The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Sisters High School (SHS) students brought months of preparation to the stage for four performances of a musical earlier this month.

The SHS auditorium was filled with audience members, the overhead lights were dimmed, and voices were hushed as The SpongeBob Musical began.

The cast members delivered a spectacular performance that both exceeded expectations and delighted audience members.

“I didn’t expect it to be so funny; it was amazing,” stated one attendee as they were leaving the performance.

The SHS choral program had been rehearsing since early May of last year to prepare for their four evenings of performance. This feat wasn’t accomplished solely by the choir students; the band, tech, and art departments also played a part in this major project.

“This is the hardest play Sisters High School has ever put on,” said choir director Rick Johnson.

This is something all cast members could attest to. The Nickelodeon SpongeBob play, written by critically acclaimed artists, was originally performed on Broadway with 131 cast members.

The cast of 30 choir students described themselves as a community of hardworking musicians, gaining personal experiences they’ll never forget.

“It was incredible. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it was also so much fun to walk out after shows and see a crowd waiting for all of us,” said lead Ava O’Neill.

For many of these students this was their first time performing live theater. Johnson, however, made sure that everybody was aware of the importance of their role in the production.

“Everybody is a valued member of this play; without every single person participating this play would not be what it is today,” Johnson said repeatedly to the students before their shows.

“My experience in this play was amazing,” said Sophie Gerke, who played multiple roles. “I got to connect with my awesome castmates and learn about acting. We all had so much fun and created lasting memories.”

All participants and audience members left SHS with a new perspective on this two-dimensional cartoon character. Meanwhile, choir, band, and tech students all walked away knowing they put on a show no one would forget.