Brophy’s theater department announced on May 3, during the International Thespian Society ceremony, that this year’s fall production will be “The SpongeBob Musical.” The Xavier Gators have many roles in this production, ranging from the lead role of SpongeBob to tech and the prop department.
While the role is usually played by a man, Annika Dowdall 26’ is cast to play SpongeBob in the upcoming production.
Dowdall has been working with Xavier and Brophy theater since she was a freshwoman, but she has never had a singing role before, let alone for the role of a male character.
The role and music had to be changed for her vocal range. “It was a lot of working with the musical director to change the music in a way that I can sing it as a female,” she said.
Along with Dowdall, several other Gators have roles on stage for the production. Delaney Buckel ‘25 plays two roles: Patchy the Pirate and Old Man Jenkins. She has also been involved with Xavier and Brophy theater since she was a freshwoman.
Dowdall and Buckel also serve as co-directors for the upcoming annual Brophy comedy production “Bronco Room.”
While the theater programs differ, Buckel enjoys learning how to evolve in two different theaters, and being a part of the Brophy and Xavier theater communities.
The two programs differ in various aspects of sets, costumes, staff and theater size, but the bond between the Bronco and Gator community is very strong.
According to Brooke Feldman-Cryan, director and choreographer of the production, “When you have the girls in the mix it balances out a bunch of things. It’s just a different energy. If we didn’t have that collaboration, the schools themselves would be in a situation where we didn’t see each other.”
The young actors are a main part of creating the production, but the sets and props are even more vital to the show.
Feldman-Cryan reveals that she chose “SpongeBob” for the production because she wanted to do something fun that would make the audience happy. Her focus for the show was to create “colorful sets, cute numbers and beautiful costumes.”
“The show has little things that are just quirky. I think that’s what the writers had in mind; it wasn’t supposed to be what you saw in the cartoon,” Feldman-Cryan said.
She wanted to create a humanization of the cherished Nickelodeon cartoon. One element of this in the set is the use of pool noodles and red plastic cups.
Abby Corderman ‘26, who is the head of props for the production, works behind the scenes gathering, making and presetting props for each scene of the show. She is essentially a creative leader of the musical.
Corderman enjoys being behind the scenes. “I think it’s so cool to be able to see the inner workings of everything, being able to be a part of that and seeing everything come together after working so hard for so long,” she says.
This production differs from any other production at Brophy because it will be performed five times, as opposed to three or four.
While the thought of having to produce more shows may be daunting, Feldman-Cryan says, “It can be time-consuming but I think because our theater is smaller than Xavier’s, having the opportunity to spread the word, do more marketing and get people to come for a second weekend is enticing.”
The show will be performed on two weekends in the Black Box Theater, and at Brophy’s Fine Arts Extravaganza. The show times include November 14-16 at 7 p.m. and November 22-23 at 7 p.m.
