BHS Productions Presents: THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL

Rachel can’t believe that this is her 4th and final musical at BHS. She is grateful for the time she’s spent over the years with people who have encouraged her to do what she loves. She’s glad you’re here and hopes you enjoy the show as much as she does!

Drew is a junior at BHS, and hopes to be promoted to senior position for his fourth tour. He’s happy to find work again, supporting four lovely kids and a dog, Brucey. He’d like to thank his dad for his dedication to drama, the many talented people in the cast and crew, and you. You helped, too.

Mateo is a Senior at Batavia High School and has loved theater since childhood. This is his first show at BHS and he is thrilled to be back on the stage! Mateo thanks Mr. Cattero and all his new friends for welcoming him to the department and being so supportive!

This is Desert’s 12th and final show here at the BFAC. It’s been one crazy journey these past 4 years but he’s glad to be ending it off playing his personal idol Squidward. He hopes that you will be blown away by this spectacle of a show.

T.J. is a senior at BHS this year, and this is his 9th show here at the high school. He will miss this program so so much, and cannot thank the directors, parents, castmates, and audiences enough. Assistant directing has been super fun, and he feels very lucky to have been given this chance! Casburn has taught him so much throughout this process, and they’re now best friends!! —

Ally is a senior and this is her 5th show at BHS. Some of her past roles include Mira in The Theory of Relativity and Lisa in Mamma Mia. She is also in Chromatics, BSF improv troupe, and Swingsingers show choir. She would like to give a special thanks to Kyle, Mr. Cattero, and Mr. Barsch for making this possible. Enjoy the show, YEEHAW!

Josue is a senior at BHS and is so excited to share this show with all of you! This is his second show at BHS, but he has always been involved in music through Swingsingers and Chromatics. He is so happy you are here and hopes that you enjoy the show!

Gemma is a senior previously in shows such as 42nd Street (Dorothy), I Remember Mama (Christine), Theory of Relativity (Julie), and Animal Farm (Napoleon), as well as the play Columbinus (Rebel) at the Albright Theatre. She also studied at Actors’ Training Center in Wilmette and Piven Theatre Workshop in Evanston.

This being Matthew’s 5th production at BHS, he considers himself somewhat of a seasoned thespian. Not to mention his many appearances in BHS’ most wonderful improv troupe, But Seriously Folks, over the past year and a half. An amalgamation of all of these skills is sure to leave you amazed by the end of this whimsical tale, especially when one considers the expertise of his fellow cast. Silence your damn phones, buckle your seatbelts, and enjoy; it’s a good one.

Ravyn is so excited to be performing as Lydia in her final production at BHS. This is her ninth show at the high school and she is so thankful to have been a part of such a wonderful program. Her favorite thing in the world is performing with her favorite people. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Maddie is a sophomore and is thrilled to be in her second show here at the BFAC. She has loved working on the show and spending time with her castmates. She would like to thank her family for always encouraging her to be her best, and she hopes you enjoy the show!

Ashlyn is a senior at Batavia High School, she can’t wait to be in her last show at Batavia Pride and Prejudice! She has has a wonderful year of shows including playing Maggie Jones in 42nd Street, and Edwina Dunbar in Murder on the Rerun. She will be going to Lawrence University next fall for theatre arts! She would like to thank her family and the Hunecke’s for always supporting her!

Kale is a junior at BHS and been performing since since their middle school. They are very excited to perform in another show, and they are very thankful to everyone who makes the production possible.

Sophia is a sophomore at Batavia High School and so excited to perform in her 6th show here. She is so thankful for all the work that has been put in to bring this production to life from props, to costumes, to choreography. Sophia has been working hard on her British accent and cannot wait to perform for all of you! She hopes you enjoy the show!

This is Matthew Harmon’s third show at BHS. He has contributed to past productions such as Nevermore and the Spongebob musical. He has had a great time in Pride and Prejudice and sincerely hopes you enjoy the show!

This is Charlie Liska’s third production at BHS, after Nevermore and Spongebob in their freshman year. They are very excited about performing again, especially after seeing the amazing shows that the students and parents put on earlier in the year. It’s going to be a great show!

Megan Cooper is a sophomore at batavia highschool and she is so excited to be a part of such an amazing show. She is so proud of this show and so proud of all the people who came together to make it happen. She wants to thank her family for all of their love and support, as well as her directors and choreographers who always push her to do her best. Enjoy the show!

This is Will’s third show at BHS and he’s so thrilled for it! Previously he has played Sky in Mamma Mia and Anthony in Theory of Relativity. He’d like to thank the whole cast and crew for making his last show so memorable.

Kate Streepey is a sophomore at Batavia High School. This is her fifth production with Batavia and she is so excited to perform. She would like to thank all the parent volunteers and the audience for making this show possible

Kayla, a senior, is so excited to share this underwater spectacular with you as the cast dives deep into the meanings of friendship and perseverance. This is Kayla’s 7th and final show at Batavia High School and she couldn’t be happier to end it off with a bang. She hopes you enjoy the show as much as she does!

Mac is a sophomore and has been in five shows at BHS. She wants to thank all the people that helped put this amazing show together. She also wants to thank everyone for coming to see it!

Erin is a junior at Batavia High School and this is her fourth production at BHS. She is so excited for everyone to see this amazing show and hopes you enjoy!

This is Clara’s twelfth and final show at BHS, but her very first main stage play! She has loved working with the cast and crew of Pride and Prejudice to bring this classic story to life. She hopes that this show inspires you to look beyond your prejudices and open your heart. Enjoy the performance!

This is Zoe’s 12th and final show at BHS. She is so excited that the audiences gets to experience this one of a kind performance in person. With things finally feeling as close to normal as they can, she hopes that everyone has as much fun watching the show as she did during this process.

Mitch is in his sophomore year at Batavia High School and has done several plays and a musical.  Mitch is super excited for being able to participate in the theater program and having the opportunity to get more experience with acting, especially this great cast. He would like to thank his mom for all her hours of volunteering as Production Manager and the constant support and encouragement. He really hopes that you enjoy the show!

Hello! Ben is a junior at Batavia High School and this is their first time stage managing a show at Batavia. They’ve assistant stage managed two previous shows and been in crew prior. They hope you enjoy the show!

Ryan Anderson is thrilled to be portraying the role of Mr. Darcy in the production of Pride and Prejudice. With only experiences in 2 black box shows, he hopes you enjoy his first main stage event!

Sarah Katz is a sophomore at Batavia High School. Pride and Prejudice is her fifth show at the school and she is very happy to be involved in it. She would like to thank her family and all of her friends for the opportunity to do this and the support they have given her. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Ronni is a Senior here at BHS and is so excited to be apart Pride and Prejudice. This is Ronni’s second year doing crew but has been in many other performances on the stage as well. Enjoy the show!

Lexie is a sophomore at BHS and this is her 2nd show being a part of the stage management team. This is her 4th show as a crew member and 5th show at the high school. She would like to thank all the people who put in time and energy into making the show what it is and hopes that everyone loves the show!

Jayden is a Sophomore who adores theatre and is very excited to present to you Pride & Prejudice! This is his 5th show at BHS; though he wishes it was his 6th, he didn’t make it into the Winter Play(he says it was some of his most boring high school times). He thanks his friends and family for supporting him, and you for showing!

Tim is a senior at BHS and this is his final show. Having an extensive background in theater, he is over thrilled to be on the crew for BHS for the first time. Hesitant about SpongeBob at first, he is so glad he did this technical marvel of a show and is ecstatic about how amazing it has turned out.

Julia is a Sophmore at BHS and she would like to thank you for coming to see this wonderful show! She would like to thank the parent volunteers, directors, her family, friends, and castmates for supporting her on the journey to bring this story to life.

Naomi Gustin is a sophomore at BHS. Previously she’s been involved with productions at RMS, The Albright Theatre, and Vero Voce. The cast, directors, and crew have put so much effort into this show. Enjoy!

Riley has been an active member of different musical groups through all 5 years that he has been involved with BHS, namely concert band, jazz ensemble, and marching band. This is his second musical, having played in the SpongeBob pit last year, and is ecstatic to play in the pit orchestra again for 42nd Street.

This is my sixth year playing Saxophone. I’ve always wanted to play in the pit and I have grown up watching SpongeBob, so this is the perfect combination for me! I didn’t know there was a SpongeBob musical until recently, but I’m so excited to get to play in it!

Zoe has been in music programs since the fifth grade, with this being her first year in the pit. She’s very excited for the performance and hopes that you all enjoy the show!

I have been an active member of different musical groups through all 4 years that I have been at BHS, namely concert band, jazz groups, and show choir combo. I was lucky enough this year to be in the pit for Spongebob and I have enjoyed every minute of it!

Ethan is heavily involved in BHS’s other music programs, such as concert band, Marching band, Pep band, and Jazz band. Ethan mainly plays trombone, but can also play baritone and piano. Ethan is planning on attending Iowa State University this fall.

I am a musician who loves music and plans on doing this for the rest of my life and I hope this teaches me new things and I grow to get better.

I’m so excited to be a part of the pit for Spongebob this year; I couldn’t imagine a better way to end my senior year! I want to thank Mr. Barsch, Mr. Knautz, Mr. Owen, BVK, and my friends and family for being an integral part of my musical journey.

Tristan played guitar in Mamma Mia two years prior and is excited to return to the musical scene. He’s been playing guitar for 6 years now and hopes everyone enjoys the show!

Hello! I am so excited to be a part of the Spongebob production in the pit this year. Thanks for coming!

Abe is so thrilled for the last play of his high school career, and he is excited to share this fun show with you! He is grateful for this drama program and how much it has shaped him and his life. Previous productions include 42nd Street, Animal Farm, and the Theory of Relativity, as well as several shows with the improv troupe, But Seriously Folks… He hopes you enjoy all the hard work the cast, parents, crew, and directors have put in this performance. Enjoy the show!

Emilie is a clarinet and tenor sax player for the musical and will be doing it for her second year. She is a marching band leader and strives to continue improving as a musician.

Chloe is a junior this year and really looks forward to this years production of 42nd street! She was involved in the pit orchestra for Spongebob last year and now dances in the show this year. She loves to dance and sing and has had so many amazing times during rehearsals. She hopes you enjoy the show and looks forward to bringing 42nd street to life!

KJ is a sophomore and this is his second year playing in the pit. He has been in music since fifth grade and is also involved in orchestra, jazz band, and marching band. He hopes you enjoy this years production of 42nd Street!

Bella is a Freshman and she is very excited, Since this is her first time doing makeup for a show. She hopes you’ll enjoy what you see in the show!

Kendall is senior who has been involved in art throughout highschool. They have taken AP Art participated in Rock the Runway all four years.

Dominic Is a Batavia native, graduating from BHS in 1999, at which point he attended Illinois Wesleyan University, where he earned a BFA in Theatre Arts. Following a short stint as a freelance director, he settled in Quincy Illinois at Quincy Community Theatre and served as their Director of Student Theatre and Head of Education from 2003-2005 at which time he transitioned to the position of CEO and Managing Artistic Director from 2005 – January of 2011. Dominic has also been appointed and served a three-year term with the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and served as an adjunct professor of Theatre Arts and Acting with Hannibal-LaGrange University from 2008 to 2010. A Theatrical Dominic met his wife Miranda on stage in Grease and they have four children, Brayden, Delaney, Mirabella, and Bianca.

Directing Credits Include: The Sound of Music, Urinetown, The Producers, Little Shop of Horrors (twice), Miracle on 34th Street, Steel Magnolias, Jesus Christ Superstar, On Golden Pond, The Graduate, Chicago, Little Brother, Lucky Stiff, Forever Plaid, Footloose, The Importance of Being Earnest, All Shook Up, Jake’s Women, Everybody, Death of a Salesman, Lost in Yonkers, Shrek, Beauty and the Beast, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, Dear Edwina, The Theory of Relativity, 9 to 5 The Musical, Arsenic and Old Lace, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Bridge to Terabithia, I Do! I Do! and many more. He is also the founding Director and coach for But Seriously, Folks… improv troupe founded in 2003.

Awards & Reccognition
* West Central Illinois 20 Under 40 recipient
* Individual Artist recipient for Wes Central Illinois?SouthEastern Iowa/North Eastern Missouri
* Arts Educator of the year – 2009
* Enid Ireland Award
* Batavia/Geneva/St. Charles 30 Under 30 recipient
* Batavia Hall of Honor

Peter Barsch is excited to help bring 42nd Street to life with this talented and hardworking team. He has been the Music Director for 19 shows, including Les Miserables, Chicago, Ragtime, and many more. He holds a Master’s Degree in Choral Music Education from NIU and two Bachelor’s Degrees from the Honors Program at Loyola University Chicago.
Special thanks to his supportive and patient wife Annie and his three wonderful kids through these long hours!

Mr. Knautz is the Pit Director for the musical. He is currently teaching music at J.B. Nelson. Mr. Knautz graduated from Batavia High School in 2017 and graduated this winter from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa with his music education degree. He has greatly enjoyed working with the amazing students of the pit orchestra and is very proud of them.

Jennifer Melendez has been an educator in the BHS Art & Media Department for 13 years. She graduated from DePaul University for her undergraduate degree in 2009, and from Northern Illinois University for her masters degree in 2013. Jennifer enjoys creating her own art pieces during her spare time. This is Jennifer’s second musical as the makeup director, the first being BHS presents Cats the Musical in 2017.

This is Heather’s 14th production at Batavia High School. Heather is a graduate of West Aurora High School and Illinois State University. By day, she can be found working at Marklund Day School where she helps make everyday life possible for students with mild to complex disabilities, including autism. By night, she can be found at one of the local theatres. She shares her theatre talents with numerous productions in the area throughout the year. If you can’t find her in either of those places, then she’s probably at home with her cat, Smudge.

This is one of Madeline’s final BHS productions and she couldn’t be happier to share it with her closest friends. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Lily is so thrilled and grateful to be part of such an amazing production team! As a junior at BHS, she is a part of Chamber Singers, Wind Symphony, and Chromatics. 42nd Street is her fifth production at BHS and her second as the Student Music Director. She is so thankful for her family and friends as well as Mr. Barsch and Mr. Cattero for supporting her!