The New Castle Playhouse will present The SpongeBob Musical starting tomorrow July 12-21 and will feature some of Ellwood City’s area favorite actors.
At least five Ellwood City Area actors including Lauren Bush, Jacob Storey, Ace Sharer, Alex Hazen, and Lauren Krug will take to the Main Stage in Augustine Auditorium on July 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20 at 7:30 p.m. and on July 14 and 21 at 2 p.m. (ticket information can be found at the end of the article)
In Part 1 of our series, we caught up with Bush, Storey, and Sharer for a cast Q&A. Part 2, which will publish tomorrow features Hazen and Krug.
Directed by Brent Rodgers (well-known for directing many shows at Riverside High School), SpongeBob SquarePants is the musical adaptation of Nickelodeon’s long-running animated children’s sitcom of the same name. We find ourselves in the undersea city of Bikini Bottom, inhabited by happy-go-lucky and ever-optimistic yellow sea sponge SpongeBob SquarePants and his equally quirky circle of friends and neighbors. SpongeBob’s pleasant existence is abruptly interrupted when it is discovered that Mt. Humongous, a nearby volcano, will erupt within the next 48 hours and completely obliterate Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob, trying to prove to himself and the world that he is not “just a simple sponge,” resolves to save the day when everybody else has given up all hope.
Lauren Bush
What school do you attend? Slippery Rock University
What high school did you attend? Riverside High School
Your Current Grade? College sophomore
How long have you been in musicals/plays? 8 years
What previous leads/musicals have you been in? Seussical, Shrek, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Happy Days, Matilda, Damn Yankees.
Can you briefly describe your musical character? I’m in the ensemble, so I play multiple characters, including a townfish, jellyfish, sardine, pirate, and sea anemone.
What is your favorite song in this musical? Super Sea Star Savior
What interested you in this role? I instantly fell in love with this show after watching it for the first time, so when I heard about the auditions at NCP, I knew I wanted to audition, and I was so excited to be given the opportunity to perform as multiple characters.
What is an iconic prop in the musical or favorite part of your costume? The huge jellyfish I get to carry across the stage.
What’s the hardest part about your role? The costume changes. I use multiple costumes throughout the show, and making all of the changes on time has proven to be difficult.
Has your character taught you anything “life changing” or that will stay with you after the show? Since I play multiple ensemble roles, I haven’t learned anything ”life changing” from any one role.
What do you think the audience will like about the musical? I think that the audience will really like all of the singing and dancing. This show is very upbeat and energetic, and I think that the audience will have fun with that. There are also multiple points in the show where the cast interacts with the audience, and I think that people will like that as welI.
What is unique about this musical? One of the most unique things about this show is that every song is written by a different person or band. This makes it so that each song can captivate the audience in a different way, which I think is super cool.
If you could have a part in any musical … what would that musical be and why? I would love to be Katherine Plumber in Newsies. Newsies is my favorite musical, and she just seems like a very fun role to play.
What other activities are you involved in? I am going to be involved in the SRU Marching Pride in the fall, and am hoping to continue to do musicals throughout my school career.
What are your future plans? My goal is to work for a green energy company that helps to protect the environment.
Jacob Storey
What school do you attend? Slippery Rock University
What high school did you attend? Riverside High School
Your Current Grade? College Freshman
How long have you been in musicals/plays? I have been in musicals since I was in 8th grade. My first show was “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”. I’ve loved theater ever since!
What previous leads/musicals have you been in? How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Security Guard), Happy Days (Ralph Malph), Matilda (Mr. Wormwood), Bye Bye Birdie (Reporter/Shriner), 1776 (Dr. Josiah Bartlett, Damn Yankees (Mr. Applegate), Urinetown (Executive), and The Addams Family (Gomez Addams)
Can you briefly describe your musical character? I will be playing the role of Mr. Eugene Krabs! He’s as greedy and money-hungry as he is in the cartoon, and is constantly stuck between choosing his daughter, Pearl Krabs, or his money.
What is your favorite song in this musical? I actually have two! “I’m Not a Loser” (which is such a show stopper, you’ll all for sure love it!) and “(I Guess I) Miss You” (which is a super emotional number that will for sure garner some tears).
What interested you in this role? I was definitely interested in just how cartoonish this character is, as well as how much of his iconic traits are expressed in this show.
What is an iconic prop in the musical or favorite part of your costume? For sure my claws! They’re massive and fit with the costume so well. It’s super fun being able to interact with everything using those claws!
What’s the hardest part about your role? The hardest part would definitely be working around the claws. It can be pretty difficult to pick things up or fit into tight spaces with them, but I still love them!
What do you think the audience will like about the musical? The audience will for sure love the numbers and the characters. Everyone was cast so perfectly and this is easily one of the most talented groups I’ve ever been able to work with. Every character is so memorable, and the songs are super catchy as well!
What is unique about this musical? For sure the cartoony feel to everything. It’s amazing how much of the cartoon is able to be conveyed on a stage!
If you could have a part in any musical … what would that musical be and why? As of now, I would absolutely love to play Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone. It would be such a fun role to play!
What other activities are you involved in? I love spending time with my family and friends, and I’m also preparing for college and hoping to get into any choirs or shows I can once I start attending Slippery Rock in the fall!
What are your future plans? At Slippery Rock University, I’ll be continuing my education and will major in Secondary History Education. I will also be minoring in Theater to further express and develop my love for the Arts!
Ace Sharer
What school do you attend? Riverside High School
Your Current Grade? 12
How long have you been in musicals/plays? I’ve been in musicals since my freshman year (2021-2022).
What previous leads/musicals have you been in? I’ve been in Matilda, Damn Yankees and The Addams Family at Riverside. I’ve been in Newsies for New Castle Playhouse.
Can you briefly describe your musical character? I’m in the ensemble and play as a townsfish, jellyfish, sardine, pirate and a sea anemone.
What is your favorite song in this musical? My favorite song(s) in the musical are probably When the Going Gets Tough and Poor Pirates.
What interested you in this role? The thing that interested me in this role is how many different characters I get to portray and perform as. Every character I play as is different and it’s so much fun to go from a scared citizen of Bikini Bottom to a sardine who worships Patrick to a pirate to a tap dancing sea anemone.
What is an iconic prop in the musical or favorite part of your costume? An iconic prop I have is the jellyfish for the song Hero is My Middle Name. It sets the scene while Spongebob, Patrick and Sandy sing.
What’s the hardest part about your role? I think the hardest part of my role is the costume changes and tap dancing. I’ve never tapped before in my life but I taught myself for I’m Not a Loser.
Has your character taught you anything “life changing” or that will stay with you after the show? My roles taught me to have fun no matter what, even if the world might be ending. Even if some of the roles I play were scared, I had fun in the end.
What do you think the audience will like about the musical? I think the audience will like the humour and the personality of the cast. Every character is so different and adds to the story in a different way.
What is unique about this musical? This musical has unique music in my opinion. It’s more hip-hop and upbeat.
If you could have a part in any musical … what would that musical be and why? I honestly couldn’t say. I enjoy every role I get no matter what it is and I have no real desire to get a certain role from a certain show.
What other activities are you involved in? I go to Votech for graphic arts and printing, I draw and paint, crochet, and write.
What are your future plans? My future plans are to make music, continue being an artist and still perform at community theaters.
There are numerous ways to purchase tickets:
- Online Sales: Click Here to Purchase Tickets. Note: Online sales end approximately one hour prior to the start of the show.
- By Phone: Call the New Castle Playhouse: 724-654-3437
- Visit the Box Office: 212 East Long Avenue, New Castle, PA. Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday – Friday
To learn more about the New Castle Playhouse, click here.
The SpongeBob Musical is presented by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
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