By Kimberley Perez
On Friday March 25 through Sunday March 27, drama teacher Stuart Fingeret will be directing the school’s first musical since 2019, “Spongebob Squarepants: The Musical.” Those in the production are excited to be able to showcase their talents and audiences are excited to get back to the quality productions they were used to before Covid hit.
Students have been rehearsing since the beginning of the spring semester and are excited to show off all their hard work.
“I’m really excited to see the choreography and choir work together. The song ‘Tomorrow Is’ in particular is something to look forward to. The cast has been working really hard and it’s going to be good,” senior Chris (Kang-Hyun) Kim said.
This play has a whole new cast that is excited to show off their theater skills.
“I’m really looking forward to people coming to watch it and see all the effort every single person has been putting into their characters and performance,” senior and student director Anita Semsarha said.
There is extra enthusiasm this year with this being the first in-person performance the drama program has put on since before the move to distance learning. Preparations for the spring musical in 2020 had already started and were quickly canceled when school went online.
“I am so excited to go see the musical especially with this being my last year at Granada. I unfortunately didn’t see the play when I had the chance in freshman year but I have high hopes for this one,” senior Joselin Maximo said.
With so much anticipation, a lot of pressure has been put on this year’s crew, but this has brought them closer than ever.
“The process has been incredibly fun and most importantly, inclusive. Everyone feels like a team. Every single person has been putting their heart and soul into this production,” senior Paris Lee said.
It was disheartening for the cast, crew, and students to not be able to have a live musical for so long, but this also builds excitement for what can be done this year. With all the extra endurance, this year’s spring musical is bound for triumph.
“Through my time working with everyone and overseeing rehearsals, there has been so much life and excitement on stage, a kind of liveliness and effervescence you only really see with live theater,” Semsarha said.
The production team has worked endless hours to create this production and the potential for this play is limitless.
“Spongebob Squarepants: The Musical” first premiered in 2016 and won much critical acclaim including 12 Tony Award nominations.. It is based on the Nickelodeon kits television series that so many are familiar with.
The musical takes place under the sea in Bikini Bottom and follows Spongebob Squarepants and his quirky friends when they find that a nearby volcano will erupt soon. Spongebob resolves to save the day.
Get tickets for the production at ghchs.booktix.com.
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