‘SpongeBob Musical’ Opens Thursday at Norwalk High

NORWALK, Conn. — The Norwalk High School Performing Arts Department will present the first of four performances of “The SpongeBob Musical” this Thursday, May 1, at 7 p.m.

Subsequent shows will take place on Friday, May 2, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, May 3, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. All four performances will be held at Norwalk High School, located at 23 Calvin Murphy Drive. 

“The SpongeBob Musical” was selected as this spring’s show because it has “a fun story” and is “filled with great music by a wide range of popular composers and bands,” according to Steven Oliveri, the show’s director. 

“There is a song by Cyndi Lauper, the Plain White T’s, David Bowie—there is a huge list of this great music,” he explained. “Also, it addresses issues of community and belonging and diversity—all the great aspects of Norwalk itself. And I believe it really reflects the value of our school and the community.”

In the musical, “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,” according to a plot synopsis on cur8.com, where tickets for the show can be purchased. “With lives hanging in the balance and all hope lost, a most unexpected hero rises up.”

Oliveri—who is also the choir director as well as a musical theater and music theory instructor at Norwalk High—called the show “a great family story,” adding, “I think it is universal, will resonate with a wide range of ages, and it’s going to look amazing—the kids are just having a blast.”

A total of 94 students, including 39 in the cast, 36 in the orchestra, and 19 crew members, have been working hard gearing up for the show, which is based on a stage production that began its run in Chicago in 2016 before debuting on Broadway in 2017.

“I have so many great students involved,” said Oliveri. “I would like to recognize our two student choreographers, seniors Katie Romano and Juliette Coppola,” who have been doing a great job, according to Oliveri. 

“And we have an amazing student stage manager, senior Camille Agostino, who really keeps everything organized and keeps the show going, and we wouldn’t be able to do it without her,” he added. “They have all been with our theater department since they were freshmen, and we have really gotten to see them mature and become really masters of their craft.”

When it comes to costumes, Oliveri said the actors’ wardrobes “sort of suggest the characters,” adding, “They’re not wearing huge SpongeBob suits or anything like that.”

With “SpongeBob” originally an animated TV show that began its run on Nickelodeon in 1999 (and is still going strong), not every generation may be familiar with the characters, but audiences will still love the show, Oliveri stressed.

“I think the characters and the story are sort of universally appealing that I don’t think you even need to know anything about the cartoon when you see it—it’s just as engaging for an audience,” he said.

Charles McAfee, the show’s technical director and a Norwalk High music teacher, said he thinks audiences “will really enjoy the positivity and creativity” of the musical. 

“In my four years at NHS, this is the most complex technical show we have put together, and it has only been possible through an incredible number of work hours from staff, students, and parents,” McAfee added. 

“So many people have worked so hard to make this happen, and I think that is going to show up on stage. I am really grateful to our community for coming together on such an enormous project. This group of seniors is really special to me, and this is a great way to send them off,” McAfee concluded. 

Oliveri touched on the positive effect he has seen the Performing Arts Department have on students’ lives.

“What I really enjoy most is watching kids come in as either freshmen, or they just moved to the district or switched schools, and seeing them find community and make friends with each other and build these relationships that continue outside of our department and will sort of set themselves up for the rest of their lives,” he said.

“They learn about hard work and discipline, and by the time they’re graduating, they’ve made lifelong friends,” Oliveri added. “And seeing the bonds between students and staff members and students really makes arts education worthwhile.”

To purchase tickets for the show, which are $18 for adults, $15 for children 18 and under, and senior citizens, visit https://cur8.com/22985/project/128652.