Students rehearse on Jan. 31, 2022. (Photo Courtesy Ross Lavigne)

By Chris Brown

Feb. 7-12 and 14-17

Crescent Heights back on stage with The SpongeBob Musical

Feb 1, 2022 | 4:50 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Days before the curtain rises at Crescent Heights High School, the cast and crew of The SpongeBob Musical are being hailed as rock stars.

Director and drama teacher Jennifer Davies says the students have been committed since the start of the school year, working through pandemic restrictions, regular school life and otherwise busy schedules.

“These students have been rock stars, they have been very focused,” she says. “There’s been really excellent participation. We’ve maintained our numbers from September, really tremendous commitment. Lots of students play on the athletic sports teams at our school and they’ve been able to balance both endeavours and it’s worked out awesome.”

They’ve done all rehearsals in person and are back on the usual February dates. There are eight shows from Feb. 7-12 and Feb. 14-17 for families of students and two matinees for elementary students.

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Last year, almost all rehearsals were done online and there were only two shows at the end of June.

It’s not quite the way it was two years ago, but Davies is happy with how the show will be presented and says they are lucky at Crescent Heights.

“We’ve been able to do very much a regular show. The students perform in their masks and that’s a little different but we’ve been able to make it work. Everybody has adapted really well. I couldn’t I couldn’t be more happy with all of the work the students have done and the adjustments they’ve made. They just found a way to make it work and I’m so proud of them.”

Davies describes the show is a celebration of life that follows the story of SpongeBob and Patrick and all of their friends in Bikini Bottom.

Davies says there is no streaming license available for SpongeBob, so viewing is limited to the small in-person audiences.

NOTE: This story has been corrected with the modified show dates.