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The SpongeBob Musical
BY MADELEINE BISHOP & AARON HILL
MAY 28, 2026, 8:01 A.M.
“Are ye ready kids?” was answered with an overwhelmingly enthusiastic “Aye Aye captain!” every night of the EBHS Drama Club’s run of The SpongeBob Musical. From April 17th to 25th, the East Brunswick community dove headfirst into the live-action version of the beloved children's cartoon, SpongeBob SquarePants, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the club.
The story follows the residents of Bikini Bottom as they cope with their impending doom, caused by an erupting volcano that will destroy the town in a day. SpongeBob teams up with his friends, Sandy Cheeks and Patrick Star, to save his beloved community, all the while tackling obstacles such as evil schemes, ineffective government, and bigoted mobs. All of the iconic characters from the cartoon are featured in this colorful and whimsical musical, including Pearl Krabs, Mrs. Puff, and even Larry the Lobster.
One unique feature of The SpongeBob Musical is the songs, as each one is written by a different musical artist. The show integrates a variety of genres throughout, each song composed by a different well-known artist: a sea shanty by Sara Bareilles, a hip-hop track by T.I., a pop-rock anthem by Panic! At the Disco, a piano ballad by John Legend, and even the iconic “Best Day Ever" from the original cartoon. The diverse soundtrack helps curate the unique ambience of the show.
Despite the immersive spectacle that the show would go on to become, the early processes proved to be a challenge. Bringing cartoon characters to life was a challenge for the actors, especially since the EBHS Drama Club had recently leaned into realist tragedy in their fall play Radium Girls. Junior Jude Napolitano said, “Patrick Star was the hardest role I’ve ever played, even harder than portraying real people like in Radium Girls, because every choice you make in your acting has to achieve the goal of being funny all the time.”
The crew also experienced similar hardships. Senior Vidhya Karuppiah, one of the carpenters behind the set, said, “SpongeBob was our most ambitious set yet, with so many huge moving parts. Being a cartoon makes it even harder because people know what Bikini Bottom looks like, and we have to make something that resembles their idea while also accommodating our show.”
The closing of the show on April 25th proved a bittersweet day for the cast and crew, saying goodbye to 17 seniors in the club. Although SpongeBob marked the end of many members' involvement in drama club, it also provided a new opportunity for the incoming underclassmen, eager to take the lead. Lila Heilbronn, a sophomore stage manager, remarked how “it was such a new and thrilling experience to interact with a show from the backstage perspective like in SpongeBob, and it only made me even more excited to continue over the next few years.”
The grand critical and commercial success of The SpongeBob Musical marked a fulfilling end to the EBHS Drama Club’s 2025-2026 season. Although they are unsure of what future productions might be, the cast and crew still remain enthusiastic for all to come.
