Directed by Patrick Ciamacco
Music Direction by Matthew Dolan
Choreography by Liz Baumgartner
Stage Managed by Ryan Wolf
Costume Design by Jenniver Sparano
Wig Design by Adam Cooper
Set & Projection Design by Perren Hedderson
Animation and Projection Content Design by Noah Hrbek
Lighting Design by Patrick Ciamacco
Prop Design by Whitney Miller
Sound Design by Merrill Edleman
CAST
Amanda Bender (Mrs. Puff) is thrilled to be making her Blank Canvas Theatre debut in this production. Her recent credits include The Little Mermaid (Chef Louis), Young Frankenstein (Elizabeth Benning), and 1776 (Ben Franklin). Thanks to Patrick and the production staff for this incredible opportunity. Love, light, and thanks to her family and friends for all of the love and support! Special shoutout to the realest mom on the planet, the best niece to ever exist, and her neighbor/roommates for being the brightest lights. You can find Amanda on all social media @Amandanicole328. Lastly, she would like to thank each of you for supporting the arts here in Cleveland!
Mattie Blick (Sardine/Plankton Dancer) is appearing in her first show with Blank Canvas Theatre and her first show in the Cleveland area. She is so excited to be a part of this production and to work with so many incredible artists! Mattie is one year away from graduating from Kent State University with a performance concentration in theatre and a minor in dance. Her recent credits include Romeo & Juliet (Romeo), She Kills Monsters (Lilith/Lilly), and American Idiot (Christina/Libby). See you in Bikini Bottom!
Adam James Cooper (Wig Master/Old Man Jenkins/Electric Skate/Guard) is THRILLED to return to Blank Canvas Theatre after appearing in Spring Awakening! Prior to taking a five-year hiatus from acting, he appeared in Titanic (Hartley), Violet (Monty), Cabaret (Victor), Shrek the Musical (Big Bad Wolf), and Les Miserables (Marius). Previously, he worked behind the scenes at Cleveland Play House as both a dresser and a wig technician on such notable productions as Antigone and Clue. He’s ecstatic to be able to design and style an army of wigs for such a stellar cast! Special thanks to Patrick, Jenniver, and the cast for trusting him with their hair. IG: @cooperstition
Alicia Diamond (The Mayor) is very excited to be returning to Blank Canvas Theatre's stage in The SpongeBob Musical. Her recent credits include The World According to Snoopy (Lucy), Cabaret (Lulu), and Company (Amy). She has been doing theater since the age of 12 and this is her 41st show. Alicia is so thankful to be a part of the Cleveland premiere of this wonderful show and hopes everyone enjoys their journey to Bikini Bottom.
Sarah Farris (Karen the Computer) is thrilled be back at Blank Canvas Theatre in The SpongeBob Musical! Sarah has been in various theatre productions in the Northeast Ohio area such as Spring Awakening (Wendla), Chess (Florence), The Fantasticks (Luisa), and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Ensemble), all at Near West Theatre. Other credits include Spring Awakening at BCT (Ilsa), The Sound of Music (Liesl), Legally Blonde (Kate/Chutney), The Sleeper (Vivien), and Bye Bye Birdie (Kim MacAfee). She has also performed at Feinstein's/54 Below in New York City in Secrets: A Spy Musical. Love and thanks to her family, friends, and boyfriend, Brendan, for all their continuous love and support. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Jaren Thomas Hodgson (Patchy the Pirate/Electric Skate) is very excited to make his Blank Canvas Theatre debut. Jaren studies theatre at Cleveland State University where some of his past credits include She Loves me (Georg Nowack), Blithe Spirit (Charles Condomine), and Into The Woods (The Narrator). Some of Jaren’s other credits include Beauty and the Beast (The Beast), Guys and Dolls (Sky Masterson), and Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood (Robin Hood). He would like to thank his friends and family for their support over the many years, as well as the audience for supporting the arts!
Jabri Johnson (Sheldon J. Plankton) is ecstatic to make his Blank Canvas Theatre debut filling the (small) shoes of Bikini Bottom's favorite evil genius. He's glad that his college education is finally paying off. A Cleveland native, Jabri has appeared in productions including The Fantasticks (Hucklebee), Legally Blonde (Nikos Argitakos), Assassins (The Balladeer), and Disney’s Newsies (Specs). For Mom and Dad, my grandparents, Emily Suzanne Plank, Lorna, and everyone who has been there for me over the years. I love you all more than words can express.
Kevin Kelly (Mr. Krabs) is excited to return to Blank Canvas Theatre having last appeared in The Texas Chainsaw Musical! He has directed, taught, and performed for over 27 years in Cleveland and looks it. Thank you, Patrick for lifting an old friend back up once again. TPOG
Anita “Shrimp Cocktail” LoBosco (Buster Bluetang) is very excited to be playing Buster Bluetang as her first theatre role since high school. Shrimp is Cleveland’s Queen of Comedy Burlesque and the owner/Executive Producer of Shrimply the Best! Burlesque. Shrimp has developed and performed burlesque acts as The Count from Sesame Street, Madame Upanova (The Ostrich) from Fantasia, Mr. Krabs, and, of course, multiple acts as SpongeBob.
Alexis Maxine (Sandy) is grateful and humbled to be joining Blank Canvas Theatre for the first time. Alexis has been very busy this season, in The Color Purple (Nettie), Rent (Joanne), and now The Spongebob Musical. Alexis has worked with Mercury Theatre Company, Cleveland Public Theatre, Playhouse Square, and Weathervane Playhouse. Alexis continues to find reasons to fall in love with the stage, even after performing from an early age. Portraying Sandy just takes Alexis back to those roots. She sends love to her two biggest supporters: her mother, Dee, and her daughter, Harmony Joi. With Peace, Love, and Harmony!
Kate Leigh Michalski (Pearl Krabs) is pumped to be floating around Bikini Bottom! Past credits include The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (Lucretia), Evil Dead - The Musical (Cheryl), We Will Rock You (Oz), Reefer Madness (Mae), Jekyll & Hyde 2018 benefit concert (Lucy Harris) Ragtime (Emma Goldman), The Toxic Avenger (Mayor/Ma), She Loves Me (Amalia Balash), Parade (Lucille Frank), and The Twenty-Fifth...Spelling Bee (Olive). Kate is an Equity Membership Candidate, and earned a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. Love you, Mom! Love you, Dad.
David L. Munnell (Squidward) ‘s most recent acting credits in the Cleveland area include Six Bullets Faith (Pastor David/Lucifer), Tits (Sperm), and It's a Wonderful LIfe (Bert, the Cop/Uncle Billy). He's also directed Dog Act; Nonsense, Nonsense, Intermission, More Nonsense; and Autopoiesis, to name a few.
Roman Novosel (Perch Perkins) is thrilled to appear for the first time at Blank Canvas Theatre in this production! Roman has performed at Near West Theatre in productions of The Fantasticks (Mortimer), Chess (Ballet Dancer), 1776 (Ensemble), Carnival! (Ensemble), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Statue) and Urinetown: The Musical (Ensemble). Roman also performed in Shrek the Musical (Gingy) at Silhouette Productions. Roman is an alumnus of the Saint Ignatius Harlequins, and performed in their productions of Monty Python’s SPAMALOT! (Mrs.Galahad), and The Wedding Singer (Ensemble). Roman can be seen at Cedar Point’s Halloweekends as one of the scare actors, and was also a member of the American Zagreb Junior Tamburitzans for 13 years, performing traditional Croatian folk dancing, singing, and playing in the Tamburica band. Roman’s “big-boy job” is selling fine meats and cheeses, and making delicious charcuterie boards at Astoria Cafe and Market. Roman would like to thank Tommy, Daddy Marko, Laura and Richard Little, and all friends and family. I’M READY!
Zach Palumbo (SpongeBob SquarePants) is READY to be back onstage at Blank Canvas Theatre! Previous credits here include Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Jacek), Evil Dead - The Musical (Ed), Yippee Ki-Yay Merry Christmas: A Die Hard Musical Parody (Willis), and The Texas Chainsaw Musical! (Ensemble). He has also performed throughout Northeast Ohio with Cleveland Public Theatre, Beck Center for the Arts, Karamu House, Lakeland Civic Theatre, convergence-continuum, none too fragile, Playwrights Local, Rubber City Theatre, French Creek Theatre, Near West Theatre, Dobama Theatre's Marilyn Bianchi Kids' Playwriting Festival, and the BorderLight International Theatre Festival, among others. He is a 2017 graduate of Case Western Reserve University, where he performed with the Department of Theatre, the CWRU Footlighters, Players’ Theatre Group, and IMPROVment. Love to his family, friends, and Nicole. zachpalumbo.com
Louis Schwartz (Patrick Star) is ecstatic to be making his Blank Canvas Theatre debut! He is a recent graduate of The College of Wooster (B.A. in Chemistry, Theatre and Dance minor). He hails from Shaker Heights, Ohio and grew up at Playmakers Youth Theatre in Beachwood, where he still goes back to design lights and stage manage from time to time. He was most recently seen in a Cleveland premiere opera, The Sparks Fly Upward (Chorus), at the Maltz Performing Arts Center. Some of his theatre credits include The Little Mermaid (Ensemble) at Near West Theatre, Matt’s Frist (Real) Thanksgiving (Matt Quinn) at Cassidy Theatre, The Normal Heart (Hiram Keebler) at The College of Wooster, and Footloose (Willard Hewitt) and Fiddler on the Roof (Tevye) at Playmakers Youth Theatre. Thanks to Patrick for this amazing opportunity! Thanks to all friends and family for all of your love and support always!
Dustin Urey (Larry the Lobster/Electric Skate/Ensemble) is delighted to perform for the first time at Blank Canvas Theatre! Dustin has performed for three summers at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, in shows including Hootenanny Celebration! (Blackjack), The Great Pumpkin Parade (Trickster/Aviator), Midnight Syndicate, Live! (Creature), Boneyard Battleground (Chiropractor/Dancer), and was show captain and bugler for Forbidden Frontier on Adventure Island (Hanlan McVey). Dustin has also performed at The Brecksville Theater in Disney’s Newsies (Spot Conlon/Oscar Delancey) and at Beck Center for the Arts in Shrek the Musical (Guard Capt./King Harold), and has been on tour with the National Theatre for Children in What’s Your Goal? Dustin began acting at Hoover Hall of the Performing Arts in North Canton, Ohio. Dustin is an Equity Membership Candidate.
STAFF
Liz Baumgartner (Choreographer) is a graduate of Otterbein University with a B.A. in Music and a Dance minor. She spent ten years traveling both nationally and internationally with musical theater productions; her favorite credits include two seasons with How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Big League National Tour and Grand Ole Opry), 42nd Street (Nederlander Broadway Asia International Tour), and four years with In The Mood: A 1940's Musical Revue (International/National Tour). After a decade on the road and living in New York, she has returned to Cleveland and started choreographing all over the area. Her work has been seen at Playhouse Square, Stagecrafters Youth Theatre, Bay High School, Rocky River High School, and in multiple seasons with Cleveland Dance Project. Liz owns a photography business (www.photobaumy.com), taking everything from family photos, senior portraits, and real estate photos to dance photography featuring amateur and professional dancers both onstage and off. She also teaches voice lessons at Beck Center for the Arts. She is thrilled and honored to be working for Blank Canvas Theatre!
Patrick Ciamacco (Director/ Lighting and Set Design) is so excited to be back and directing on the BCT stage and working with people he loves and respects! Patrick is the Artistic Director and founder of Blank Canvas Theatre. He dedicates this show to the person sitting in the third row, fifth seat from the left.
Matthew Dolan (Music Director) is an active music director, composer, arranger, and pianist in Northeast Ohio. He has been acknowledged as one of the "Best Music Directors" of 2018 by Cleveland Scene Magazine, and also received a "Superior Achievement" acknowledgement from the Cleveland Critics Circle for his work on Avenue Q at Blank Canvas Theatre. Recent credits include Urinetown : The Musical (Music Director, Oberlin College Theatre Department), Evil Dead - The Musical (Music Director, Blank Canvas Theatre), and the world premiere productions of 33 1/3 (Music Director, Dobama Theatre) and Light It Up! (Music Assistant/Keyboard 2, Cleveland Play House). Later this year, he will serve as Music Director for the world premiere of The Land of Oz at Dobama Theatre. Matthew earned both his Bachelor of Music in Music Theory and Composition and his Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Akron. He serves as the current Director of Music for Rocky River United Methodist Church, while also accompanying for Cleveland Heights High School, and St. Ignatius High School. Matthew is an avid cyclist, longboarder, and lover of vintage keyboard instruments. He loves Blank Canvas Theatre and is excited and honored to bring SpongeBob to its stage!
Merrill Ten Edleman (Sound Designer) is excited to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre working in the crew! He recently worked as a Sound Designer for Cabaret, and as a sound technician for Bugsy Malone and The Texas Chainsaw Musical!
Perren Hedderson (Set & Projection Design) is thrilled to be a part of The SpongeBob Musical. Congratulations to Blank Canvas Theatre on over ten seasons -- the wall just keeps filling up with show posters! You may have seen him on the BCT stage in The Texas Chainsaw Musical (Eddy) One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (Billy), and Our Town (George Gibbs) The Laughter League, and projection design for HAIR, 39 Steps, and We Will Rock You at Blank Canvas. Perren is also the Technical Director at Near West Theatre. BOOMBA BOOMBA!!!
Noah Hrbek is super pumped to be creating wild imagery and projections for this production, and getting to collaborate with such a wonderfully talented group of people. The last time he participated at Blank Canvas Theatre, it was on stage as Cliff in Cabaret this past December/January. He has worked frequently with BCT both on and off stage, and looks forward to continuing this as often as possible. He also does graphic art for Near West Theatre, makes children’s book illustrations, and plays guitar for a rock musical project: Future Perfect. Huge thanks to everyone coming out to support live theater! Enjoy the show!
Whitney Miller (Prop Design) is thrilled to be back at Blank Canvas Theatre, creating art in the best space in Cleveland. She's happy to say that her love for theatre survived the pandemic. Some of her favorite past shows include Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Stage Manager), Evil Dead – The Musical (Stage Manager), The Last Five Years (Lighting Designer), Avenue Q (Stage Manager), and Kiss of the Spider Woman (Stage Manager). Whitney attended Case Western Reserve University for Chemical Engineering, but spent most of her time with the CWRU Footlighters. She would like to thank Lemon for not having separation anxiety and being so understanding with her busy schedule. Here's to MANY more!
Jenniver Sparano (Costume Designer) designed the costumes for the first Blank Canvas Theatre production in 2012 and a variety of productions since, including both dramas (Next Fall, 12 Angry Men, Night of the Living Dead) and musical comedies (Silence!, Avenue Q, Urinetown: The Musical). Her work has also been seen in a variety of other Northeast Ohio venues, including Beck Center, Clague Playhouse, Cleveland Public Theatre, convergence-continuum, Dobama Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Weathervane Playhouse, Rocket Mortgage Field House, and the Pickwick & Frolic cabaret stage. In addition to designing. She co-produces an annual benefit production to benefit AIDS/HIV service agencies in Cuyahoga and Summit Counties (currently on hiatus). A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, she is employed by KeyBank.
Ryan Wolf (Stage Manager) is excited to be working with Blank Canvas Theatre again! He has been stage managing around Ohio for the last 15 years. Huge shout out to Bay for her never-ending love and support. Stay safe, stay healthy, and enjoy the show!