineapple under the sea."
-Katie Fischer, Campbell County High School Critic Team