My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Photos: First Look at THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL at Kokandy Productions

This show will have audiences swimming with one of our most beloved contemporary pop culture icons. 

By:

This summer, dive into Bikini Bottom as Kokandy Productions kicks off its 2023 season with Nickelodeon’s The SpongeBob Musical, directed by JD Caudill, playing June 22 – September 3, 2023 at The Chopin Studio Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood.

Get a first look at photos below!

This show will have audiences swimming with one of our most beloved contemporary pop culture icons. Ready to soak it in? Tickets are now on sale at bit.ly/SpongeBobChicago. The press opening is Friday, July 7 at 7 pm.

 SpongeBob stars Frankie Leo Bennett as the bright, bold and boldly optimistic SpongeBob SquarePants. He is joined by a motley crew including Sarah Patin (Sandy Cheeks), Isabel Cecilia García (Patrick Star), Tommy Bullington (Eugene H. Krabs), Parker Guidry (Sheldon J. Plankton), Quinn Rigg (Squidward Q. Tentacles), Amy Yesom Kim (Karen the Computer) and Jennifer Ledesma(Pearl Krabs). The Bikini Bottom ensemble includes Connar Brown, Maddison Denault, Sydney Genco, Fia Hunter, David Lipschutz, Ele Matelan, Nicky Mendelsohn, Nataki Rennie, Shane Roberie, Quinn Simmons and Kelcy Taylor. Swings includeAmelia Bell, Abbey Demorow and Kenny Miller.

 The SpongeBob Musical is based on the beloved animated series created by Stephen Hillenburg and features a book by Kyle Jarrow, with original songs by Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alexander Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, Lady A, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants and T.I., and songs by David Bowie, Tom Kenny and Andy Paley. Additional lyrics are by Jonathan Coulton, with additional music by Tom Kitt. The musical production was conceived by Tina Landau.

 When the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home, SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world. With lives hanging in the balance and all hope lost, a most unexpected hero rises up. The power of optimism really can save the world! This all-singing, all-dancing, dynamic stage show is set to make a splash with audiences young and old.

 

Photo credit: Evan Hanover

Photos: First Look at THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL at Kokandy Productions Image
Frankie Leo Bennett with (left to right) Quinn Simmons, Kelcy Taylor, Jennifer Ledesma, Tommy Bullington, Isabel Cecilia García, Fia Hunter, Sydney Genco, Quinn Rigg, Sarah Patin, Maddison Denault, Connar Brown and David Lipschultz

Photos: First Look at THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL at Kokandy Productions Image
(front center) Frankie Leo Bennett with (left to right) Kelcy Taylor, Quinn Simmons, Isabel Cecilia García, Nataki Rennie, Nicky Mendelsohn, Maddison Denault, David Lipschutz and Sarah Patin

Photos: First Look at THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL at Kokandy Productions Image
(front, center) Quinn Rigg with (back, l to r) David Lipschultz, Quinn Simmons, Shane Roberie, Maddison Denault, Nicky Mendelsohn, Kelcy Taylor and Tommy Bullington

Photos: First Look at THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL at Kokandy Productions Image
Frankie Leo Bennett, Sarah Patin and Isabel Cecilia García

Photos: First Look at THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL at Kokandy Productions Image
Amy Kim and Parker

Photos: First Look at THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL at Kokandy Productions Image
David Lipschutz, Jennifer Ledesma, Maddison Denault and Nicky Mendelsohn

Photos: First Look at THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL at Kokandy Productions Image
(front, l to r) Jennifer Ledesma, Quinn Simmons and Nataki Rennie with (back, l to r) Shane Roberie, Nicky Mendelsohn, Sydney Genco, Maddison Denault and Kelcy Taylor

Photos: First Look at THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL at Kokandy Productions Image
(left to right) Sarah Patin, Frankie Leo Bennett and David Lipschutz with (back, l to r) Quinn Simmons, Nataki Rennie and Kelcy Taylor

Photos: First Look at THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL at Kokandy Productions Image
Frankie Leo Bennett, Sarah Patin, Connar Brown and Isabel Cecilia García

Photos: First Look at THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL at Kokandy Productions Image
Quinn Simmons, David Lipschultz, Fia Hunter, Shane Roberie, Sydney Genco, Jennifer Ledesma, Kelcy Taylor, Tommy Bullington, Nataki Rennie and Nicky Mendelsohn

Photos: First Look at THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL at Kokandy Productions Image
Nataki Rennie, Tommy Bullington and Quinn Simmons

Photos: First Look at THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL at Kokandy Productions Image
(front, l to r) Sarah Patin and Frankie Leo Bennett with (back, l to r) David Lipschultz and Shane Roberie








Need more Chicago Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...

Local Shows
South Pacific in Chicago South Pacific
Paramount Arts Centre (4/29-6/14)
Hedwig and the Angry Inch in Chicago Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Catalyst Ranch (7/09-7/26)
The Last Word in Chicago The Last Word
The Last Word (5/28-8/28)
An Evening with Kevin Smith in Chicago An Evening with Kevin Smith
The Hemmens Cultural Center (9/18-9/18)
Do Something Pretty in Chicago Do Something Pretty
Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (5/07-6/14)
Labor Notes Afterparty w/Kim Kelly, Hamilton Nolan, comedy by Adam Burke and jams w/Tromblau and Friends in Chicago Labor Notes Afterparty w/Kim Kelly, Hamilton Nolan, comedy by Adam Burke and jams w/Tromblau and Friends
In These Times (6/14-6/15)
Zac Brown Band in Chicago Zac Brown Band
Allstate Arena (11/21-11/21)
St. Nicholas in Chicago St. Nicholas
City Lit Theater Company (6/26-7/26)
HITCH*COCKTAILS SUMMER OF SUSPENSE in Chicago HITCH*COCKTAILS SUMMER OF SUSPENSE
The Annoyance Theater (7/03-7/31)
The Notebook in Chicago The Notebook
James M. Nederlander Theatre (8/06-8/16)


Videos