Mike Shaw, writer for the Burgs, has this story about a former Lynchburg resident and SpongeBob SqaurePants animator to a Virginia Tech classroom.

On Wednesday, Tucker visited a 3D animation class at Virginia Tech’s Institute for Creativity and Arts to work one-on-one with students interested in animation, film and visual arts.

Students watched most of an episode of “SpongeBob SquarePants,” a Nickelodeon show that Tucker once worked on as a storyboard director. The end of the episode was not shown, and students were charged with coming up with their own ending and drawing it out on a storyboard.

Columnist Dan Casey takes a look at Roanoke Children’s Theatre’s new play for teeangers, Eric & Elliot:

They’re back this year with another subject that’s even more daunting: teen depression and suicide. The curtain has already risen on performances of “Eric & Elliott,” for 2,500 eighth-grade students Roanoke, Roanoke County and Salem. Performances for adults begin Thursday. … Though the topic sounds unbelievably sad, the play by Dwayne Hartford has been lauded in Congress as inspiring and empowering.