READY, SET, SPONGE!

A colorful musical that’s tailor-made
for kids and SpongeBob devotees

Bailey Lee

SpongeBob SquarePants debuted on Nickelodeon in 1999 and was a quick success, becoming a must-watch for kids and many college students. The animated series became a multibillion-dollar global hit, yielding spin-offs, movies, and this musical adaptation now on at Cygnet Theatre titled, well, The SpongeBob Musical.

For those unfamiliar with the little yellow fellow, here’s the core of the cartoon: The series follows a big-eyed sponge boy, SpongeBob SquarePants (Bailey Lee), who lives under the sea inside a sunken pineapple. With his Pollyanna-like optimism, he works in a fast-food restaurant as a cook, spends time with kooky oceanic friends, and works the nerves of his grumpy and sharp-tongued neighbor, Squidward Tentacles (Andrew Oswald).

Rebecca Murillo

If you followed that, you’re ready; there’s nothing specific you need to know to follow Kyle Jarrow‘s book. The plot here is a typical episodic crisis for SpongeBob to react to: an underwater volcano appears to be on the verge of exploding and will destroy the characters’ town of Bikini Bottom. Dealing with their need to either flee or find some way to save the town brings out the best in some and the worst in others, particularly the town villain, Plankton (Drew Bradford).

Drew Bradford and SpongeBob Cast

The biggest attraction is watching the classic characters come to life. And boy, do they come to life! This show is highly energetic, full of dance, and exploding with color—from delightful costumes and sets to the bright pink goatee on SpongeBob’s best friend, Patrick the starfish (Berto Fernández). A great example of the cleverness on display is a school of sea life portrayed by actors beneath huge, clear umbrellas with dangling tentacles—very creative. The visuals are essentially a 10-year-old’s equivalent of an acid trip (and I mean that in the nicest possible way).

SpongeBob Cast Members

Ms. Lee does an excellent job of capturing SpongeBob’s voice, attitude, and energy. Mr. Fernández embodies lovability, and he holds a killer note toward the end of Act I. The rest of the cast, who must be panting in the wings from being so active, throw themselves gleefully into bringing a cartoon-level of animation to every line. Almost every line is delivered over the top—and that’s exactly the right choice for this absurd, surreal adventure. Director Katie Banville and musical director Patrick Marion keep the energy high and the young audience completely engaged. A good third of the audience were kids, and they were eating this up like ice cream on a hot day.

Brittany Adriana Carillo and Kürt Norby

So, here’s the tough part: If you haven’t been a fan, that “bringing it to life” factor won’t be there for you. As someone largely unfamiliar with the cartoon, I found that the plot in Act I just didn’t carry enough interest. Even music credited as “Original Songs by Aerosmith, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, The Flaming Lips, Sara Bareilles, Panic! At the Disco, and David Bowie” didn’t jump out as memorable, and Act I felt long. Despite all that energy—and recognizing that there wasn’t much more the cast or direction could have done to pull me in—the Saturday-morning-cartoon plot left us with an outstanding kids’ show that adults may simply find diverting.

Drew Bradford and Emma Bradford

However, once we’re past the exposition, Act II is more interesting. Mr. Oswald has one of the best numbers in the middle with “I’m Not a Loser,” adding a little welcome pathos and a delightful tap routine to the goofiness of a sponge, a starfish, and a squirrel climbing volcanoes. A joyful ending and vibrant closing number leave an upbeat feeling, especially if you look at the kids on the way out.

The cast of The SpongeBob Musical

So, would I take a 10-year-old to see this? Absolutely! This is a tremendous chance to expose kids to the fun and glory of theatre in a setting of high-quality performances. Would I recommend it to adult friends without kids? Only if I knew they were SpongeBob fans. This is one of those shows that will thoroughly delight some and leave others less captivated.

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photos by Karli Cadel Photography

The SpongeBob Musical
Cygnet Theatre
Joseph Clayes III Theater
Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center, 2880 Roosevelt Road in San Diego
2 hours 20 minutes with intermission
Wed–Sat at 7; Sat & Sun at 2; Tue, June 30 at 7; Wed, July 1 at 2
ends on July 12, 2026
for tickets (starting at $54), call 619.337.1525 or visit Cygnet Theatre

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