Making a splash on stage

Christian Gonzales as SpongeBob SquarePants, center, leaps in the air with other cast members during a dress rehearsal of “The SpongeBob Musical” at The Civic on East Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, April 28, 2025. The play, set on Bikini Bottom, runs from May 1-18, 2025 at the theatre. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2025.

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Posted April 30, 2025 | By Jamie Berube

When Cody Novotny was selected to play Squidward Tentacles at The Civic, his biggest hurdle was not memorizing lines. It was learning how to tap dance.

“During callbacks when I was in consideration for the role, at the tap call I was atrocious. I’ve never tapped before. And when I got the role, I knew I had a Herculean effort in front of me Novotny said.

Novotny tackled the task with three hours of daily practice in order to master a tap dance number in his role on stage. He is now obsessed with tap as a dance form.

“Tap is now easily one of my biggest obsessions, and I’m so excited to see where I go with it,” Novotny said. “I feel sorry for my neighbors when they inevitably hear the rhythm of toes and heels regularly throughout the day.”

From May 1 to 18, Novotny will make his tap dance debut as the octopus neighbor of SpongeBob SquarePants in “The SpongeBob Musical” at The Civic, concluding the theater’s 74th season.

Novotny is a professional actor in theatre, theme parks and resorts throughout Florida and is elated to be returning to the Ocala Civic Theatre, or The Civic, stage.

Based on the animated television series created by Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon, the musical is a splashy adaptation of the series whose main character, SpongeBob SquarePants, is an anthropomorphic sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea.

The musical follows SpongeBob, played by Christian Gonzales, as he attempts to thwart the eruption of an underground volcano.

Gonzales is returning to the OCT stage, where he most recently played Tully in “Escape to Margaritaville,” with other roles including Actor 1 in “Baskerville,” Cuddy Banks in “Witch,” Tobias Ragg in “Sweeney Todd,” Jack Kelly in “Newsies” and more.

According to Gonzales, he aims to exude optimism in the show in order to capture SpongeBob’s true nature. When Gonzales takes the stage in the first act the optimism is palpable.

“SpongeBob as a character is gleaming with joy and excitement for life and his friends around him, so, for myself, I try to truly see every situation in the show as a ‘glass half-full’ moment,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales connects with SpongeBob’s journey of finding his place and earning appreciation, a theme he believes will resonate with audiences, especially adults. He highlights SpongeBob’s struggle to discover his natural talents and gain recognition, mirroring universal desires for belonging and validation.

“SpongeBob’s main overarching theme of not knowing exactly what his ‘thing’ is and figuring out what he does well naturally and ultimately getting recognized should particularly resonate with adults in the audience,” Gonzales said.

Playing a square yellow sponge could have presented a potential challenge for costume designer Amanda Jones, but, according to Gonzales, Jones did a great job putting together SpongeBob’s signature outfit.

“Amanda did a great job picking out the clothes and the biggest thing were the jazz boots they got for me to rehearse in quickly,” Gonzales said.

“I’ve never been much of a dancer so getting used to the slickness of them has been really helpful while also making me feel more comfortable trying some more daring stuff since SpongeBob is a pretty limber character,” he continued.

“SpongeBob is one of those characters that’s helped me learn to trust my body more and more to do intense movement. I have a history of ankle issues that kind of lingers on the back of my mind, but this show is helping me look past it and feel stronger on my legs than I’ve been in a very long time,” he added.

The musical takes place in an undersea fictional city called Bikini Bottom, where SpongeBob SquarePants and his friends face a crisis: the looming eruption of Mount Humongous. The town’s eclectic denizens, including the conniving duo Plankton and Karen, hatch a sneaky plot to flee via a dastardly escape pod with nefarious motives. Reactions to the impending doom whirl wildly: some frantically finger-point while others cling to a peculiar prophet and a few schemers scramble to cash in on the pandemonium.

Undaunted, the ever-spunky SpongeBob rallies his trusty sidekicks, Patrick and Sandy, to thwart the volcano’s fiery fury with a bold plan. Amid uproarious antics, heartfelt epiphanies and spirited spats, the trio charges toward the disaster with gutsy resolve, proving Bikini Bottom’s heart beats strongest in the face of catastrophe.

According to director Eb Madson, you do not have to be a kid to connect with the show.

“At its core, this musical is about the strength of community and the power of positivity. We’re emphasizing themes of friendship, resilience and inclusivity. Whether you’re 6 or 60, there’s something here to connect with, especially the idea that everyone has a voice and can make a difference,” Madson offered.

Madson was drawn to the SpongeBob Musical because of its heart, humor and boundless creativity.

“It’s a show that radiates joy and celebrates the power of optimism, which feels especially meaningful right now,” Madson said. “For the Ocala community, it’s the perfect fit–a fun, high-energy experience for families, with a surprisingly profound message about coming together in times of crisis.”

With a large cast of characters to coach and direct, Madson is embracing a playful, imaginative approach to the musical.

“The set and costumes are full of bold colors and inventive materials, sparking the audience’s imagination. Choreography is a key part of bringing this world to life, using dynamic, stylized movement to create that underwater energy,” Madson said.

Isiah Blount is new to the OCT stage in the role of SpongeBob’s best friend, Patrick Star, a dim-witted, lovable pink starfish. His hope for young audiences who watch the show is that they grow to love Patrick for his heart.

“I want them to see that even if you go through life feeling unheard or overlooked, you still have something valuable to contribute, something that could help save the day. I also hope they understand, through Patrick, that it’s okay to have disagreements with friends, as long as love is still at the core,” he said.

According to Blount, playing Patrick also taught him that it’s okay to not understand everything and, more importantly, it’s okay to say that you don’t understand.

“So often, we stay silent out of fear of looking unintelligent or being embarrassed. But Patrick isn’t afraid to say when he’s confused and, oddly enough, that was really refreshing to play. It reminded me that there’s strength in vulnerability and in owning where you are in the moment,” Blount said.

Blount masters the role with magnetic, magical energy. His only real challenge came with how to style his hair.

“I knew that if I tried styling my natural hair for every show, it wouldn’t hold up through all the sweat and heat from the lights and I’d probably be left with a lot of breakage by the end of the run. So, we went with a pink afro-textured wig instead. Styling it was definitely a process, but it all came together in the end and really added something fun and unique to the look,” he explained.

Playing Patrick was not hard for Blount. He credits having a lot in common with the character for the overall ease of the process.

“We’re both pretty goofy and laid-back by nature, so stepping into Patrick’s shoes didn’t feel like a huge stretch. At first, I was fully prepared to study his voice and completely dive into who he is in the cartoon. But that wasn’t exactly what the creators of the stage show were looking for. Instead, I had to find Patrick within myself, to capture his essence rather than mimic him,” Blount shared.

For Madson, casting this show was all about finding performers with strong comedic timing, vocal range and heart.

“Patrick had to be lovable and sincere with a knack for quirky humor. We are fortunate to have an incredibly talented cast that brings both the characters and their humanity to life,” he said.

The remaining 20 characters include Benjamin Burnette, security guard and citizen of Bikini Bottom. Burnette previously appeared in the ensemble of “Cinderella” and was Capt. Tony Jaffe in “Escape to Margaritaville.”

Cristian A. Cardoso made his OCT debut as Eli in “The Spitfire Grill” last season and is returning in the role of Larry the Lobster and as a featured dancer and member of the Electric Skates band. The Electric Skates are a fictional, famous rock band in Bikini Bottom. They are a trio of fish known for performing on skateboards and roller skates while playing guitars, adding a high-energy, rebellious vibe to the show.

Crystal Catalina is making her OCT debut as a citizen of Bikini Bottom and as a featured dancer. Courtney Curtis previously played Charlotte in “Cinderella” and Tammy in “Escape to Margaritaville” and is excited to be returning to play Karen the Computer.

Alexa Hall, the sound intern at OCT, is playing a stage role as the Foley Artist Fish, responsible for creating all live sound effects during the show. The mayor of Bikini Bottom is played by returning actress Adrienne Hebert, who previously appeared in the ensemble of “Cinderella” and played Rachel in “Escape to Margaritaville” with other superior stage credits to her name.

New to the OCT stage, Geovanni Jimenez plays Patchy the Pirate and is a member of the Electric Skates band. Janea King plays several roles as a sardine, citizen of bikini bottom, featured dancer and a dance captain. King has previously appeared on the OCT stage in the ensemble of “Cinderella,” as Wanda in “Escape to Margaritaville” and as Tommy Boy in “Newsies.”

Hunter Leary plays Perch Perkins, and his OCT stage credits extend to appearances in the ensemble of “Cinderella” and “Sweeney Todd.” Adrianah Lee appeared in the ensemble of “Cinderella” and “Escape to Margaritaville” and she is returning as a security guard, citizen of Bikini Bottom and as a featured dancer.

Pearl Krabs is played by Caylinn Mosblech, who previously played the beggar woman in “Sweeney Todd” and appeared in the ensembles of “Escape to Margaritaville,” “The Addams Family, Mamma Mia!” and “Sister Act.” Tara Oathout graces the stage as a citizen of Bikini Bottom and sardine. Oathout is thrilled to return to the stage after a nearly 20-year hiatus.

Gary the Snail is played by Walter Paul Oathout, who is making his mainstage debut. New to OCT, Xavier Rosado plays Sheldon J. Plankton. Also making an OCT debut is Saber Ramos, who plays a citizen of Bikini Bottom. Daniel Roscoe previously played Caleb in “The Spitfire Grill” and the Beadle in “Sweeney Todd” and is returning to the stage as a citizen of Bikini Bottom.

Old Man Jenkins is played by Josiah Santiago, who is returning to OCT after recent stage credits including “In the Heights” at the Gainesville Community Playhouse. Santiago also plays a sardine and is a member of the Electric Skates.

Shining in his debut, Antony Smith rocks the role of Eugene Krabs. La’Nya Solomon made her OCT debut this season as the title role in “Cinderella” and shines on stage as Sandy Cheeks. Finally, Alexis Trimboli plays Mrs. Puff and has previously appeared in the ensemble of “Sweeney Todd.”

Melody Murphy, director of marketing and public relations for The Civic, highlights the imaginative vision of Tina Landau, conceiver of “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical,” who provided explicit guidance in the script for staging and designing the production.

“Tina Landau, who conceived the musical production, includes detailed notes in the script about how to stage and design The SpongeBob Musical, such as ‘Create a universe from scratch. Be creative. Be wacky. Keep the aesthetic DIY. This is a world made of found and discarded objects that have floated to the ocean floor,’” Murphy said.

These instructions encourage a whimsical, inventive approach, crafting a vibrant underwater world from repurposed materials.

“So, keep your eye out for some very clever uses of pool noodles. Audiences will have fun taking a closer look at the objects that make up the set,” she continued.

For skeptics of a musical about a talking, singing sponge and his friends, the themes are anything but cartoony.

According to Madson, at its core, this musical is about the strength of community and the power of positivity.

“We’re emphasizing themes of friendship, resilience and inclusivity,” Madson said.

There are 12 whimsical scenes throughout the two-hour-long musical, with one intermission.

According to Madson, with many scenes, costume changes and transitions, there are challenges.

“One challenge is balancing the fast-paced action and technical demands with clear storytelling and emotional depth. We’ve tackled this by staying grounded in the characters’ motivations, even amidst the chaos. Another challenge is the stamina required. This cast is giving 110%, and we’ve focused on pacing and care to keep the energy high while supporting the performers,” he said.

These efforts shine when the cast unites to bring this vibrant underwater adventure to life.

“The SpongeBob Musical” serves as the perfect capstone for the 2024-2025 season, with its universal themes and stellar performances. t.

Murphy emphasizes the broad appeal of the musical, encouraging all to attend.

“If you’re looking for something you can enjoy with your whole family, your friends, on a date, taking the kids to their first show, bringing your mom for Mother’s Day, whatever the company and occasion, ‘The SpongeBob Musical’ is perfect. The show’s message of friendship and community is universal. And it’s performed by an incredibly talented cast,” she said.

According to Blount, he is already excited to audition again next season.

“The energy, color and pure pizazz this show brings feels like the perfect way to wrap up a season. It ends things on such a joyful, high-energy note and, honestly, it feels more like a launchpad than a finale. “I can’t wait to see what’s coming next season, and I’m already excited to audition again,” he said.

The Civic is located at 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Tickets for “The SpongeBob Musical” are $35 for adults and $17 for ages 18 and younger. This show is rated G.

To get tickets, visit the box office between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday or purchase online at ocalacivictheatre.com