The SpongeBob Musical

This is JD's fourth show with Burns Park Players. Past roles include LeFou in Beauty and the Beast, Toto in Wizard of Oz, and Goron in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He enjoys getting the chance to appear onstage alongside his students - during the day, he teaches third grade at Burns Park! Along with his partner Stacie, he goes to artists markets selling amigurumi marine animals. He also works with Huron Players, and is excited to direct their upcoming production of Ride the Cyclone! When he finds some free time, he likes to spend it playing board games and making music.

Cole Hunter Dzubak is thrilled to make his BPP stage debut as Patrick Star! After spending the past three years working behind the scenes and crafting some of the best-looking boxes this stage has ever seen, he's ready to trade the power tools for jellyfish nets! Cole is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild and a current company member of both Neighborhood Theatre Group and Broken Arts Entertainment. He is an experienced actor, playwright, and voice-over artist whose work has been produced and seen across the U.S. and the U.K. He is excited to teach audiences the true meaning of Wumbo and tackle the universe's most head-scratching question: Is mayonnaise an instrument? Be sure to check out "Afterall" by Cole Hunter Dzubak at Neighborhood Theatre Group 2/27 - 3/1 and 3/6-3/8!

Dan is thrilled to be on stage with the Burns Park Players for the fourth straight year alongside many talented neighbors and friends. He is especially excited to share the stage this year with his 5th grade daughter Maya. He would like to thank his wife Michelle for her amazing support. As Squidward, Dan looks forward to both being very grumpy and finally receiving the critical appreciation his amazing clarinet skills deserve.

Born and raised in Palm Springs, California, Mary Huntoon is delighted to return to the stage for her 13th production with Burns Park Players. Past roles include Ermengarde (Hello, Dolly!), Fiona (Shrek), Bianca and Lois Lane (Kiss Me, Kate), Flounder (The Little Mermaid), and Dorothy (The Wizard of Oz). Mary is beyond nuts to dive into the role of Sandy Cheeks in SpongeBob the Musical!

From my first role as Albert in Bye Bye Birdie and dancing on stage with my then 4th grade daughter, Olivia, to almost 20 years later playing father/daughter - Mr. Krabs and Pearl - in SpongeBob, I am thrilled to be part of such an amazingly talented organization and community. When not on stage, this same father/daughter duo are selling real estate together for @properties Christie's Int'l Real Estate! So blessed!

Nadine Seyam acts as Larry the Lobster! This is her 3rd production with BPP. Nadine is an Ann Arbor native whose passion is teaching young minds. She teaches 4th grade at Burns Park Elementary. Nadine is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a stimulating community. Nadine has blossomed in ways she never knew was possible.

For my 10th Burns Park Players show, I am delighted to play Spongebob's only pet, Gary the Snail– Meow! My entire family has been involved in various BPP productions. This year, my husband Eric will play clarinet (just like Squidward!) in his 23rd show with the BPP pit orchestra. Our 3 children were each involved every school year for which they were eligible as Burns Park Elementary students. My participation has included playing trumpet in the orchestra for 2 shows, and being onstage for 7 shows: Fiddler on the Roof (ensemble), both productions of Beauty and the Beast (Silly Girl, dinner plate, cutlery), Once upon a Mattress (ensemble), Hello Dolly (ensemble, cartwheeling waiter), Shrek (Baby Bear), and Wizard and Oz (ensemble). This beautiful community will forever be in my heart!

Omkar is excited to be playing the role of Plankton, and share the gift of Chum with all of Bikini Bottom. Previous roles include Bert in Mary Poppins, Sebastian in Little Mermaid and Boris the Spy in Chitty Chitty. It's important that you understand that he is tall, multi-celled and is perfectly capable of swimming through the ocean on his own power. You're not clever, HE'S CLEVER! And he most definitely does NOT have plan for world domination. Got it? Good. Now GET LOST!

Originally from the San Francisco Peninsula, I landed in Ann Arbor by accident for what was supposed to be a 4 year stay. Six A2 moves later, I finally ended up in Burns Park. The chance to be a part of the Burns Park Players played a big role in my decision to move to Olivia Avenue - it's an AMAZING neighborhood! I've been involved (house, crew or cast) in every show since "Beauty and the Beast" (2008) when my kids were 1st graders; I forced them to do it, they loved it, and we were all hooked. The highlight of my BPP experience was playing the Cowardly Lion in 2024. And now getting to do SpongeBob with my 24 year old (former 1st grader)! I am so incredibly grateful for this phenomenal group of people who make up BPP, and my knitting peeps. Thanks to Brian, Parker, Harrison, Vinny & all of my neighbors for their support!

I have been a Burns Park Player since the age of 6, when my Mom, Deb Stern, forced me to join the play; I played a book in "Beauty and the Beast". I ended up loving my time in the play, and continued to participate in shows for the rest of my time at Burns Park, including roles such as a gambler in Guys and Dolls and Cinderella's Prince in Once Upon a Mattress. After leaving Burns Park, I went on to graduate with a degree in Political Science from Skidmore College. I then returned to Ann Arbor, and am excited to be back for my first show in 13 years!

Olivia is thrilled to return to Burns Park Players—an organization that has shaped her since her earliest days on the Burns Park Elementary stage. After growing up performing with BPP, she has loved reconnecting with the company as an adult, continuing the tradition that sparked her love of storytelling. Favorite recent roles include Lady of the Lake in Spamalot and the Tinman in The Wizard of Oz.

Supporting local is at the heart of Olivia's life, and she brings that passion into her work as an Ann Arbor REALTOR®, celebrating the people and places that make this community special.

This year brings a fun full-circle moment: Olivia plays Pearl Krabs opposite her real-life father and business partner, Jeffrey Post, as Mr. Krabs.

She's excited to bring Bikini Bottom to the Michigan Theater, a beloved Ann Arbor treasure. Thanks to her husband, Matthew, for watching their dog Gibby during rehearsals!

I have been involved with BPP for over a decade. Initially working only behind the scenes on sets, I was on stage for the first time in Mary Poppins in 2020. I am currently a member of the Burns Park Players board where I'm excited to support our dual missions of funding the arts in our schools and creating community while also giving children an introduction to life in musical theater.

This is Emma's fifth show with the Burns Park Players. Her past roles include: the killer rabbit, the wolf, and the Child Catcher. Emma wants to thank the board and creative team for providing the opportunity to step out of the mundane day to day and into the world of community theater!

Carolyn is over the moon to be under the sea with Burns Park Players for another incredible show! Her past experience with the group started as a 4th grade kids cast member and returned as a featured dancer over a decade later. Some favorite past credits include Pinocchio in Shrek (Burns Park Players) and Scuttle in The Little Mermaid (Dexter Community Players.) Carolyn would like to thank BPP for being a positive force in her life over the past two decades and sparking her lifelong love of theatre!

Megan is excited to be part of her second BPP show!

This is Laura's 7th show with BPP where she's had a chance to play so many diverse roles including a Dulocian, a Rat, a Swan, even the Color Blue in the Rainbow. She's looking forward to adding a Sardine, a Sea Anemone, & a Pirate to her list this year. Spending time singing and dancing with all her incredibly talented neighbors is the best way to pass the cold dark Michigan winter evenings. Thank you to BPP for continuing to give us all the opportunity to put on a show each year.

This is Prima's 3rd show with the Burns Park Players. A dancer since three, she enjoys storytelling that the ensemble brings to the overall theme of the show. Above all else, she loves sharing the stage with her 4th grade daughter, Gia.

I'm a Burns Park mom with a great love for music, creativity, community and Sponge Bob dance moves!

I'm originally from the UK where I taught Science at middle and high school but now, you'll most likely find me running after my five wonderful kids and subbing at Burns Park Elementary which I LOVE!

My other favourite place to be is on the stage. Singing, dancing, and storytelling are my happy place, especially when I'm doing it with some of the most wonderful people in Burns Park as well as our amazingly talented kid cast!

This will be my third show with the Burns Park Players and as one of the SquarePants dancers, bringing silly moves, cartoon-level enthusiasm, and pure fun to life is the best!

I'm thrilled to be part of this show and can't wait to share the fun with you.

Dave has been an enthusiastic participant in the Burns Park Players for more than 25 years. While not blessed with many of the talents normally found helpful in pursuing a thespian career (such as singing, dancing, and acting), Dave has nonetheless found a niche in playing security officers, including a small-town policeman (Carousel), New York City policeman (Hello Dolly and Annie), private security guard (Damn Yankees), executioner (Shrek), and Winkie (The Wizard of Oz). Dave is delighted to be playing the role of a security guard in today's performance of The SpongeBob Musical, and thoroughly denies the fact that being the father of Caroline Huntoon, the Director, had anything to do with his securing a role in the show.

I did my first Burns Park play in 1996. It was a family affair with my children on stage with me, and my husband, Ed, in the pit on the trombone. It was a wonderful time listening to, and participating in, musical theater together. We did this as a family for several years and then I chose to participate again 5 yrs ago in Mary Poppins, where I was cast as the Bird Woman. I practiced at BP and was on stage with 30 charming first graders. It is such an incredible community experience with participants of all ages from 5 to 70s that brings joy to everyone involved...as evidenced by the number who return year after year...like me.

Berit Ingersoll-Dayton has been involved with the Burns Park Players for over 30 years. Her first production was the Music Man where she shared the stage with her children who attended Burns Park School. They have long since graduated and now Berit loves being with younger generations of Burns Park Players.

Jennifer Monk-Reising is a theater professional and community leader with a wide-ranging background in production and the arts. At Young People's Theater (YPT), she serves as Creative Director, leading the design process and the Tech Team. Over the past decade, she has worn many hats at YPT—from set and costume design to producing and running a nine-year series of Behind-the-Scenes Tech Camps. She is passionate about mentoring students in all aspects of theater production—including costumes, sets, props, hair and makeup, lights, and sound—while fostering collaboration, responsibility, and pride in the work.

Jennifer also serves as Props Supervisor for Pioneer Theatre Guild and works in costuming at Greenhills School, bringing her design expertise and organizational skills to every production. She has proudly produced shows for both the Tappan Players and the Burns Park Players—including producing with Burns Park ten years ago—and is thrilled to be returning this year to collaborate with director Caroline Huntoon, music director Eric Lofstrom, and reconnect with the Burns Park community.

Beyond the stage, Jennifer is an active and respected community leader. She owns a successful event planning business, serves as the Artist Coordinator for the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original, and is president of the Community High School Jazz Band Booster Club. With more than a decade of experience in fundraising and advocacy for public education and cultural projects in Ann Arbor, Jennifer continues to champion creativity, leadership, and community through the arts.

Caroline is a graduate of Burns Park Elementary (class of 1995), and while they were not a kid performer, they did see the Burns Park Players put on many great shows! After graduating from high school, they journeyed to New York for college and Walt Disney World for work/fun. When they moved back to Ann Arbor, they finally got to be in the Burns Park Play. They were delighted to be able to play Rosemary Pilkington (How to Succeed...), Princess Winnifred (Once Upon a Mattress), and Reno Sweeney (Anything Goes) as a cast member. Then, they got the chance to direct the Burns Park Play for Hello, Dolly!, Singin' in the Rain, and The Wizard of Oz. Caroline has also directed shows at Greenhills School and Young People's Theater, and they are excited to be back with Burns Park Players for The SpongeBob Musical. When they aren't at the theater, Caroline teaches at Greenhills School, draws with their nine-year-old child Winnie, and writes books. Their novels, Skating on Mars, Linus and Etta Could Use a Win, and Going Overboard, are available wherever books are sold. You can learn more about Caroline at: carolinehuntoon.com

Sam Carter (She/Her/Hers) is barnacle-blowing thrilled to be back with the BBP community for her fourth production as Choreographer. You may have seen Sam tapping up a storm in rehearsals for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Wizard of Oz, and Beauty and the Beast- kind of like Squidward with his clarinet, but with way more rhythm.

Sam is a Michigan-based Teaching Artist, Arts Manager, Choreographer, Director, and Actor (a regular Sandy Cheeks of the theatre world). She graduated from Eastern Michigan University with her MFA in Applied Drama and Theatre for the Young in 2024 after earning her BFA in Acting from Michigan State University in 2021 with minors in Dance, Musical Theatre, and Arts and Cultural Management (collecting credentials like Mr. Krabs collects shiny pennies).

Her research dives deep into creating theatre for, with, and about individuals with disabilities. Most recently, Sam teamed up with her bestie Olivia Allen as co-writer/lyricist and director for Eastern Michigan University Theatre for the Young Tour's Sensory Theatre production of June on The Moon. This new work is an immersive, multi-sensory theatre adventure designed for neurodivergent individuals and special education classrooms.

So, hop in your boatmobile and head over to the Spongberg Theatre on December 5th at 7pm and December 6th at 10am. Don't miss the ASL Shadow Signed Performance on Saturday, December 6th at 2pm. It'll be more exciting than eating the first Krusty Krab pizza!

Sam is excited to be Krabby Patties-deep in choreography for this nautical nonsense and couldn't ask for a more absorbent, yellow, and porous adventure.

Carolyn is over the moon to be under the sea with Burns Park Players for another incredible show! Her past experience with the group started as a 4th grade kids cast member and returned as a featured dancer over a decade later. Some favorite past credits include Pinocchio in Shrek (Burns Park Players) and Scuttle in The Little Mermaid (Dexter Community Players.) Carolyn would like to thank BPP for being a positive force in her life over the past two decades and sparking her lifelong love of theatre!

Carolyn brings boundless creativity, warmth, and kid-powered theater magic to our SpongeBob season. Beloved by BPP families, she has a gift for making rehearsals joyful, meaningful, and full of discovery. Kids adore her energy and imagination!

Fun Fact: Carolyn can choreograph an entire eight-count inspired solely by jellyfish movements.

Simon returns to BPP bringing enthusiasm, experience, and a genuine passion for performing. He has served as a theater camp counselor for three years and has participated in more than 30 musical productions, giving him a strong understanding of both performance and mentorship. A former Burns Park student himself, Simon is deeply committed to supporting young performers as they build confidence, take creative risks, and shine onstage.

Fun Fact: Simon recently played Squidward in the Pioneer Theatre Guild's 2025 production of SpongeBob the Musical — and yes, that really is tap dancing with four legs! 🎶