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Cast and crew of “The SpongeBob Musical” found themselves outside the theater venue at Kleber Kaserne in Kaiserslautern after sprinklers soaked the stage during dress rehearsals May 8, 2024. (Ann Pinson/Stars and Stripes)
In an immersive twist that was all too real, KMC Onstage’s production of “The SpongeBob Musical” experienced a watery scene when a sprinkler malfunction drenched the stage at Kleber Kaserne Wednesday evening, echoing an incident from 2022.
The cast and crew of “The SpongeBob Musical” at KMC Onstage were in for a wet surprise when their version of Bikini Bottom had an unexpected downpour due to a sprinkler malfunction during final rehearsals for Friday’s show opening.
This soggy mishap occurred despite precautions taken by the staff to prevent a repeat of the infamous “Medea Flood” that soaked the same stage just two years prior, according theater officials on Facebook.
No injuries were reported, and the stage and set pieces survived the incident largely unscathed, though the condition of the sound equipment remains uncertain until power is restored.
KMC Onstage has temporarily closed its offices and the adjacent Java Cafe, with performances expected to resume shortly.
“Please have patience as we work through the process with our USAG-RP team support,” said a spokesperson for KMC Onstage in a statement. “If you purchased tickets, don’t worry — we’ve got a great show for you and you’ll still have the #bestdayever in Bikini Bottom — just give us a little time to dry out!”
The local Fire Station Crew East was quick to respond, officials said, helping to mitigate any further damage.
This recurring rendezvous with the firefighters was acknowledged with a light-hearted jab on social media by the theater group: “But we really have to stop meeting like this...,” the team wrote on Facebook.
Cast and crew of KMC Onstage stand for a photo with firefighters of Fire Station Crew East, after the theater on Kleber Kaserne flooded due to sprinkler malfunction, May 8, 2024. (KMC Onstage)
For cast and crew, the incident brought back memories of the “Medea” performance in 2022, when a sprinkler misfire forced the Greek tragedy to move outdoors in an impromptu al fresco performance.
The thespians showed their resilience then as well, proving that the show must, and will, go on.
Fans of the musical are advised to hold on to their tickets and stay tuned for updates.
To support the theater, to purchase tickets and more, visit KMC Onstage.
May 9, 2024 10:19
