Previews: SPONGEBOB THE MUSICAL at Carrollwood Cultural Center – Now through August 4

Broadway World

By Deborah Bostock-Kelley Jul. 20, 2024

Get ready to dive into the fun-filled waters of the Carrollwood Cultural Center! From now until August 4, they’re making waves with their latest extravaganza, “SpongeBob The Musical,” directed by Andi Garner. It’s a splash-tacular show that will leave patrons singing and dancing, bringing the beloved underwater world of Bikini Bottom to life on stage for all ages.

When asked about the approach to adapting such a beloved animated series for the stage, Garner emphasized the importance of staying true to the source material. “We tried to stay as true to the source material as possible by embracing the cartoon aspect,” she shared.

One of the biggest challenges faced during the production process was the volcano scenes. “The volcano scenes. There is literally 20 minutes of the show where SpongeBob and Sandy are climbing a huge volcano. We don’t have the space for a huge volcano. We went back and forth on creative and inexpensive ways to make this work. We literally just built the unit this week, and we opened it on Friday. I didn’t want to block anything on it until we had it. It’s like a jungle gym for the actors and all-timed to music. I’m so proud of the spectacle we have come up with for our little stage.”