By Joanie Cox-Henry
Photo by Larry Marano
The moment you step inside the theater, you immediately feel the electric energy of The Spongebob Musical as dueling DJs blast rock anthems from the balconies. It's a chill, carefree vibe from the start and a refreshing way to kick off the must-sea show of the summer put on by the charming and dashingly talented Slow Burn Theatre Company. Patchy the Pirate even pops in! He's a total treasure posing for selfies with the crowd and attempting to take pirated videos of the show!
Spongebob is ready to get to the Bikini Bottom of saving his beloved underwater home from the pending doom of a soon-to-erupt volcano. Based on the beloved Nickelodeon cartoon, this quirky show is fun for the whole family. Anthony Llerandi is pure joy in striped socks as the adorable Spongebob Squarepants! Paired with bestie Patrick Star, portrayed by the magical Marc Christopher, it's a match made in underwater heaven.
This show also brings an unexpected tidal wave of musical talent. The SpongeBob Musical boasts a score that features original songs by some of the biggest rock starfishes in the sea.
Rock legends David Bowie and Brian Eno lent their otherworldly talents to the music for this production, while pop icons like Cyndi Lauper and Sara Bareilles contributed their songwriting prowess. The inclusion of John Legend added a touch of soulful R&B to the mix, and Panic! At the Disco brought their signature energetic pop-rock sound to Bikini Bottom. But the musical diversity doesn't stop there. Country fans were treated to a tune by Lady A, while hip-hop enthusiasts could groove to T.I.'s contribution. Alternative rock was well-represented with tracks from They Might Be Giants and The Plain White T's. Even Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry got in on the action, proving that SpongeBob's appeal truly spans generations. This eclectic mix of artists and styles reflects the show's wide appeal and its ability to entertain both kids and adults.
The cast of Slow Burn puts its heart and 'filet of sole' into this show, which offers brightly colored costumes, snazzy sets, and loads of pizzazz. The vocal numbers are over the top, with plenty of high-energy number numbers, too.
While the show is wildly whimsical, the plot gets more poignant at times. When Spongebob's boss Mr. Krabs says the lovable character is simply "not management material," the determined Spongebob decides to embark on a quest to prove him wrong. The entire cast of Slow Burn Theatre Company delights in this production. Brian Klimowski delivers a stellar performance as Squidward Q. Tentacles, and Dominque Kempf is a dream as Sandy Cheeks. Nayomi Braaf is radiant as Pearl Krabs, the daughter of the crabby Mr. Krabs.
While the money-grubbing crustacean is determined to make his daughter a crabby capitalist, Pearl dreams of ditching her destiny and running off to pursue her musical dreams, singing with the rock band The Electric Skates.
One of my favorite scenes in the production was the heartfelt duet between Spongebob and Patrick when they perform John Legend's "(I Guess I) Miss You." The lyrics powerfully project the priceless bond between Spongebob and Patrick.
"Suddenly nothing feels quite right.
I'm only pretending I'm alright without you
While the duo goes through a trying time, they demonstrate not even evil villains like Plankton or Karen or an apocalypse matter much in the end when it comes to true friends.
The Spongebob Musical runs through June 23, 2024 with Slow Burn Theatre Company at Amaturo Theater at Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Click here for tickets or visit browardcenter.org!
I attended The Spongebob Musical with my son Jack, and he is still raving about what an awesome time he had. My sister-in-law, Dr. Angela Gonzalez, traveled from Tampa and took her family to see it and enjoyed every minute of it too! Here are some of the shots from Bikini Bottom!
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