By GRETCHEN AMMERMAN/Oregon Coast TODAY
NEPWORT — If you are surprised to see the name David Bowie among the list of contributing songwriters to “The SpongeBob Musical” score, you don’t know squid.
The Porthole Players are splashing the popular production across the Newport Performing Arts Center stage Friday, Saturday and Sundays through Nov. 30.
“The SpongeBob Musical” runs through Nov. 30, with performances at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. matinées each Sunday at the Newport Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $29 for all days except a special 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19 performance, which is a “pay what you will” performance with no set ticket price.
With 12 Tony Award nominations, the musical tied with “Mean Girls” for the most-nominated production at the 72nd Tony Awards in 2018.
Although the Bowie song was adapted for the score, most of the music was written specifically for the show by musicians such as Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Cyndi Lauper and John Legend and groups Panic! At the Disco and They Might Be Giants.
The cast is joyfully led by the charismatic Andrew Hester, a Florence resident who said the drive is well worth the chance to fill the big squishy shoes of the title role.
“I love attention,” he said. “I tried out for it when we had a local production and didn’t get it, so I’m very excited to be doing it here.”
Hester is planning to pursue acting when he graduates from high school next year.
Young, and not so young, actors fill the cast as SpongeBob’s friends and neighbors, including Sandy, played by Sydney Meister; Squidward, played by Kyle Bertness; Plankton, played by Layla Wells; Karen, played by Sarah Mathieson; Mr. Krabs, played by Steven Kacsmar; Pearl Krabs, played by Karlia Bertness; Perch Perkins, played by Brett Belleque and the Mayor, played by Tracy Meister.
The production also has lots, and lots, of kids.
“This show has the youngest people of any of our other productions,” said director Morgan Locklear. “The Broadway production is all adults, but I chose to cast some kids because, come on, it’s SpongeBob.”
The Porthole team looks to have had a grand time putting together the sets and costumes. Bright jellyfish, silly sardines and playful pirates are visual treats that supplement the story line.
Although it will help to be a fan of the SpongeBob cartoon, the musical is easy and fun to follow.
“The show is meant to explore the seven deadly sins,” Locklear said. “SpongeBob represents lust, because he overindulges in everything. It creates a far more complex experience for the audience and makes it a perfect show for the whole family. There is actually a lot of depth to this show.”
And speaking of family, the Porthole Players are made up of both literal and figurative family.
“My wife is the producer, my son is the music director, my daughter plays xylophone, my sister is in the show and my brother-in-law is my partner in props,” Locklear said. “It’s a true family production.”
The production was on Locklear’s radar as soon as he heard that he would be able to add it to the Porthole Players’ current season.
“This is a brand-new play,” he said. “It has only been available for local productions since 2023 and it’s been really popular. I knew we would have a lot of fun on the stage and I know the audience is going to have a lot of fun, too.”
- For more information, go to www.coastarts.com or call 541-265-2787.
