Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? It's SpongeBob SquarePants, and he'll be live on stage when Elizabethtown Area High School presents "The SpongeBob Musical." The show will be performed at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 2, through Saturday, March 4, with an additional 1 p.m. performance on Saturday.

Based on the cartoon, "The SpongeBob Musical" features all of the famous characters from the TV show, said Elyse Hayden, a senior who plays SpongeBob. "The show follows SpongeBob, Patrick and Sandy on a quest to save Bikini Bottom (their hometown) from destruction," Elyse said. "It features a lot of the cartoon characters you know, but it humanizes them. It's been challenging to take on this huge character and put my own spin on it. I wanted to include the cartoon essence of this character but also show a more human side."

Brendan Fritz, a sophomore who portrays Squidward, noted that his character is a quintessential curmudgeon. "He's the show's grump," he explained, "but he also has his little moments to shine." Brendan said audiences can expect to be treated to a wide variety of musical styles in the show, including classic Broadway tunes, rock, country, gospel and more. The songs are written by well-known musicians, including Sara Bareilles, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At The Disco, They Might Be Giants and the Plain White T's.

"There are so many fun songs to keep audiences of all ages engaged," said Grayson Marz, a freshman who portrays Sandy Cheeks. "There's also a lot of good morals and lessons in this show, but they are delivered in a way that's fun and entertaining. It's a bright, colorful set with vibrant songs and characters."

Scott Creason, a sophomore who plays Sheldon J. Plankton, agreed, adding, "It's impossible to walk away from this show without feeling good."

Although the show is fun and light-hearted, it also includes some important messages, Grayson said, noting that her character, a squirrel from Texas who's into science, represents one of the show's themes. "She's not like everybody else in Bikini Bottom, so people will be able to relate to that feeling of being left out or not fitting in," she remarked, "but they'll realize they're just as good as everyone else even if they are different."

Ultimately, "The SpongeBob Musical" is about friendship, said Caden Zimmerman, a senior who plays Patrick Star, adding, "This show is about the importance of coming together in times of need and that your friends are the people you can depend on."

Two of the cast members in the musical - Scott and Elyse - have been nominated for outstanding actor and actress in the Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards for their roles in the school's fall play, "Peter and the Starcatcher." The awards are presented annually to recognize local high school students in theater. The full cast of the play also received an honorable mention. The winners will be announced at the awards show in May.

For more information on "The SpongeBob Musical" or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.showtix4u.com and search for "Elizabethtown Area High School."