Behind the Scenes: WebCo’s “The SpongeBob Musical”

Vibrant colors, a live onstage orchestra pit and a volcano threatening Bikini Bottom brought the Nickelodeon cartoon “SpongeBob SquarePants” to life as Webster’s Sargent Conservatory of Theater Arts (WebCo) opened its fall mainstage production, “The SpongeBob Musical,” on Nov. 14.

Among all the performers that made this show possible, vocal major Emma Lynn Wittenauer played a crucial role in the musical as the trombone player in the pit.

Performing in the pit comes with its own challenges, Wittenauer said.

“We, as the pit, have to pay attention to what the actors are doing,” Wittenauer said. “There’s vamps that we have to take into consideration where they’re doing dialogue. We have to stop or move on at the right time. It’s a big effort to make it sound right and make sure the timing is correct.”

As a vocal major, Wittenauer does not typically get to work with WebCo students.

“I think it’s great collaborating with musicians I don’t usually work with,” Wittenauer said.

“And then also working with people in the Conservatory that us music department people don’t really have an opportunity to work with. I have friends who I get to work with now.”

The musical features 18 songs in total, including the popular theme song for the cartoon. Out of every song Wittenauer played, her favorite was Yolanda Adams’ “Super Sea Star Savior,” a piece led by Patrick Star.

“I really love playing ‘Super Sea Star Savior,’ because it stays in good keys for a trombone player, which lots of musical theatre songs do not,” Wittenauer said. “Also, it’s really fast paced and has some great melodies. Then, Cajani Hurd, who plays Patrick Star, is just incredible. Putting the whole song together is really amazing.”

When tasked with playing the iconic role of Patrick Star, Cajani Hurd spent time outside of classes watching episodes of the cartoon to become more in tune with his character.

“I truly can say that I’ve resonated most with this character over other characters I’ve played in other shows,” Hurd said. “There’s such a love in Patrick’s heart that I feel can often be overlooked by how slow-witted he can be, but he truly just wants to be loved and share love.”

The musical drew large crowds to the Loretto-Hilton Center throughout its three-day run. Vocal performance major Ava Hettenhausen, who attended opening night, said the musical exceeded her expectations.

“This production was nuanced, creative, fun and had me both laughing and tearing up,” Hettenhausen said. “All of the leads embodied their respective characters, and the ensemble perfectly captured the erratic and wacky mood of the story. I loved the performances of Squidward, Patrick and Sandy. I felt like those characters had come straight out of the television show and had been personified on the stage in front of me.”

“The SpongeBob Musical” closed on Nov. 16, but WebCo’s season continues with “The Drowning Girls,” opening Dec. 5.