When the curtain rises for this year's Martin Meylin Middle School musical, audiences will plunge straight into the bright and zany world of "The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition."

The musical will run from Thursday to Saturday, Dec. 4 to 6, at 7 p.m. at the Lampeter-Strasburg High School Performing Arts Center, 1640 Book Road, Lancaster. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Seating is general admission, and both cash and card payments will be accepted.

The production, an hourlong adaptation of the Broadway hit based on the beloved Nickelodeon series, will mark a milestone: It will be the final show directed by longtime faculty member Memory D'Agostino.

"This is my 15th show and final show," D'Agostino said, reflecting on a fulfilling directing career at Martin Meylin. While she plans to retire as an English teacher in 2027, she hopes to hand off the musical program to a new leader after this season. For now, she's savoring one last opportunity to guide nearly 70 students through a full-scale production.

Why "SpongeBob"? For D'Agostino, the choice was both fun and providential.

"People will be familiar with the characters, but maybe not the show itself," she said. "And I loved that I could cast any member in any role. Every single person ended up exactly where they needed to be. Casting was easy this year."

The story's blend of humor, heart, and recognizable characters made it an ideal fit for a wide-ranging cast. More than 50 students auditioned for named or speaking roles, while another 16 joined the ensemble simply because they wanted to be involved.

Choreographer Lizzie Ambrose, a dance teacher and lifelong performer, has brought her own spark to the rehearsal room, working side by side with her daughter, Millie, who stars as Sandy Cheeks.

"Seventy middle-schoolers is a lot," Lizzie said with a laugh. "But I'm having so much fun. They've been great. I'm probably most excited to see it all come together, as it always does. Everyone has been working so hard."

The students share that sense of anticipation.

Eighth-grader Cole David Lyons, who plays Patrick Star, is relishing the chance to step into the role of SpongeBob's lovable best friend. "I love being Patrick," he said. "He's really funny. And he is overall a well-rounded character with a pretty neat character arc."

For Millie, playing the brainy Sandy Cheeks has been both challenging and rewarding. "We still have a few tweaks here and there, but overall I think it's going to be an amazing experience," she said. "The production in general is just so good - I think it might shock some people."

And stepping into a title role for the first time, eighth-grader Avery Kalasinski is thrilled to close her middle school theater career as SpongeBob. "Mainly, I'm just excited that my last show at Martin Meylin is going to be fun," she said.

All three student actors say they look forward to continuing their stage careers next year in Lampeter-Strasburg High School's theater department.

For D'Agostino, watching that artistic and personal growth over the years is what she will miss most.

"Seeing the growth from the beginning of rehearsals to the end, and then watching them move on to the high school and even into professional theater, that's the hardest part to let go of," she said. "It's so much more than putting on a show. They learn so much from each other and from us."

With a beloved director's final bow, a cast full of enthusiasm, and a story bursting with optimism, this year's musical promises an exciting evening for audiences of all ages.

"It's just been a great experience," D'Agostino said. "And this is going to be a really fun show."