From Bikini Bottom to the Erie Playhouse

Rick Klein Photography

Catch Casey Conrad-Medvis as Patrick Star, Michael Graham as SpongeBob SquarePants, and Zayna Darres as Sandy Cheeks in the upcoming Erie Playhouse production of the Tony Award winning SpongeBob Musical.

CONTINUING FRIDAY, AUG. 4

Pretty much everyone, from Millennials to Gen Alpha and (if we're being totally honest) their parents alike, have chuckled aloud to an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants. And it is that multigenerational enjoyment that the Erie Playhouse is hoping to evoke with their current production of The Spongebob Musical, playing through Aug. 13.

Artistic director of the Erie Playhouse Richard Davis comments: "SpongeBob continues to speak to the generation who grew up with the show and now they are sharing the show with their children. The SpongeBob Musical is a spectacle of a show — from the orchestra, which uses five computers to make the music, an on-stage foley artist who creates all the sound effects, bubbles, confetti, a volcano, pirates, tap dancing sea anemones, and even a gospel chorus of sardines. The SpongeBob Musical is a show you don't want to miss."

The plot, adapted from the much-loved, long-running Nickelodeon animated television series, follows the main character Spongebob SquarePants as he goes about his normal, underwater day working at the Krusty Krab. He was just rejected for a promotion when a nearby volcano erupts which throws the whole town of Bikini Bottom into chaos. At its core, the story is about friendship, teamwork, optimism, and holding on to hope — themes that are touching, thrilling, and generally relatable. The story is multi-layered for kids and adults, so the whole family will enjoy tapping their feet to the beat and rooting for everyone's favorite characters.

The musical itself earned a Tony, along with awards from 6 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle, and features a soundtrack written by elite, well-known rock and rollers including Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, The Flaming Lips, They Might Be Giants, and Brian Eno (among many, many others).

The Erie Playhouse cast consists of Michael Graham, Casey Conrad-Medvis, Zayna Darres, Ryan Ingram, Dan Bainbridge, Myles Bruce, as well as a supporting cast of Playhouse veterans and several actors making their Playhouse debut. 

Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. // Aug. 4 - 13 // The Erie Playhouse, 13 W. 10th St. // $17.49 - $27.40 // For tickets and info: erieplayhouse.org