By Mary Ann Bourbeau
Abby C. Smith, who portrayed Mrs. Puff in “The SpongeBob Musical” on Broadway, is directing the show at the Axelrod.
DEAL PARK – Sealth Grover has performed in numerous musicals with the Axelrod Performing Arts Academy. When he found out they were staging “The SpongeBob Musical,” he knew he was destined to play the lead role.
“I really wanted to be SpongeBob,” said the 16-year-old Navesink resident. “I feel I have some of his personality traits. I’m very bubbly.” Sealth’s wish came true when he was cast as the ever-optimistic yellow sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea. The musical is based on the Nickelodeon series “SpongeBob SquarePants,” created by Stephen Hillenburg. It received numerous awards during its run on Broadway in 2017/2018 and will be performed at the Axelrod Nov. 27 through Dec. 5. “I’m so excited,” said Sealth. “The sets and costumes are so bright and colorful and imaginative. It kind of makes everything come to life. It’s a very fun, up-tempo show.”
Abby C. Smith, who portrayed SpongeBob’s boating school teacher Mrs. Puff on Broadway, is directing the show. “It’s been quite an undertaking,” she said. “I did the show for a long time and I know it quite well. It still has the spirit, the creative energy and the silliness of the cartoon. And it’s not just for fans of the TV show. It’s a great musical that will appeal to anyone of any age.” Smith was with the show from the beginning, from Chicago tryouts in 2016 through the entire Broadway run. She also participated in Nickelodeon’s filming of the musical for television in 2019. The story follows the cast of quirky characters such as Mr. Krabs and Squidward as they try to save the town of Bikini Bottom from an undersea volcano that is about to erupt.
Sixteen-year-old Sealth Grover of Navesink plays the yellow sponge in “The SpongeBob Musical” at Axelrod Performing Arts Center.
“This show has so many great messages,” said Smith. “The residents of Bikini Bottom find out their world is about to end. We see how everyone in town deals with it in different ways. Just like in real life, when the pandemic started and we didn’t know what was going on, some people are followers and some try to help others. Sandy (the squirrel) is trying to solve the problem.” Giada Garcia, 16, of Manalapan, portrays Sandy Cheeks in the musical. She has performed in more than a dozen shows at the Axelrod and other area theaters, and also helps teach students in the Axelrod’s youth program.“I watched SpongeBob a lot growing up,” she said. “Sandy is confident and powerful, and always creative and intellectual. I connect with her as a character. I’m super excited to play this part!” The cast includes kids ages 9 to 22, many who have performed for years in preparation for their future careers on the stage. The musical contains original songs written by the likes of Sara Bareilles, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, David Bowie and Panic! At the Disco, among others. “The music is unique because it’s from 15 different composers,” said Smith. “That’s very unusual for a Broadway show. Each song has the essence of the artists who wrote it.”
Smith grew up in Houston and was a musical theater performer from the start, giving performances to her family on the “stage” in front of their brick fireplace. She majored in vocal performance at Harding University and returned to Houston, where she became a company member at the A.D. Players Theater for three years. She continued her education at Oklahoma City University, studying musical theater. Upon graduation, she set her sights on New York City and was soon cast in Off-Broadway shows and regional theater productions.“My parents always knew I wanted to be a performer,” she said. “I love it. It’s the thing I’m happiest doing.” Smith has had roles in regional productions of “Les Mis- erables,” “Kinky Boots,” “Gypsy” and “A Christmas Carol” and appeared on numerous television shows including “Blue Bloods,” “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and “Orange is the New Black.” Among her favorite roles were Penelope in “Urinetown” and Madame Thenardier in “Les Miserables.”
She also teaches music classes and as a plus-size performer, created a body positivity video along with her fellow cast members from the Broadway production of “SpongeBob.” “I believe we should start teaching kids at a young age that every body is beautiful and strong,” she said. “There’s no reason to pretend somebody’s body isn’t bigger. Everybody is deserving of love and feeling confident in what they look like.” “The SpongeBob Musical” will be presented at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center Nov. 27 and 28 and Dec. 4 and 5. Tickets are $36 for adults and $18 for students. For more information, visit axelrodartscenter.com.
The article originally appeared in the November 18 – 24, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
