It’s hard to imagine a more illustrative example of why theater matters than Unlabeled Theatre Company’s production of The SpongeBob Musical. It isn’t the show itself, which is very fun, but the way in which it is performed. Unlabeled Theatre Company is just beginning it’s second year and this was the first production I was able to attend. The company exists to provide a way for adults with disabilities to participate in theater. Each role is performed by an actor who has a cognitive and/or physical disability or is Neurodivergent, they are paired with a neurotypical “Shadow Partner”. The two actors perform the role in unison, which works surprisingly well. Truth be told, many of these performers from the audience’s perspective, didn’t need their “shadow partners” they were fantastic on their own. Obviously I’m a huge advocate for live theater as an artform, I dedicate almost all of my leisure time to it. It combines storytelling, music, and acting but unlike with a book, CD, or film it does so in a communal setting. We have to go seek it out, but when we do, we do so in the company of others. We can see life reflected on stage or we can be carried away to far off places, even to a pineapple under the sea. It’s an amazing process by which the folks behind Unlabeled Theatre Company have made not just attending theater, but actually creating and performing it for individuals who otherwise might not be able to share in that communal experience. No one should be excluded from sharing in the magic of theater. Seeing these artists on stage reinforced my belief in the power of theater to connect us all, to change or minds and our hearts. This is way more than anyone ever expected from anything having to do with SpongeBob Squarepants.

If you are unfamiliar with the world of Bikini Bottom, the city under the sea which SpongeBob and his friends inhabit, you must not have children that were born in the last three decades. For those of us who have, SpongeBob usually holds a place in our hearts as one of the few shows our kids watched over and over again that we actually enjoyed. The story revolves around a volcano that is going to erupt and destroy Bikini Bottom. Sandy, the Squirrel, is very intelligent and figures out a way using science to prevent the catastrophe. In another of his schemes to take over Bikini Bottom, Plankton and his computer wife Karen work the citizens into a xenophobic furor and turn on the land dweller, Sandy. Meanwhile Patrick, a starfish who is SpongeBob’s best friend has become the leader of a cult of Sardines. The power goes to his head creating a break with his BFF, leaving SpongeBob, whose confidence has been shattered by his boss Mr. Krabs proclamation that he’s just a simple sponge and a fry cook and could never be the Manager of the Krusty Krab, and Sandy, who is on the run from an angry mob, the only ones who can try and climb to the top of Mount Humongous and try and stop the eruption using the bubble device Sandy has created. It’s not shakespeare, but it’s also way more involved than you expect from a musical based on a Nickelodeon cartoon. And if the story wasn’t wild enough, the songs for the show were written not by one team but by multiple songwriters including Panic! at the Disco, Cyndi Lauper, Steven Tyler & Joe Perry, Lady Antebellum, and They Might Be Giants. And those are just the songs in this abbreviated version, the full length show also features work from the late David Bowie & Brian Eno from The Flaming Lips. John Legend and Sara Bareilles as well. I guess what I’m trying to say is there’s a lot of creativity and talent behind this show to make it enjoyable to non fans of the cartoon.

This is a large cast with a lot of prominent roles and with the doubling of the cast with the inclusion of the Shadow Partners, far too many to write about all of them. So let me just highlight a couple of my favorites from the cast but first a nod of gratitude to all the Shadow Partners who helped the entire cast shine their brightest. Making his theatrical debut in the lead role of SpongeBob is Christopher Mohn. I would never have believed this was his first time on stage, and the lead is an immense ask for any first time actor. Mohn looks like he was born on stage, confident and funny he makes the role his own. My favorite musical number in the show was “I’m not a Loser” performed by Liam Donovan and his shadow partner Joey Deegan. I mention Deegan as well because the directors did something very interesting with this number and it was only made possible because of both Donovan and Deegan. This is the number that got me a little choked up. It started with Donovan beginning the song brilliantly and for the first time in the show without the shadow partner singing along in unison. This allowed Deegan to come in and perform as an actual shadow of Squidward as he converses in song with himself. It’s a beautifully executed moment and one in which the innovation was improved upon. This would not have been possible if Donovan wasn’t such a powerful performer on his own. Zach Williams, who plays Patrick Star perfectly, and his shadow Partner Max Froehich had a similar though much subtler moment. When the Sardines turn on him and frightened he decides to run off, he picks up his shadow partner, almost as if they were Scooby and Shaggy and carries him off stage. Others that really caught the eye were Callie Johnson as Sandy, Nick Jones as Mr. Krabs, and Ella Stewart as Pearl Krabs.

Aside from seeing a very entertaining and fun show this production will touch you at a deeper level. It filled my heart back up with the wonder of humanity, the miracle of live theater and the infinite variables of human beings. Tonight I saw the wonder of theater on the faces of dozens of people who were singing and acting and moving in a way that brought them joy and one assumes a sense of belonging and accomplishment. God I love the theater. The SpongeBob Musical runs through January 19th at Park Square’s Andy Boss Thrust Stage in St. Paul. For More information and to purchase tickets go to https://unlabeledtheatre.org/

Tired of missing reviews from The Stages of MN? Do you find yourself left out when all your friends are talking about that great new play that you didn’t even know about? Never fear, that need never happen again. Now you too can subscribe and have every post from The Stages of MN sent directly to your email box. No more hoping the algorithm works in your favor and you actually see a post on facebook or Instagram. No relying on so-called friends to tip you to the best shows in town. To subscribe on your computer: from the home page on the right, enter your email address and click subscribe. On your mobile device scroll to the bottom of the page and do the same. You can also follow me on Facebook, @thestagesofmn click follow and on Instagram thestagesofmn. You can also read some of my reviews syndicated on the MN Playlist website https://minnesotaplaylist.com/ from time to time.