The Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) presented a COVID-safe virtual movie-musical production of The SpongeBob Musical on February 27 and 28. There were two different movie-musicals, one featuring students in grades 8-12 and one highlighting FSPA’s younger musical theater performers. 

The project was filmed entirely on iPhones with all COVID distancing and mask protocol being followed at all times. Some scenes featured students recording in their homes edited together, while others featured the students masked and distanced at different locations all around the Town of Franklin. The project provided a unique opportunity for FSPA’s musical theater students to explore the world of musicals made for the screen all while staying safe.  The teen production filmed the end of their exciting opening number on a shutdown Main Street. The cast also utilized locations like Fletcher Field, Intermission Cafe, THE BLACK BOX, the YMCA, and more. 

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 Antebellum, 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. 

FSPA’s teen production was directed by FSPA alum and faculty member Ali Funkhouser and the youth production was directed by FSPA Drama Director Nick Paone.

With extensive programs in music, dance, and drama all housed under one roof, FSPA is uniquely positioned to offer an immersive interdisciplinary musical theater experience. Younger students explore the exciting world of musical theater with an introduction to basic skills in singing, acting, and dancing, while older and more advanced students build upon this foundation with increasingly challenging repertoire, technique, and scene work. Musical theater history and audition technique round out the department’s hands-on, multi-disciplinary opportunities. Alumni of FSPA’s Musical Theater program have gone on to perform on Broadway, in national tours, regional theater, cruise ships, and other venues around the world. 

To learn more about FSPA’s programming, visit
www.FSPAonline.com or by call (508) 528-8668.