The Clark State College Theatre Arts Program (TAP) will hold auditions on January 23 for The SpongeBob Musical.
The SpongeBob Musical is based on the beloved animated series created by Stephen Hillenburg.
Plunge into this stunning all-singing, all-dancing, dynamic stage show! When the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home, SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world. With lives hanging in the balance and all hope lost, a most unexpected hero rises up. The power of optimism really can save the world! An exciting new musical featuring irresistible characters and magical music, this deep-sea pearl of a show is set to make a splash with audiences young and old. The future is bright, the future is bold, the future is The SpongeBob Musical.
Theresa Lauricella, professor of theater and TAP program coordinator at Clark State, said one of the best ways for TAP to showcase its two programs - the Associate of Applied Science in Entertainment Technology - a workforce degree option for students interested in working behind the scenes in theatre, film, broadcasting, and live events - and the Associate of Arts Guided Pathway in Theatre - a transfer degree option for students interested in continuing their education in theatre at the bachelor level - is through productions.
“The Clark State Theatre Arts Program offers classes in both degree options inside the Performing Arts Center, meaning the theatre spaces become labs for students to learn and develop their skills in live entertainment,” she said.
Lauricella said this past fall, TAP presented The Crucible for high school audiences; thus, it seemed ideal to offer a title that appealed to audiences of all ages. Thus, The SpongeBob Musical was selected.
The show will also take place on the stage of the Kuss Auditorium, something that happens only every two years.
Lauricella said Kuss productions are much different than Turner Theater shows in many ways.
“Kuss shows are flashier - the stage itself is larger - so it allows us to include more characters, more set pieces, larger props, and more spectacle,” she said. “Also, by selecting a musical, we can offer performers and audiences the opportunity to experience a live orchestra - which this show will also have.”
Clark State Theatre Arts Program is seeking actors from the college and community to audition for 16 roles in The SpongeBob Musical. Actors should prepare 16-bars of a song from a musical. An accompanist will be provided; sheet music is required.
Auditions will be held Tuesday, January 23 at 7 p.m. at the Clark State Performing Arts Center Kuss Auditorium, 300 South Fountain Avenue, Springfield. Callbacks will occur at 7 p.m., Wednesday, January 24.
Pre-registration for auditions is open online at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDya89BWaacWfORX1veGdWVJN6jKy4lS5V0In_kgDO2NSFMw/viewform?pli=1
Rehearsals will begin in late January.
The SpongeBob Musical performances will take place on Friday, April 5 at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 6 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 7 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $20 for adults or $17 for students/seniors and can be purchased at: https://pac.clarkstate.edu/shows/2023-2024-season/
Clark State students may receive one (1) free ticket with their student ID by visiting the Clark State Performing Arts Center Box Office.
The Theatre Pathway of the Associate of Arts General Transfer degree emphasizes transfer preparation for a student to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in theatre at a four-year university. Majors focus on general education and courses including acting, stagecraft, and script analysis.
Within the program, students receive experiential training in Theatre by working on the program’s live productions in the Clark State Performing Arts Center Turner Studio Theatre and Kuss Auditorium. Majors take one practicum course each term as part of their coursework and audition for program productions to gain experience in the field. This degree program contains one or more embedded certificates which will automatically be awarded if the certificate requirements are met.