A few lucky CalArtians were counted among the 2018 Tony Award nominees announced on Tuesday.

“SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical” – based on the iconic cartoon created by CalArts alum Stephen Hillenburg (Art MFA 92) – lead the pack with 12 nominations (tied with “Mean Girls”). Called “beautifully visualized, deliciously quirky and inarguably unique” by the Chicago Tribune, the show can currently be seen at Broadway’s Palace Theatre.

Nominations for “Spongebob” include nods for music, acting, book, directing, choreography, scenic, costume and sound design, as well as top honor Best Musical.

CalArts alum Kevin Adams (Theater MFA 06) was nominated for Best Lighting Design of a Musical for the underwater adventure. He has previously won four Tony Awards for lighting design for “Spring Awakening” (2007), “The 39 Steps” (2008), “American Idiot” (2010) and “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” (2014).

The cast of ‘The SpongeBob Musical’ at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago in 2016, prepping for Broadway. | Photo: 2016 Joan Marcus

Alumna Condola Rashad (Theater BFA 08) was also nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for the revival of George Bernard Shaw’s “Saint Joan.” The announcement marks her fifth Tony Award nomination, having been nominated last year for “A Doll’s House, Part 2.” Rashad’s “daunting” and “dazzling” (Variety) performance can currently be seen on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.

Broadway’s most prestigious honor, the Tony Awards are presented jointly by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League.

The 72nd annual Tony Awards, hosted by Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban, will take place June 10 at New York’s Radio City Music Hall and will be televised live on CBS.

— By Katie Dunham