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Exclusive Interview: Ian Campbell (Patrick) Of Bloomfield Players' 'The Spongebob Musical' · The BSB Podcast

• 0:00
  Thank you so much for joining me today.
• 0:02
  Ian, how are you doing?
• 0:04
  I'm doing fantastic.
• 0:05
  How are you?
• 0:07
  Doing all right.
• 0:08
  So you just finished up your first weekend of performances with the SpongeBob musical.
• 0:11
  How did it go?
• 0:14
  It was a blast.
• 0:15
  gotta say, I mean, to put it in the shortest words possible that Patrick would probably use himself.
• 0:21
  It was, it was fun.
• 0:24
  I mean, that's the easiest way to do it.
• 0:26
  you're still in a costume for, is this your Patrick costume?
• 0:30
  This is, yeah, so this is my Hawaiian shirt I wear over the pink.
• 0:33
  I have a pink t-shirt.
• 0:35
  And then yeah, I still have my hair done, my makeup.
• 0:37
  It's...
• 0:39
  it's perfect it's so before being cast in the show how familiar were how familiar were you with spongebob
• 0:49
  there's like the TV show or the musical.
• 0:53
  Both.
• 0:53
  Well, the TV show was a huge part of my childhood.
• 0:58
  I mean, obviously growing up as a youngster, I loved SpongeBob who didn't.
• 1:04
  but I mean, even like throughout high school, me and my friends would quote SpongeBob to each other.
• 1:09
  That was how we communicated was through SpongeBob quotes.
• 1:12
  And like everyone does like, you know, everybody knows like the
• 1:16
  24, 25, like the stuff like that.
• 1:18
  mean, we had some deep cut quotes.
• 1:22
  You were like, you had all of it memorized.
• 1:25
  yeah, I had a friend in middle school, him and I memorized the first movie and we would, when we'd hang out, we would just watch it and just say it to each other while we watched
• 1:36
  it.
• 1:37
  So, 100%.
• 1:45
  I knew it very well.
• 1:48
  When the show dropped, they did their out of town tryout in Chicago in 2016.
• 1:54
  Okay.
• 1:55
  I would, when I heard about that, I was hooked.
• 1:57
  was like, I had no idea they were even developing a SpongeBob musical.
• 2:01
  And then when they opened in Chicago, I was like, my gosh, this is amazing.
• 2:07
  And so I followed the show since then.
• 2:09
  They went to Broadway.
• 2:11
  I had tickets my senior year of high school, they were going on tour and I had tickets for the shows in Detroit, but unfortunately I, really bad snowstorm took it out.
• 2:22
  And so they canceled the performances.
• 2:25
  But yeah, I loved the show.
• 2:27
  Then they dropped the pro shot of it that they filmed in London with most of the original cast.
• 2:32
  like, I'm hooked and I loved the show so much.
• 2:37
  So this was like a no-brainer for you to audition for.
• 2:40
  100%.
• 2:41
  So was a bucket list show and Patrick was like within my top five of dream rules to play.
• 2:47
  having that chance to even play Patrick in it is like, I mean, this is, I'm going to remember this for a while.
• 2:54
  So what is kind of the story of the show and then how does Patrick factor into it?
• 2:58
  so, to put it long story short, there, so it's Bikini Bottom, obviously is where it takes place.
• 3:06
  And there is a volcano called Mount Humongous and, Mount Humongous is about to erupt.
• 3:12
  And so the, the Bikini Bottoms towns people have to, try to figure out what they're going to do about this.
• 3:20
  and ultimately they decide to, try, they listened to Plankton.
• 3:24
  comes up with a plan.
• 3:26
  And, they followed his plan to leave Bikini Bottom, but SpongeBob wants to stay.
• 3:30
  so SpongeBob, Patrick and Sandy, kind of work together to try and stop this volcano.
• 3:37
  Now Patrick's on board right away.
• 3:40
  I mean, obviously like his best bud, SpongeBob, why wouldn't he be?
• 3:45
  But throughout the show, there's the, group of sardines and, Patrick has some, he's got some great lines in the show that make no sense.
• 3:55
  And these sardines take that as words of wisdom and they form almost like a cult around Patrick.
• 4:04
  And so Patrick goes off and I mean, like he's loving this lifestyle.
• 4:09
  So he goes off for a little bit, but you know, not to spoil anything, you know, he ends up reconnecting with his pals, SpongeBob and Sandy and you know, the rest of the show, they
• 4:20
  saved the town.
• 4:22
  So he has his own story, like completely separate.
• 4:25
  And it's so, I remember when I was first listening to the show, I didn't understand where the songs that he has with these sardines fit in.
• 4:35
  But then watching the show for the first time, was like, just kind of mind blown that they took this path.
• 4:42
  But it's such, it's so SpongeBob for something so outrageous to happen.
• 4:49
  it's, and it's so funny too.
• 4:51
  It keeps it light.
• 4:53
  What's one of those songs that you just love performing?
• 4:56
  Because it sounds like there's some great ones for Patrick.
• 4:59
  Super Sea Star Savior.
• 5:02
  It's a big number with Patrick and the sardines.
• 5:06
  And this is the number where they take him essentially from SpongeBob.
• 5:13
  And it happens right after they convince Sandy that she's smart enough to do this with them and they need her brains.
• 5:20
  And they immediately lose Patrick's brawns And the song was written by Yolanda Adams.
• 5:27
  So it's a gospel number.
• 5:29
  And I mean, it's just a lot of fun.
• 5:31
  Our sardines are played by a bunch of youngsters.
• 5:34
  And so they're having fun.
• 5:36
  I'm dancing around with them.
• 5:37
  They're running through the audience.
• 5:40
  get this.
• 5:41
  I make a reference to the movie where, so there's a part in the choreography where there's supposed to be a tambourine kind of solo for Patrick.
• 5:50
  But I'm doing kind of like the ham boning kind of slapping thing.
• 5:56
  Okay.
• 5:56
  so, I mean, it's a very energetic number.
• 5:59
  I mean, the audience, the last couple of shows, I mean, they're clapping along.
• 6:03
  I can see them all smiling and it's a good, like, just pick me up for the audience.
• 6:11
  How do you feel like the music kind of enhances the story of SpongeBob and his friends?
• 6:15
  Like, cause there's like an eclectic taste of music here.
• 6:19
  Yes.
• 6:20
  so one, the thing I like about what they did with the music with it.
• 6:24
  So it's written by different artists.
• 6:26
  every song is written by a different artist, unless it's like a reprise or something.
• 6:30
  And, to me, that's, I think that's the best way you could have done the music for SpongeBob because, like when it comes to the show, I mean, they had like a couple of hour
• 6:41
  long specials.
• 6:42
  where there were so many cameos by like different celebrities and stuff.
• 6:47
  know the one that sticks out to me mostly just cause she wrote a song for the episode was pink was in an episode of SpongeBob.
• 6:53
  And then like you hear so much about like David Bowie.
• 6:57
  He had voiced a character in Atlantis square Pantis.
• 7:01
  He also wrote a song that's in the show.
• 7:04
  So I think that it enhances the show and kind of the story.
• 7:09
  in the way it's the most spongebob way possible, they could have done it.
• 7:14
  So, and then.
• 7:15
  has some absolute bangers in the show of music,
• 7:18
  yeah, when the big one that sticks out is best day ever and that song is in the show.
• 7:24
  So yeah.
• 7:26
  Is that the closing number?
• 7:28
  is, it is the finale.
• 7:30
  Yeah.
• 7:30
  Yeah, as I say, you have to almost have that be the finale.
• 7:33
  Exactly.
• 7:34
  And it's too perfect.
• 7:38
  So how do you feel like this role has challenged you as an actor?
• 7:44
  I gotta be honest.
• 7:45
  It's my typecast.
• 7:48
  big goofy guy is my typecast, big loud goofy guy.
• 7:52
  And that is what Patrick is.
• 7:56
  one, one small challenge that I've not faced, but have been mindful of is not overdoing it though, because like Patrick's big, loud, goofy, but he's, he's a little, I don't want to
• 8:07
  say stupid, but you know, he's, he's, he's, know, he's a little dumb.
• 8:11
  Yeah.
• 8:12
  And so it's not someone going out of their way to be funny.
• 8:16
  It's, this is funny because he said something that has nothing to do with what's going on and he doesn't even know what's happening.
• 8:24
  And so it's just trying to keep that.
• 8:26
  I can't even think the word.
• 8:27
  I want to say nuance almost of just like who Patrick is and not going off and making it me.
• 8:35
  Obviously I'm bringing some little things to the role that are going to make it, you know, this is how Ian played Patrick.
• 8:41
  but I'm still trying to stay true to the character itself.
• 8:45
  Absolutely, which is important, you know, to have your little bit spin on it.
• 8:48
  But like, this is such an identifiable character.
• 8:50
  I SpongeBob, Patrick and Sandy are like, they carry the show for two or three decades now.
• 8:55
  Yeah, it's, I, I find that fun to, mean, cause I love this show, the TV show so much.
• 9:04
  Like I'm getting to, I'm playing Patrick star.
• 9:08
  Like to me, like if you would've told like 12 year old Ian or even like seven year old Ian, like you're going to grow up and play Patrick star.
• 9:17
  I wouldn't, I I'd think you're crazy.
• 9:21
  Sure, because who would have believed that, you know?
• 9:25
  So what has been a highlight of your time on this production?
• 9:28
  Meeting the new people, honestly.
• 9:31
  This is a new group.
• 9:32
  I do a lot of stuff in like my hometown local area.
• 9:35
  And this new group is just outside of it.
• 9:40
  I've never done a show here.
• 9:41
  I've never seen a show here.
• 9:43
  And just about everybody except for two or three people I've never met before.
• 9:51
  I've worked with the SpongeBob before, Adam.
• 9:55
  Him and I did Grease together a few years ago.
• 9:57
  Yeah, this is a fun way to reconnect with one another.
• 10:01
  But I know it's so fun.
• 10:07
  But yeah, meeting all the new people has been a delight.
• 10:10
  They're all fantastic in their own ways.
• 10:13
  They're all so talented, but they're also nice, genuine people.
• 10:18
  As I say, you're the fifth one I got to talk to, and you're all just so happy to be doing this, know, like truly enjoying this time together.
• 10:26
  Yeah, it's fun.
• 10:27
  I'm gonna be so upset when it's over.
• 10:29
  Usually I'm like, well, it's on to the next one.
• 10:31
  But this one is gonna hold a special place in my heart.
• 10:36
  Is there anything special you have to do to get into the mindset of Patrick?
• 10:40
  I just kind of push everything out, honestly.
• 10:45
  I mean, there's really not a lot going on up there for Patrick.
• 10:50
  So I mean, it's, in the words of Patrick himself, I mean, his mindset is the inner machinations of his mind are an enigma.
• 10:59
  He doesn't even know.
• 11:04
  exactly, exactly.
• 11:05
  And so yeah, I just kind of, I mellow out a little bit.
• 11:09
  I try not to drink too much caffeine before the show, because he's a very, he's just, he's there.
• 11:15
  He lives under a rock, but he is a rock.
• 11:19
  I mean, he doesn't move too much.
• 11:21
  And he really does, you know, at least I have never seen the musical, so I'm excited I'm gonna see it next weekend.
• 11:27
  But in the show, he does ground SpongeBob and Sandy and Squidward quite a lot in his like, he's so stoic, even though he's just kind of not always there.
• 11:38
  Yeah, yeah, he's, it's, yeah, I couldn't have put it in better words.
• 11:45
  So what was it like for you to try on that costume for the first time like you did you feel?
• 11:50
  magic
• 11:50
  It was magic.
• 11:52
  I was already, you know, getting in the mindset of everything for Patrick.
• 11:56
  But once I, mean, I will say this, my normal summer attire is a Hawaiian shirt over a t-shirt with shorts.
• 12:05
  So I was like, when I, when they told me that's what it was going to be, was like, that's perfect.
• 12:08
  I'm used to that.
• 12:09
  But it being that pink and green color scheme, seeing myself in the costume, I was like, no, I
• 12:17
  I am Patrick Star.
• 12:18
  Like it's just almost, see myself and I'm like, this is like, there it is.
• 12:23
  100 % like what I asked you earlier about your costume.
• 12:26
  I was like, well that Hawaiian shirt I know that shirt like that's Patrick's colors right there, you know, So what themes of sponge the spongebob musical resonate the most with you
• 12:37
  The friendship aspect.
• 12:39
  It's a big thing with SpongeBob and Patrick, obviously.
• 12:43
  They've got a song written by the Plain Wait Tees called BFF.
• 12:48
  And I mean, it's exactly what it sounds like.
• 12:51
  It's a song about them being best friends.
• 12:54
  But it's also the, I guess, the friendship relationships of the show.
• 12:59
  I mean, between like, you've got Pearl and Mr.
• 13:03
  Krabs.
• 13:05
  and of course, like you, SpongeBob Patrick, you have SpongeBob Sandy.
• 13:10
  and just watching, with all the turmoil that occurs throughout the show, towards the end, seeing how everybody can come together with one another through it.
• 13:22
  But, the reason that resonates with me so much is friendships are a huge key part of my life.
• 13:29
  And I cherish all of my friendships with everybody.
• 13:31
  They're all so important to me.
• 13:33
  And so.
• 13:34
  having these characters do the same thing.
• 13:37
  It's just, it's, I love it.
• 13:39
  I mean, friendship is so important.
• 13:40
  That found family, you know?
• 13:42
  That carries us through life.
• 13:45
  100%.
• 13:47
  One final question for you is just what do you hope audiences walk away with this musical from?
• 13:52
  having fun.
• 13:53
  I hope they walk away and they think to themselves, this was the best two, two and a half hours of fun that I've ever had.
• 14:00
  Cause there's a good story to it, but at the end of the day, that's all SpongeBob is meant to be, is just fun.
• 14:07
  And there's certainly the, the fun of it outweighs the dramatic storyline of it, I will say.
• 14:17
  But yeah, I want them to walk away just thinking that was the most fun.
• 14:21
  that I've had, even watching a show.
• 14:23
  I want audience members to even during the show, get up and dance with us.
• 14:26
  There's so many moments where they could and that's the goal.
• 14:31
  That's shared enjoyment for everybody.
• 14:35
  Thank you so much for your time, It has been a pleasure talking with you.
• 14:38
  of course.
• 14:38
  Thank you, Brian.
• 14:39
  I appreciate this opportunity.
• 14:41
  The SpongeBob Musical runs for one more weekend, closing on March 16th at the Bloomfield Players Community Theater.
• 14:46
  So get your tickets now and we'll see you there.
• 14:48
  Yes.