Ages 11 - 14
Rated G
Now auditioning! See details below for video submissions and in person auditions March 1st-3rd.
Plunge into this stunning all-singing, all-dancing, dynamic stage show! 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!
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.
This production camp is a hybrid of our Education and Artistic programming. Actors will rehearse the show while also receiving classes in acting, vocal technique and dance to help them expand and hone their skillset.
Gateway Center for Performing Arts is holding auditions for its 10th Anniversary summer production of Spongebob The Musical Youth Edition!
Auditions will be held March 1st - 3rd, 2024. In-person attendance is preferred, but we will accept video submissions.
Please read all the audition details below and then CLICK HERE to complete the Audition Form to schedule an appointment or submit a video.
Actors must be ages 11 -14 any time in 2024 to participate. This includes actors currently 11-14. This also includes actors Age 10 & turning Age 11 AND Actors age 14 & turning Age 15 in 2024.
Friday, March 1st: Vocal Appointments
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Saturday, March 2nd: Vocal Appointments
3:30 - 6 pm
Sunday, March 3rd: Callbacks - By invitation only
Dance Callbacks: 11:30 am - 1 pm
Read/Sing Callbacks: 1 - 5 pm (A schedule will be provided)
VOCAL AUDITIONS:
Please prepare 16-32 bars of a musical theatre song. Sheet music is preferred. No transpositions and no lead sheets. No a cappella singing. Please do not sing songs from the show. An accompanist will be provided. Backing tracks (karaoke) are not preferred but are allowed. We will provide the speaker and adapters/Bluetooth. Please bring your track on a device.
DANCE CALLBACKS:
A short dance combination will be taught. There are roles available for strong dancers as well as non-dancers. You will be notified at your vocal audition if we would like to see you at the dance call. Please wear dance wear and bring jazz shoes. If you have tap shoes, please bring them.
READ/SING CALLBACKS:
You will be notified at your vocal audition if we would like to have you read/sing. A schedule will be emailed out by midnight on Saturday, March 2nd.
VIDEO SUBMISSIONS:
Attending auditions in person is much preferred, however, if you are unavailable for any of the times listed, here is the process to submit a self-tape video audition:
Tapes are due by February 22nd. You will be notified of any callbacks by February 26th. Callback tapes are due by midnight on Friday, March 1st.
All vocal audition self-tapes should follow these guidelines:
- Please prepare 16-32 bars of a musical theatre song. Please do not sing from the show.
- Vocal backing tracks or live accompaniment are allowed. Do not sing a cappella.
- Please slate your name, age, and what you will be singing.
- Video auditions are accepted as UNLISTED YOUTUBE links or GOOGLE DRIVE links ONLY.
- Links need to be included in your audition form.
- GOOGLE DRIVE links must be shared with the following emails: sfox@gcpastl.org, rebekahjharbison@gmail.com, ablevins@gcpastl.org, mpfedak@hotmail.com
Some helpful self-tape hints:
- Early submissions are greatly appreciated and give us more time to spend on your video than those we receive at the deadline.
- You do not need fancy equipment. Using a phone camera is more than sufficient.
- Film in landscape.
- Make sure your phone is stationary and level. A tripod is helpful, but not necessary. It is easy to make a stand for your phone out of household items.
- Choose a quiet, well-lit area with minimal distractions.
- Natural light and ring lights are great, but you can also enhance with lamps. We want to clearly see your facial features and expressions.
- You do not need to do a full-body frame unless your audition piece requires it. In most cases, an upper body frame is best.
- Practice before filming! Prepare for this audition as you would for an in-person audition. Practice your song for vocals and acting before ever setting up your equipment.
- If you are prepared ahead of filming, you should not need more than 3 takes. Do not overanalyze details.
Be sure you’ve read all the audition details above and then CLICK HERE to complete the Audition Form to schedule an appointment or submit a video.
Hover over the images to learn more about the Creative Team!
Bekah Harbison (Director) is a St. Louis-based director, producer, and teaching artist who is thrilled to be back directing again at GCPA this summer! Bekah directed Newsies Jr. last year and taught a wide variety of acting & improv classes with GCPA over the last 4 years. Bekah is the founder of Aligned Theatre Collective, a person-centered, all ages theatre company. She has directed for organizations such as Ozark Actors Theatre, Over Due Theatre Company, and Theatre Unlimited. Some of her favorite directorial credits include The Drowsy Chaperone, Children of Eden, A Christmas Story, Violet, and a virtual production of A Christmas Carol performed simultaneously in English & American Sign Language. In addition to teaching at GCPA, Bekah teaches acting, improv & musical theatre privately, with Springboard to Learning, and in schools as part of the Stages St. Louis Outreach Program. She has significant experience working with performers with disabilities and works as an advocate & consultant for inclusion and accessibility in the arts.
Ashleigh Blevins (Music Director) is thrilled to join the Creative Team of The Spongebob Musical! For several years she has been an audience member and a cast member of hundreds of living room performances of this show with her Spongebob-Musical-obsessed children. She is excited for the chance to formalize her credits and experience with GCPA! Ashleigh has taught voice and theatre for over twenty years. She has experience and expertise through all ages, levels and abilities, teaching music, language, and theatre at many St. Louis institutions, including South City Community School, Miriam School and Learning Center, Delta Gamma Center and STAGES St. Louis. Favorite directing credits include Willy Wonka KIDS, School House Rock Jr., A Year With Frog & Toad KIDS, 101 Dalmatians KIDS, Elf Jr., Zombie Prom Atomic Edition, Seussical, Honk and You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown. Every day making music with young people is the best day ever.
Mary Fedak (Choreographer) is thrilled to teach at GCPA, doing full summers of camps and production camps as well as full years in both Musical Theater Dance and Tap classes. She has been actively involved in dance and musical theater for over thirty years both onstage as a performer as well a choreographer for numerous youth theater productions as well as community theater musicals. She continues to perform herself with both the St. Louis Strutters and the St. Louis Showstoppers and has appeared multiple times on the Muny stage. She has also served as past director of the Missouri River Cloggers for many years. In addition to teaching for GCPA, she has been a teaching artist for Stages St. Louis for the past seven years and has served as choreographer and board member of Over Due Theater for over ten years. She is a past recipient of an AFL award for choreography, as well as other choreography and actress nominations. It is truly her passion to be able create musical theater experiences whether it be working with youth performers all the way through adults.
This is a production camp that includes workshops and masterclasses. All actors are called to every rehearsal. Only limited conflicts will be considered. No conflicts will be approved during the 3rd week or during performances. No additional conflicts can be submitted after March 3rd except for emergency circumstances.
YOUR CONFLICTS MUST BE UP-TO-DATE IN THE AUDITION FORM TO BE CONSIDERED FOR APPROVAL.
Rehearsals
July 8th - July 26th, 2024
Monday - Friday, 9AM - 4PM
Location: The first two weeks of rehearsal will take place at GCPA Studios in Webster Groves. The final week of rehearsals and performances will take place at Emerson Theatre at Harris Stowe.
Performances
July 26th at 7pm
July 27th at 2pm & 7pm
July 28th at 2pm
Performances held at
Emerson Theatre at Harris Stowe
3031 Laclede Ave
St. Louis, MO 63103.
Strike Sunday, July 28th after final performance.
Strike is REQUIRED for all actors with no exceptions. Strike will begin after the final performance. Actors will be released by 6 pm.
NO SURPRISES FINANCIAL OBLIGATION OUTLINE
There is a one-time production fee of $700.
This production camp is a hybrid of our Education and Artistic programming. Actors will rehearse the show while also receiving classes in acting, vocal technique, and dance to help them expand and hone their skillset. The production fee covers 3 full weeks of camps, including training and production costs.
There is a yearly registration fee of $30. Only due one time yearly for participation in productions and/or classes.
($35 for families of 2 or more actors)
GCPA offers need-based financial assistance and payment plans. Please contact Stephanie at sfox@gcpastl.org. We will follow up with an application. Financial Assistance has NO baring on casting.
COSTUMES
GCPA provides costumes. Actors will be asked to provide the following:
Female Characters – Skin colored tights. Skin colored leotard with invisible straps. Some option(s) out of: jazz shoes, character shoes, lace up boots, heeled tap shoes
Male Characters: – Black Pants, belt, and socks. White button-down dress shirt. White undershirt. Fitted undershorts. Some option(s) out of: black dress shoes, black jazz shoes, flat tap shoes, lace up boots.
All - Provide own make-up and hair products unless wigged.
Potentially provide every day items such as jeans.
Prices vary for base layer items and dance shoes. GCPA does provide options from wholesaler Revolution Dancewear for extremely competitive prices.
TICKETS
Tickets for Spongebob will be $20. There are no complimentary tickets.
There may be a processing fee.
TRIBUTES, BUSINESS ADS, T-SHIRTS AND JACKETS
All of the below are OPTIONAL.
GCPA provides a program (digital and printed) where you will have the option to purchase a tribute ad for your actor and/or a business ad. There are price points from $20 - $500, so something for everyone!
T-shirts will be available for $25. Show shirts include the show logo on the front, cast/crew list on the back and the YTC Cast Member badge on the shoulder.
Youth Theatre Company Members Only Jackets are available for $65
There is a company dinner between shows on Saturday with a suggested donation of $10.
EXTRAS:
Parent volunteer may ask for donations/ideas for our annual fundraiser, Raise the Curtain.
Parents often organize a cast party and director gifts, requesting a donation from cast. This is separate from GCPA and up to the cast to decide.
