All age auditions set for MAT's 'Spongebob the Musical'

Montana Actors' Theatre is holding an audition for their all-ages production of Spongebob the Musical Monday and Tuesday evening at 7 in the Havre High School auditorium, their first true all-ages production in many years.

MAT Director of Youth and Children's Theater Angela Pratt said they've done productions with a a mix of adult and high school actors along with some younger children before, but this is the first time in many years that they've done a play that's almost completely unrestricted in terms of who can play what roles.

Pratt said she's excited to be able to do another all-ages show, in part because it was one such show that drew her and her family to MAT in the first place back in 2006 when the company was auditioning for "A Christmas Carol."

"It was such a cool experience to be able to do it as a family," she said.

She said she was originally planning to do "The Sound of Music" this year, but the play just didn't provide the flexibility that she was looking for.

But then, she said, MAT Executive Director Jay Pyette suggested "Spongebob the Musical," which she initially dismissed as silly, but quickly came around to when she looked into it.

"I laughed at him," Pratt said. "I thought, '"Spongebob the Musical," really?' But then I looked at it and the music was wonderful ... and I read the script and I loved it. I was really surprised and had to eat some humble pie."

She said the music is written by a host of music industry icons like David Bowie and John Legend and because the characters aren't heavily coded to be any particular gender or age they can cast practically anyone in any role.

She said the play is also a great opportunity for people of any experience level to learn in a safe environment.

Pratt said the production does have a big cast so they are hoping to get a lot of people this time around and she thinks it will be a really fun play to watch.

"I think our community will really enjoy it," she said.