The SpongeBob Musical is a hit at ASL!

Congratulations to our middle school students for a successful production of The SpongeBob Musical. The run ended on a high on Saturday at the final performance of this ensemble piece. Director Corey Rubel (ASL 2020-present) enthused, “I wanted to select something that was incredibly fun, funny, light-hearted and spectacular and The Spongebob Musical more than fit the bill!”

Corey continues, “I couldn't be more proud of the entire cast and crew for putting their whole hearts into the rehearsal process and performances. SpongeBob is a story about optimism, positivity and finding the hero within, and every one of them has stepped up to be my hero and has shown that every day can be the best day ever!" 

A great deal of work goes into putting on a show such as SpongeBob. Corey shares the process, which began last fall: “We began to organize auditions and held workshops for students to get a sense of what the audition and rehearsal process would be like. Auditions saw students singing, dancing and acting different moments from the show. We had our first read-through in mid-November and then only had time for four rehearsals before Winter Break. In January, we dove head first into rehearsals—three days a week and two Saturdays—and then, during the two weeks leading up to the show, rehearsed every day. At the end, we added “tech” and final elements, such as props, set pieces, costumes, lighting, the orchestra and special effects.”

The students took the essence of the show and its characters and brought them to life. SpongeBob is a mature and musically demanding production, but both the orchestra and cast rose to the challenge to make the performances their own. 

Corey is keen to highlight the benefits of taking part in a production of this scale: “Being in a musical production directly challenges every fiber of what it means to be human: the ability to be committed to a story, engaged with our body, living through an experience, and most of all being a part of an ensemble, working together toward one common goal.” Taking part in theatrical productions and musicals become cherished memories for our students. Many of our alumni report that later in their careers, they view their time spent behind the scenes or on the ASL stage as a confidence-building and life-changing experience. 

And just what does it mean for our students today? Corey elaborates, “We define an ensemble as a group of people working together towards a common goal. In this case, our common goal is putting on the most professional, creative and engaging musical possible. A director's role is to get everyone on board with the vision and steer the ship in the direction of that vision—keeping everything in sync, collaborating creatively, and establishing a space in which all members of the production feel safe and valued. With constant communication and freedom to express ideas, we continue to elevate each idea, and everyone brings their unique perspective to the team. A musical couldn't happen without everyone giving their absolute best in their role, whether it's on stage, in the orchestra, in the tech booth, or backstage. 

Our students were thrilled to be back performing in front of a live and reactive audience. It was truly special for the cast and crew to know they were performing to three sold-out audiences, and sharing their creativity with the entire community.  

Now that our performing arts students are back in the swing, watch out for details of upcoming performances: the Grade 4 musical, Harmony High; the high school Advanced Acting class presenting The Crucible; and the Grade 5 musical, Matilda Jr.

Photos kindly provided by Tamar Brooks Photography.