The Summer Musical Theatre Experience (SMTE) provides the opportunity for local area high school students to work ands-on with some of the highest recognized local theatre professionals at the Nathan H. Wilson Center for the Arts.
Auditions are typically in April or May and are open to current 7th through 12th graders in Duval, Clay, St. Johns, Nassau and outer lying counties. Previous experience is not required. Actors, dancers, singers, technicians and musicians are needed. A participation fee is required which covers costume rental, show memorabilia, etc. Scholarships/payment arrangements are available.
For more information contact the SMTE hotline at (904) 646-2347 or email.
The 20th Annual High School Summer Musical Theatre Experience presents The SpongeBob Musical!
The Florida State College at Jacksonville High School Summer Musical Theatre Experience is celebrating its 20th year providing theatre opportunities to 7th-12th graders in the First Coast area. This summer, more than 70 student performers and technicians will train with professional theatre artists in preparation for our production of The SpongeBob Musical!
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea and is set to became the hottest star on the Wilson Center Stage? Why, it's SpongeBob SquarePants! And now he’s ready to ride the wave to our theatre to entertain and delight audiences in this brilliant, bright, hilarious and brand-new musical.
Performances: July 24 - August 2, 2026, tickets are on sale now! CLICK HERE for tickets.
Where: FSCJ Nathan H. Wilson Center for the Arts, South Campus 11901 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32246
If you have any questions, please call the SMTE Hotline at (904) 646-2347
About:
Plunge into this stunning all-singing, all-dancing, dynamic stage show! When the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover that a volcano will soon erupt and destroy their humble home, SpongeBob and his friends must come together to save the fate of their undersea world. With lives hanging in the balance and all hope lost, a most unexpected hero rises up. The power of optimism really can save the world!
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 A, 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. The musical production was conceived by Tina Landau.
An exciting new musical featuring irresistible characters and magical music, this deep-sea pearl of a show is set to make a splash with audiences young and old. The future is bright, the future is bold, the future is The SpongeBob Musical.
History:
Since its launch on July 17, 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has reigned as the number one kids’ animated series on TV, while generating a universe of beloved characters, pop culture catchphrases and memes, theatrical releases, consumer products, a Tony award-winning Broadway musical and a global fan base. SpongeBob SquarePants is the most widely distributed property in Viacom International Media Networks history, seen in more than 170 countries, translated in 30+ languages, and averaging more than 140 million total viewers every quarter.
SpongeBob SquarePants is created by Stephen Hillenburg and produced by Nickelodeon in Burbank, Calif. The character-driven cartoon chronicles the nautical and sometimes nonsensical adventures of SpongeBob, an incurably optimist and earnest sea sponge, and his undersea friends. The Broadway production of The SpongeBob Musical earned its place on 2017’s “Best of Broadway” lists including Broadway.com, BuzzFeed, The Chicago Tribune, The Daily Beast, Deadline, ET Online, Forbes, Time Out New York and Variety. The SpongeBob Musical was named Best Musical by the Drama Desk Awards and Outer Critics Circle and earned 12 Tony Award nominations – the most nominated musical of the 2017-2018 theatre season – winning for Best Scenic Design of a Musical (David Zinn).
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