For many freshmen, stepping into the world of high school theater means working hard in the shadows of upperclassmen, waiting for a chance to shine, but for one freshman at Atholton High School, that opportunity came sooner than expected.
This spring, Sebastian Bonilla-Arnold has been cast as the lead role of Patrick in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical—a lead role which is typically dominated by upperclassmen. It’s a big win for Sebastian, who’s ready to prove that talent knows no grade level.
“I’ve always loved theater,” Sebastian said with a laugh, recalling his early experiences. His interest sparked when he was just six years old and his parents signed him up for a summer theater camp.
“I had my first role as a Lost Boy in Peter Pan,” he continued, “and I thought I’d have a bigger part, like in the movie, but all I had to say was, ‘I’ll get the snacks.” A far cry from the big action scenes, but it was a start nonetheless.
As he grew older, his roles became more substantial. In sixth grade, he landed a quirky part as Grandpa George and a squirrel in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It was a pivotal moment for him. “I cried off the stage during my audition,” he admitted.
“I didn’t believe in myself at the time. But when I came back the next day, I found that my improv skills were on top[…] once I got into rehearsals and felt comfortable with the people around me, I like, stole the stage away from everybody else.”
It was this newfound confidence that propelled him into bigger roles, eventually leading to the opportunity to audition in 7th grade for a lead role in SpongeBob SquarePants—a part he says he was particularly excited about.
Despite the nerves of competing against more experienced students, he landed the role of Patrick, a character he describes as “looking for acceptance.” Sebastian now, in his freshman year, was able to try out for this role again as he felt that the junior middle school production had put a “muzzle” on the capabilities of the character.“I think there’s an underlying message in Patrick’s journey that resonates with a lot of people,” he said.
“He goes through this period where he’s desperate for validation, but by the end of the show, he learns that true happiness comes from surrounding yourself with people who accept you for who you are, not for what they want you to be.”
While the role is demanding, his passion for the material drives him to give it his all, especially given that his peers might assume he isn’t as “deserving” of the role due to his freshman status.
“I just go up there, do my best, and try to give the best performance possible,” he said, shaking his head. “I don’t care what anybody else thinks.”
The musical’s director, Mrs. Adler, was quick to emphasize that casting is based solely on merit, not seniority. “Whether it’s a freshman or a senior, we cast whoever is best for the role,” she said.
“For SpongeBob the leads brought bold character choices and an authenticity to the characters that really stood out […] the actors needed to bring [authenticity] to the character and people that got cast were able to do that.”
“Sebastian is such a great actor I honestly couldn’t see anyone else fit the role better than him.” said Will Fodjong, a freshman and close friend of Sebastian. Will and Sebastions friendship goes back over four years, and throughout this process Sebastion has shown his dedication to the role by his complete application to the role in his freetime.
“ Sebastian put a lot aside to prepare for the audition. He barely came over to my house like he usually would during the weeks leading up to the audition, he really wanted to get the role,” Will remarked.
Mrs. Adler explained that the casting process was particularly challenging due to the show’s complex characters, drawn from a popular TV show with iconic characters. “[The leads] brought a little bit of themselves into the role,” she said.
For Mrs. Adler, the casting wasn’t just about fitting the characters; it was about finding actors who could immerse themselves in the world of SpongeBob, which is known for its humor as well as its deeper, sometimes political undertones.
“The show is going to be so much fun, but it’s also going to surprise people with how deep it is,” she said. “There are themes of community, validation. It’s holding up a mirror to society in a way which you wouldn’t expect out of this and some top notch square puns.”
Sebastian himself attested to this remarking, “There’s the theme of looking for acceptance” but put it more into context within his own character, stating that Patrick goes through a journey filled with self-doubt du to the lack of recognition he gets, yet once he attains the complete opposite of this, he has a realization.
“He realizes that you don’t need endless validation or support inside your life to feel happy, all you need is people that make you happy, and you need to help them see you for who you are.”
This advice transcends the confines of his character as Sebastion extends a leaf to future freshmen who can take the message of authenticity and apply it to their lives.
For the freshman, he hopes his performance will not only impress his peers but inspire future freshmen to take risks. “Don’t be scared,” he advised.
“The audition process is stressful” he warned, but encouraged confidence and grit to be able to “prove that you’re there, that you’re talented and that you can perform.”
While landing such a coveted role as a freshman is rare, it’s not impossible—and his story is one of resilience, confidence, and sheer talent. With the opening night of SpongeBob The Musical fast approaching, it’s clear this freshman is ready to make a lasting impression.
“They can think what they want about me, but I’m just going to try to go up there, do my best and try to give the best performance possible,” he said, his voice filled with excitement that embodied the spirit of his character.