Laura and Samara spend their days as non-profit unicorns and fill every spare minute exploring the world of musical theatre as BFFs (that’s Broadway Friends Forever). Follow @bffs613 on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Your favourite Bikini Bottom sponge has a musical! TotoToo Theatre takes us underwater with SpongeBob: The Musical, opening at The Gladstone Theatre on November 28. More than just the base of a children’s cartoon, the musical received 12 Tony nominations in 2018, tying with Mean Girls that year for the most-nominated production. However, the music for this show is perhaps the hidden secret. It packs a powerful lineup of singer-songwriters and bands behind the nearly 20 songs.
We got to see a sneak peek of a song the cast performed at the Broadway Nights Ottawa Halloween Extravaganza, and wanted to hear more ahead of its run. We spoke with stage manager Lisa Dunn to learn more.
Photo by Alex Henkelman
SpongeBob SquarePants the animated series has a very particular brand of humour that has captured audiences. Is this something we will get to see carried over into the musical?
The SpongeBob SquarePants animated series is known for its slapstick humour, clever wordplay, and surreal moments. The stage show often blends absurd scenarios with heartfelt character dynamics, creating a quirky mix of childish silliness and sharp wit. Audiences can expect some of the same wordplay and puns from the animated series but blended with live-action physical comedy. The humour often comes from the dynamics between the characters. SpongeBob’s optimism contrasts with Squidward’s sarcasm, Patrick’s obliviousness, and Mr. Krabs’ greed, leading to a lot of comedic moments that come from how the characters play off of each other.
There are some pretty big names who have contributed to the original songs for the show including Sara Bareilles, Cyndi Lauper, and The Flaming Lips, amongst a large list of others. Can you tell us a bit more about the music in the show and the mix of genres?
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to direct a show with songs written by so many legends. The variety of artists involved in the project helped give the musical its diverse sound, blending elements of pop, rock, soul, gospel, punk, and even hip-hop.
This cross-genre approach helped to create a soundscape that appeals to a broad audience, from fans of the original animated series to theatregoers who enjoy Broadway musicals with a contemporary edge. My first instinct was to try to add flavours and elements of some of these amazing artists into the numbers themselves, which gave our performers an opportunity to truly connect with the songwriters. David Bowie’s contribution was added posthumously after his death in 2016. It’s amazing to see how enduring his work truly is.
Photo by Alex Henkelman
How did the animated series help inspire what the staging and costumes would look like in this production?
We really wanted to build an imaginary world of our own. While the animated series provided us with a guide, we were able to take massive liberties as we were not confined to a specific time in history or a real place. Colour was a top priority. We wanted the vibrance of animation, and through stunning wigs (designed by Stefania Wheelhouse) and colourful costumes (designed by Ana Lorena Fuentes Roman), we are able to really make the stage feel like a cartoon.
We plan to use technology to add depth to the stage through moving lights, projections and even some costumes. Our props designer (Jennifer Barkey) has created some amazing props that will wow the audience (including our very own Gary the snail). Expect some beautiful underwater creations to add that extra something special to the set.
People may be most aware of SpongeBob as a children’s animated series. What about this musical makes it a blast for audiences of all ages?
This musical offers layers of humour, cultural references, emotional depth, and an engaging narrative that resonates with a wide range of audiences. Adults will understand the elements of environmentalism, political greed, and poor ethical decisions, while the kids learn about friendship, acceptance, and trust.
What are you hoping audiences take away from this production?
If nothing else, I hope audiences leave feeling happy and entertained. I truly hope they can laugh until it hurts, clap and cheer on the cast. Acceptance is our top priority at TotoToo, and SpongeBob’s Bikini Bottom, like our company, is a place ‘where all are welcome’. I hope everyone feels like a guest in our home for a couple of hours where they can check out of the stresses of real life and just feel like a kid again.
Toto Too’s production of SpongeBob: The Musical runs from November 28 to December 7 at the Gladstone Theatre with 7:30 pm performances Wednesdays through Saturdays, and 1:30 matinee performances on weekends. Tickets range from $17 to $70.
