Closing night of “The SpongeBob Musical” was followed by a tsunami of events, and the auditorium was left submerged. Del Val thespians splashed viewers with water to create a real Bikini Bottom effect.

While it was fun in the moment, the water caused great damage. Weeks later, the floor of the auditorium still cannot be seen through the remaining water.

“We knew from the beginning that we wanted the audience to feel a part of the show, and I think we did just that,” junior Carly O’Cone said.

The cast and crew were excited to use the special effects during the last show, knowing it would be a memorable performance for everyone.

“I feel like we delivered the show that was highly anticipated,” senior Alex Apgar said. “All of the special effects we had prepared helped bring the story to life even more.”

Throughout different scenes, sprinklers were set off to enhance the audience’s experience and bring the story to life.

“The tap number was my favorite, but it was also the most challenging to perform with all the water on the stage,” junior Nolen Petty said.

Ponchos were distributed at the doors as precautionary measures for the audience. However, there was nothing set in place to protect the auditorium itself. Now, the seats are not only soaked with water, but also reek of a fishy smell.

As a result, major construction needs to be done to restore the auditorium. This will be a high cost project, and funding is not currently guaranteed.

“In terms of money, we have no money,” junior Ryan Carr said. “We should have charged for those ponchos.”