Since it first aired on Nickelodeon in 1999, the cheerfully off-the-wall animated series Spongebob Squarepants has progressed from a children's favourite and adults' cult item to what is now an undisputed cultural touchstone for several generations.

Which makes the 2016 stage adaptation, Spongebob The Musical, an ideal choice for Fraser Valley Musical Theatre's family-friendly summer show, coming to ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Arts Centre's main stage for a brief run from June 21 to July 7 (7:30 p.m. weekday performances, 2:30 p.m. matinees Saturday and Sunday, tickets $36 adults/$31 youth and senior, at tickets.surrey.ca).

Aficionados of the coral reef community of Bikini Bottom will be pleased to see all their favourite characters, including the enthusiastic and optimistic titular sponge (Jacob Ellis), and his friends, the dense but affable starfish Patrick (Nathan Purificacion); the scientifically- nclined, diving-suit-clad squirrel Sandy Cheeks (Madison Raybould) and Spongebob's pet snail Gary (Elena Staley).

Also in the swim will be such sometime antagonists as Spongebob's neighbour, sarcastic and superior octopus Squidward (Emily Saint); and his boss, Eugene Krabs, irascible owner of the Krusty Krabs fast-food restaurant (Mike Balser).

Fans of the show will also welcome the presence of Krabs' unambitious teenage daughter Pearl (Jenna Beauregard), Spongebob's paranoid boat-driving instructor, pufferfish Mrs. Puff (Leanne Spalek) — and Spongebob's number one fan, Patchy the Pirate (Jerret Schwartz) .

Of course an animated show, or a Broadway musical, would be incomplete without major antagonists, roles provided in Bikini Bottom by crustacean Sheldon J. Plankton (Evan Rocchio) and his wife Karen, a computer, (Paige Thomsen), proprietors of Krusty Krab's unsuccessful competitor The Chum Bucket.

Also driving the plot of the musical is an existential threat â€” the predicted eruption of Mt. Humongous, which would inevitably destroy Bikini Bottom. The anticipated disaster, as one might expect, brings out all the best — and worst —of the familiar characters, resulting in many twists, conflicts, attempted exploitations of the situation and ultimate reconciliations. 

It also is a hook on which to hang some 15 musical numbers by a wide range of composers, including David Bowie and Brian Eno, Panic! at the Disco, The Flaming Lips, Sara Bareilles, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Lady Antebellum, John Legend and They Might Be Giants.

Another popular feature of the show is a live Foley artist providing all of the sound effects in real time.

Driving force behind FVMT's production is first-time director Ahnika Airey — who has been in five of the company's shows since first being cast in the title role in Peter Pan as a high school student in 2018.

"That was my first big lead role," said the former Langley Fine Arts student. "Although I've been doing theatre for 20 years — almost my whole life. Theatre is my love and joy."

She said she fell in love with Spongebob The Musical show when she saw it on Broadway during a trip to New York in 2017.

She's wanted to bring it to the ÐÔÊӽ紫ý-Delta-Langley region ever since— and was delighted that her pitch to FMVT was successful, and that they had faith in her to direct.

"It's my favourite musical," she said.

"I would love to be in it, except for this production. I'm saying, 'please, nobody get sick' – because I want to sit in the audience and enjoy it. But, in the future, if somebody else in this area does Spongebob, I'll be there."

Airey said there are a lot of "familiar faces" in the show — including many who bonded during FVMT's  last big summer show, The Addams Family.

"There are also a bunch from North Vancouver, and others who have never done a musical before — it's awesome to see people who have grown into that and are loving it," she said. 

Airey said that she is thrilled to be working with a talented cast who are passionate about the show —and they're all standouts one way or another.

"But Maddy Raybould, as Sandy, is the hardest working performer I've ever met. She was in a Capilano College production of Spongebob that closed while we were starting rehearsals for ours. She was ensemble in that production, and came to us late, but she picked up the character and choreography so fast."

Also outstanding is first-timer Ali Neufeld, she said.

"She's never done theatre before and she's playing the Doomsday Clock — which is traditionally a set piece, but I had this vision that I wanted an actor to be it. She's absolutely incredible — she delivers the most terrifying and unearthly performance." 

Airey's production team includes producers Samantha Robbins, Sydney Garbet and Tamara Jaune, choreographer Stef Delisimunovic ("I went to Langley Fine Arts with her and we were also in Anything Goes and The Addams Family together"), musical director Don Burks (leading an orchestra of some 13 members), plus last, but definitely not least, FVMT veteran Balser, her directing mentor as well as playing the role of Krusty Krabs' owner. 

"He's been so helpful in preparing the show, and he's extremely busy behind the scenes with FVMT, as past president, but I told him he had to be in the show as Mr. Krabs â€“ he has such a command of comedic timing," Airey said.

Burks, another FVMT first-timer, has also been very helpful in leading a larger-than usual orchestra through all the stylistic variations of the score, Airey said.

"The songs are all totally different and we were looking for someone who could fit all of that together — and Don has done a masterful job of that."

Airey said there will also be an "awesome underwater set," including some things that will be evoked through lighting effects.

"It's a very tech-heavy show —we've had a lot of fun putting together lighting cues," she said.

"It's a bit of a monster as a show — it's not so much the cast size, although that's a little bit bigger than usual, at 24. But it's all the various pieces that have to fit together, including about a million costumes and a million props to find — or five full pages of them at least."

In spite of all the challenges, she's having a great time, she added.

"I've put my heart and soul into this and I think people are going to enjoy it.

"I hope so. I'm looking forward to it — I've never watched one of my own shows before!"