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Exclusive Interview: Adam Wager (Spongebob) From Bloomfield Players' 'The Spongebob Musical' · The BSB Podcast

• 0:00
  Thank you so much for joining me today.
• 0:02
  Adam, how are you doing?
• 0:03
  I'm doing fantastic, how are you?
• 0:05
  Doing all right.
• 0:06
  So you're currently in the rehearsal process or near the end of the rehearsal process for SpongeBob the Musical, but how's it been so far?
• 0:12
  So far, it's been good.
• 0:14
  It's one of those things where it's been a long process, started in December and out of nowhere, the end came up quick.
• 0:21
  It tends to work that way, but it's been good.
• 0:25
  For me, it's been a different experience because this is the first time I've been part of a family production.
• 0:30
  And it's been great because my children are actually both in the show as well.
• 0:33
  So I get to be part of this thing that I love and kind of introduce them to this kind of great world of theater as well.
• 0:39
  So it's been special and been different in that way.
• 0:42
  Is this their first production?
• 0:45
  No, not for either of them.
• 0:46
  They've done a few kids shows in different local community theaters, but the first time all together, which has been really cool.
• 0:53
  So it's been different, learning experience for all of us, but overall just loved it.
• 0:57
  Really fantastic.
• 0:59
  So how familiar were you with SpongeBob before being cast in the show?
• 1:02
  Because you're the lead here.
• 1:04
  Yeah, right.
• 1:05
  So, I mean, with the TV show, very familiar.
• 1:07
  It's always been a guilty pleasure of mine.
• 1:10
  With I know a lot of people as well, but with the actual musical, familiar, I'd watched it a few years ago or relatively recently, think, streaming somewhere and listening to the
• 1:20
  music.
• 1:21
  I love the music.
• 1:22
  It's so many famous artists like Aerosmith and, know, Panic!
• 1:25
  of the Disco that wrote the song.
• 1:26
  So for me, it was an easy, an easy yes, you know, to even go out and audition for it.
• 1:31
  Especially I found out it was a family thing.
• 1:33
  It's a
• 1:34
  Cartoon I'd always loved the music's fantastic.
• 1:36
  So relatively familiar.
• 1:38
  Yeah
• 1:39
  I going to say, because we're relatively the same age, and this was like a defining, almost television show, know, guilty pleasure from our childhood.
• 1:45
  absolutely, right.
• 1:46
  It's great because it appeals to so many like audiences and people, know, kids love it.
• 1:51
  The adults, there's stuff that you didn't catch as a kid that now going back and seeing bits and pieces, it's entertaining for the adults as well.
• 2:00
  That's something that Danielle said in her interview.
• 2:02
  She was amazed by how many jokes are like so, as adults you get such a different take on them from what a child would get.
• 2:09
  absolutely.
• 2:09
  We have to be very careful and mindful of that as well when we portray those moments in the show too to make sure they're done in a way that's not, you know, it's good enough for
• 2:18
  the adults to kind of get it but not so out there where it's making things like obviously the kids.
• 2:23
  It's fun though, it's good.
• 2:24
  It's a fun line to ride.
• 2:27
  So what's kind of the story of SpongeBob the musical and then what's what's SpongeBob's journey through it?
• 2:32
  Yeah, so the overall story it's kind of a crazy one, but but this is the world of spongebob.
• 2:37
  So I think that's that's pretty expected.
• 2:40
  So overall, you know, there's this impending explosion about to happen with the nearby volcano called Mount humongous, right?
• 2:49
  And there's this big emergency that's about to happen.
• 2:52
  And, know, there's a divide in the town.
• 2:53
  A lot of the town's people would like to abandon Bikini Bottom.
• 2:57
  And of course, Spongebob and his friends, Patrick and Sandy, that's the last thing they want to do.
• 3:01
  This is this is their home.
• 3:02
  the place they love and so part of Spongebob Journey is with Patrick and Sandy is they want to do whatever they can to save Bikini Bottom.
• 3:10
  So his journey is you know lots ups and downs.
• 3:13
  He from the beginning kind of starts out kind not really believing in the immediate danger and the actual threat that's actually happening and then once he kind of believes it he's
• 3:23
  got this determination to really like be the one to solve the problem and again when things get tough he almost gives up but then through like his friendships with Sandy and
• 3:30
  Patrick he kind of gets back
• 3:32
  in it and again shows that grit determination and then ends up, you know, I want to spoil anything, but let's just say things out turn out pretty good for SpongeBob as friends and
• 3:41
  the rest of the people at Bikini Bottom.
• 3:43
  there's only so far you can push the themes without ruining SpongeBob, know?
• 3:47
  you have to...
• 3:50
  And one of things...
• 3:51
  for such a lighthearted musical, they really touch on so many deeper ideas.
• 3:57
  At the end of the world, they manage to touch on discrimination and exploitation.
• 4:02
  It really is.
• 4:02
  They touch on all these deep, dark topics, but still make it so light and so fun at the same time.
• 4:08
  I was gonna say I've not seen this musical before, having talked to, you're the fourth cast member I've been able to talk to, and all the little pieces that I've kind of put
• 4:16
  together, I was like, man, there's some really dark themes throughout the show.
• 4:20
  it's amazing the way they do it.
• 4:21
  It's just funny, it's light, but then there's those tender nice moments as well.
• 4:25
  So it's, in my opinion, very well done.
• 4:28
  And it sounds like from what you're saying too, it does keep the central theme of like Spongebob and like his friends and like that is kind of the carrying element through the
• 4:39
  show.
• 4:39
  absolutely.
• 4:40
  know, he that's part of SpongeBob's appeal is his almost endless positivity.
• 4:45
  And he kind of loses that not really, but that kind of waivers a little bit throughout the show.
• 4:49
  That's kind of what makes it so appealing.
• 4:51
  But in the end, know, positivity, but also the teamwork and his friendships really kind of end up saving the day.
• 4:58
  So you had mentioned the music, it comes from a very eclectic group of different artists and stuff.
• 5:04
  How do you feel like that enhances this story of SpongeBob and his friends?
• 5:08
  Yeah, I think it's just it's great in so many levels I feel like because again music tells its own story too and like some of the artists that that this is that part of this process
• 5:19
  it was like aerosmith panic of the disco playing white tease cindy Lauper and it's just so unique because like you could just tell they had a clear vision they must have known what
• 5:27
  they were getting into because each style of music really fits like each moment of the show it really does you know that there's parts when they're that they need to rock out
• 5:36
  and there's an aerosmith song to do that and there's
• 5:38
  more tender moments that end up really big that was written by Panic at the Disco.
• 5:44
  It really, again, just kind of keeps the show moving and really keeps it appealing.
• 5:48
  I feel like for everyone, there's like a style of music for anyone who might be in the audience.
• 5:52
  Now does each character kind of have its own style of music or does it kind of carry...
• 5:57
  Okay.
• 5:58
  not necessarily.
• 5:59
  No, I feel like it's a little bit of everything.
• 6:01
  It really is.
• 6:01
  That was part of the challenge in this too.
• 6:03
  It was a big undertaking.
• 6:04
  I definitely underestimated just the challenge of the show in general and just the role of SpongeBob as well, know, musically and acting-wise is a challenge, but I definitely enjoy
• 6:15
  challenge.
• 6:16
  So do you think that's the biggest challenge of this role for you as an actor is just kind of like the variance that you've had to have to approach it?
• 6:23
  Yeah, yeah, the variance, musically, acting wise, I feel like trying to, again, capture the essence of who Spongebob is without making it too cartoony, trying to keep the heart
• 6:36
  and soul of what Spongebob is really about, and just trying to keep it funny.
• 6:40
  Comedy is hard in general, but to try and make it funny and appealing to such a wide audience, I think was definitely a challenge, but definitely worth it and a good ride.
• 6:50
  How do you balance that approach to SpongeBob and not keep making him too cartoony?
• 6:55
  Because this is kind of the humanization of these characters, the personification.
• 7:00
  How do you balance that as an actor?
• 7:02
  Where do you find that sweet spot?
• 7:04
  that just comes with time and trying certain things.
• 7:08
  like I said, we, we've been doing this rehearsal process for a couple of months now and, you just kind of feeling it out and just being present and being aware when, when we're
• 7:15
  going through rehearsals and going through a scene and, know, trying something out, whether it's like a tone of voice or action or whatever.
• 7:21
  And if it doesn't feel right or you don't get a reaction from people around you, you just kind of have to just kind of play with it.
• 7:26
  and kind of always be very aware of what you're doing and, and being willing and able to kind of keep pushing it and tweaking things and making adjustments as you go.
• 7:35
  Is there anything that you do specifically to get into the mindset of SpongeBob?
• 7:39
  Well, I watched a lot of episodes of Spongebob.
• 7:44
  Yeah, it really is.
• 7:45
  again, that's been probably the biggest thing.
• 7:47
  then just as you go through it and taking time.
• 7:51
  This one I had to take a lot of time and really just go through my stuff.
• 7:55
  This was probably the most challenging role, think, with memorization, really getting it down and being able to dedicate time, really comes down to, if you ask me.
• 8:06
  I've seen pictures of you in your costume and not only does it nail it perfectly, how does that help you kind of assume the role of SpongeBob?
• 8:13
  Yeah, get the suspenders and the pants and like it's, yeah.
• 8:18
  For me, that's always one of the most exciting parts of any process of being on any production is getting in the costume.
• 8:23
  Because you don't really think about it until it's on you.
• 8:26
  And once it's on you, just really helps you elevate things to the next level.
• 8:30
  It's kind of like that is kind of slipping into the skin of that person, that character.
• 8:35
  and seeing everyone else too, I think that's a big part of it is watching everyone else kind of get into their characters, you know, before costumes or especially when they get
• 8:42
  into them, it just really, you kind of start to gel, you know, whether it's, you know, SpongeBob with Sandy or SpongeBob with Patrick, once you get those moments together,
• 8:50
  really, being able to feed off each other and play off each other really helps you dive into the character, absolutely.
• 8:55
  Do you ever have moments where you feed off each other, like not even going off script, but just kind of like you're feeling those, the energy and it changes a scene for you?
• 9:03
  Absolutely, and it can change from especially these last couple rehearsals We're really starting to start to click and get rolling and in those moments We can really interact
• 9:12
  with each other and when someone else, know Maybe changes the way they do something just slightly like whether it's like a tone of voice or or the way they they act You know
• 9:19
  physically it definitely can take you in different directions and it's usually a very good experience.
• 9:24
  Yeah, it helps us push things
• 9:27
  What themes from Spongebob the musical do you feel resonate the most with you?
• 9:32
  with me, I would feel like it's the...
• 9:36
  his least spongebob was a character, his ability to really like stay positive, but not always necessarily be like happy go lucky all the time.
• 9:45
  He still manages to keep it's hope.
• 9:46
  I think if I had to really pin down to one work, always manages to cling onto a little bit of hope.
• 9:51
  And in the second he tends to lose that.
• 9:54
  He finds that hope in certain places.
• 9:56
  And more importantly, I feel like people, finds it in his friendships mostly.
• 10:00
  His friends are able to kind of always bring him back and kind of help him realize who he was and who he is and how to get that hope.
• 10:06
  back and be that positive, that positive light when everything around them seems to be just crumbling and falling apart.
• 10:13
  And a beautiful universal message that anybody who attends this show is going to be able to take away from
• 10:18
  yep.
• 10:20
  Besides maybe that, what else are you hoping audience takes away from Spongebob the Musical, specifically this production with Bloomfield Players?
• 10:27
  Yeah, I think they could just hopefully take away and just really just go out and have a good time and enjoy the show.
• 10:33
  It really is just, it's fun.
• 10:36
  Anyone can enjoy it, whether you're five or 95, there's really something for everyone.
• 10:41
  I hope they can hopefully again, take away this idea that...
• 10:46
  really, mean, theater's for everyone, the world is for everyone.
• 10:51
  It's such an inclusive, great production.
• 10:54
  And that is, one of the themes too, is just, you know, it's a discrimination, which as dark as that sounds, you know, it was a big theme in this show.
• 11:01
  And in times that we're living in right now, it's great to see like a production or a show where it's all about just bringing people together and friendships together.
• 11:09
  And hopefully, like, families can attend the show and feel closer, you know, once they're leaving the theater.
• 11:15
  Perfect.
• 11:15
  Thank you so much, Adam, for your time.
• 11:17
  I really appreciate talking with you.
• 11:18
  yeah you too as well.
• 11:19
  Thank you very much.
• 11:21
  SpongeBob the musical runs from March 7th through the 16th at the Bloomfield Players Community Theater.
• 11:26
  So get your tickets now and we'll see you there.