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The SpongeBob MusicalOpening Date: Nov 2019
Closing Date: Nov 2019 Air date: Dec 7, 2019 Medium: TV Where to watch: Amazon, AppleTV, Paramount Plus |
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Stage Production Notes
Created by Stephen Hillenburg and produced by Nickelodeon, SpongeBob Squarepants is an animated television series following the misadventures of an incurably optimistic and earnest sea sponge and his underwater friends in Bikini Bottom, a few fathoms below the tropical Bikini Atoll. Since airing on July 17, 1999, SpongeBob has become a multi-million dollar franchise. It has aired in over 200 countries, and been translated into more than 55 languages. There are two SpongeBob feature films (with a third in the works), theme park rides, comic books, and a plethora of merchandise.
In 2012, director Tina Landau began development of a musical version. Newcomer Ethan Slater was cast in the title role. Landau was reportedly hesitant to even pitch for the project, but changed her mind after watching the cartoon and being surprised to find “that the show itself is rather subversive, really psychedelic and whimsical and very much full of anarchic energy. It’s a world where anything is possible.”
In August 2015, Nickelodeon officially announced the Broadway-bound musical version which would premier in Chicago.
SpongeBob Squarepants The Musical received its world premier in Chicago at the Oriental Theatre on June 19, 2016. The score featured songs by a wide variety composers including Sara Bareilles, Aerosmith, Cindy Lauper, and David Bowie. The Guardian described the multitude of songwriters as “a move in the spirit of the eclectic soundtrack assembled for the 2004 film.”
The production received mixed reviews. While the Chicago Sun-Times stated “the show exhausts itself long before it's over, the Chicago Tribune described it as “an ebullient, spectacular underwater pastiche,” and “beautifully visualized, all shimmering and glittering, inarguably unique.” Variety’s Steven Oxman noted “Director Tina Landau and a crack design team privilege simple theatrical imagination over literal interpretations of the cartoon universe, and the creativity works.”
Ethan Slater received glowing notices for his portrayal of the joyful SpongeBob, as did Gavin Lee for his role of Squidward.
With a budget just over $18million, SpongeBob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical opened at the Palace Theatre on Broadway on December 4, 2017, with all the Chicago cast members reprising their roles.
Despite industry fears about the commercialization of Broadway, the musical received mostly positive reviews. Critics universally praised the David Zinn’s eye-popping design. New York Times’ Ben Brantley described it as a combination of “the literal-mindedness and repetitively riffing wildness of a toddler’s fantasy life,” while Variety’s Marilyn Stasio complimented the design as an “ingenious” use of everyday found objects, until “we realize [they] represent the cast-off junk tossed into the oceans by thoughtless humans.”
Ethan Slater and Gavin Lee‘s performances were also highly praised.
Despite some critics’ views that the plot was forgettable or not dark enough, and that the eclectic score was not cohesive, The Spongebob Musical was nominated for a slew of awards, including 12 Tony Awards and 11 Drama Desk Awards. The production won 6 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Director of a Musical (Tina Landau), Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Ethan Slater), Oustanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Gavin Lee), Outstanding Set Design (David Zinn), Outstanding Wig and Hair Design (Charles G. LaPointe) and Outstanding Musical.
The production won one award Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Musical.
Due to planned renovations at the Palace Theatre, and lower-than-expected box office returns, SpongeBob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical closed on September 16, 2018. It had played 327 performances.
Creator Stephen Hillenburg, passed away in November 2018 as a result of ALS (commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).
A national tour, under the new title The Spongebob Musical, commenced in Schenectady, New York in September 2019. The tour received some attention for being non-equity.
In early April 2020, Concord Theatricals acquired the worldwide licensing rights to The Spongebob Musical. In March 2024, Origin Theatrical announced amateur licensing for the musical was available in Australia and New Zealand.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the cartoon in 2024, Concord Theatricals held a competition entitled "Sing Like a Sponge," where schools and youth groups submitted entries describing their group's positivity and creative spirit in their community. In August 2024, Concord awarded free licensing packages to 10 schools and youth groups in Title 1 and under-resourced communities in North America based on creativity and financial need.
Created by Stephen Hillenburg and produced by Nickelodeon, SpongeBob Squarepants is an animated television series following the misadventures of an incurably optimistic and earnest sea sponge and his underwater friends in Bikini Bottom, a few fathoms below the tropical Bikini Atoll. Since airing on July 17, 1999, SpongeBob has become a multi-million dollar franchise. It has aired in over 200 countries, and been translated into more than 55 languages. There are two SpongeBob feature films (with a third in the works), theme park rides, comic books, and a plethora of merchandise.
In 2012, director Tina Landau began development of a musical version. Newcomer Ethan Slater was cast in the title role. Landau was reportedly hesitant to even pitch for the project, but changed her mind after watching the cartoon and being surprised to find “that the show itself is rather subversive, really psychedelic and whimsical and very much full of anarchic energy. It’s a world where anything is possible.”
In August 2015, Nickelodeon officially announced the Broadway-bound musical version which would premier in Chicago.
SpongeBob Squarepants The Musical received its world premier in Chicago at the Oriental Theatre on June 19, 2016. The score featured songs by a wide variety composers including Sara Bareilles, Aerosmith, Cindy Lauper, and David Bowie. The Guardian described the multitude of songwriters as “a move in the spirit of the eclectic soundtrack assembled for the 2004 film.”
The production received mixed reviews. While the Chicago Sun-Times stated “the show exhausts itself long before it's over, the Chicago Tribune described it as “an ebullient, spectacular underwater pastiche,” and “beautifully visualized, all shimmering and glittering, inarguably unique.” Variety’s Steven Oxman noted “Director Tina Landau and a crack design team privilege simple theatrical imagination over literal interpretations of the cartoon universe, and the creativity works.”
Ethan Slater received glowing notices for his portrayal of the joyful SpongeBob, as did Gavin Lee for his role of Squidward.
With a budget just over $18million, SpongeBob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical opened at the Palace Theatre on Broadway on December 4, 2017, with all the Chicago cast members reprising their roles.
Despite industry fears about the commercialization of Broadway, the musical received mostly positive reviews. Critics universally praised the David Zinn’s eye-popping design. New York Times’ Ben Brantley described it as a combination of “the literal-mindedness and repetitively riffing wildness of a toddler’s fantasy life,” while Variety’s Marilyn Stasio complimented the design as an “ingenious” use of everyday found objects, until “we realize [they] represent the cast-off junk tossed into the oceans by thoughtless humans.”
Ethan Slater and Gavin Lee‘s performances were also highly praised.
Despite some critics’ views that the plot was forgettable or not dark enough, and that the eclectic score was not cohesive, The Spongebob Musical was nominated for a slew of awards, including 12 Tony Awards and 11 Drama Desk Awards. The production won 6 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Director of a Musical (Tina Landau), Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Ethan Slater), Oustanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Gavin Lee), Outstanding Set Design (David Zinn), Outstanding Wig and Hair Design (Charles G. LaPointe) and Outstanding Musical.
The production won one award Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Musical.
Due to planned renovations at the Palace Theatre, and lower-than-expected box office returns, SpongeBob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical closed on September 16, 2018. It had played 327 performances.
Creator Stephen Hillenburg, passed away in November 2018 as a result of ALS (commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).
A national tour, under the new title The Spongebob Musical, commenced in Schenectady, New York in September 2019. The tour received some attention for being non-equity.
In early April 2020, Concord Theatricals acquired the worldwide licensing rights to The Spongebob Musical. In March 2024, Origin Theatrical announced amateur licensing for the musical was available in Australia and New Zealand.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the cartoon in 2024, Concord Theatricals held a competition entitled "Sing Like a Sponge," where schools and youth groups submitted entries describing their group's positivity and creative spirit in their community. In August 2024, Concord awarded free licensing packages to 10 schools and youth groups in Title 1 and under-resourced communities in North America based on creativity and financial need.
Filmed Production Notes
In October 2019, it was announced that The SpongeBob Musical would be filmed in front of a live audience and released on television through Viacom under the title The SpongeBob Musical: Live On Stage! The release is part of celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the SpongeBob Squarepants cartoon.
In October 2019, it was announced that The SpongeBob Musical would be filmed in front of a live audience and released on television through Viacom under the title The SpongeBob Musical: Live On Stage! The release is part of celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the SpongeBob Squarepants cartoon.
Most of the original cast returned to film the production which was filmed in Plymouth with a live audience in November 2019. SpongeBob voice actor Tom Kenny also made an appearance as Patchy the Pirate.
A happy place. And that’s a wrap. And see you on TV!!!#spongebobmusicalLIVE @SpongeBobBway pic.twitter.com/iVU6NRf8sB
— Tina Landau (@TinaLandau) November 8, 2019
In the lead up to the airing, between December 2 - 6, Nickelodeon aired short form videos featuring interviews and behind-the-scenes footage hosted by Tom Kenny.
The SpongeBob Musical: Live On Stage! aired on all Nickelodeon channels on December 7, 2019. The broadcast attracted 1.7million viewers, making it the number one program across all children’s television.
Broadway World’s Kaitlin Milligan stated that the capture allowed for a unique close-up of the performances that served to heighten the comedy, and offer access to elements of the show that might have been missed in the theatre - such as the work of foley artist Michael Dobson.
A sing-a-long broadcast premiered on Nickelodeon on January 4, 2020.
In the days following the initial television airing, The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage was made available on Amazon Prime (initially for $2.99, and later for $9.99 US) and iTunes (for $9.99 US).
Paramount Home Entertainment and Nickelodeon Home Entertainment released The SpongeBob Musical on DVD on November 3rd, 2020.
In November 2024, The SpongeBob Musical was available to view for free on the Nickelodeon's official YouTube channel.
The SpongeBob Musical is currently available on Amazon, AppleTV, and Paramount Plus.
The SpongeBob Musical: Live On Stage! aired on all Nickelodeon channels on December 7, 2019. The broadcast attracted 1.7million viewers, making it the number one program across all children’s television.
Broadway World’s Kaitlin Milligan stated that the capture allowed for a unique close-up of the performances that served to heighten the comedy, and offer access to elements of the show that might have been missed in the theatre - such as the work of foley artist Michael Dobson.
A sing-a-long broadcast premiered on Nickelodeon on January 4, 2020.
In the days following the initial television airing, The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage was made available on Amazon Prime (initially for $2.99, and later for $9.99 US) and iTunes (for $9.99 US).
Paramount Home Entertainment and Nickelodeon Home Entertainment released The SpongeBob Musical on DVD on November 3rd, 2020.
In November 2024, The SpongeBob Musical was available to view for free on the Nickelodeon's official YouTube channel.
The SpongeBob Musical is currently available on Amazon, AppleTV, and Paramount Plus.
Take a listen to episode 30 of the Filmed Live Musicals podcast with associate director Kenneth Ferrone to go behind the scenes of the taping.
The SpongeBob Musical PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Theatre Royal, Plymouth
Producer: Nickelodeon, Austin Shaw, Paul J Medford, Susan Vargo, Doug Cohn, Rob Bagshaw
Book: Kyle Jarrow
Music and Lyrics: Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert, The Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, T.I., David Bowie, Tom Kenny & Andy Paley
Director: Tina Landau Filmed Live Director: Glenn Weiss
Orchestrations and Arrangements: Tom Kitt
Choreography: Christopher Gattelli
Scenic & Costume Design: David Zinn
Lighting Design: Kevin Adams
Sound Design: Walter Trarbach
Foley Design and Performance: Michael Dobson
Projection Design: Peter Nigrini
Music Supervisor & Conductor: Julie McBride
Cast:
Ethan Slater (SpongeBob SquarePants), Gavin Lee (Squidward Q. Tentacles), Danny Skinner (Patrick Star), Brian Ray Norris (Eugene Krabs), Wesley Taylor (Sheldon Plankton), Christina Sajous (Sandy Cheeks), Ensemble: Kyle Matthew Hamilton, Katie Lee Hill, Curtis Holbrook, L’ogan J’ones, Jai’len Josey, Kelvin Moon Loh, Lauralyn McClelland, Vasthy Mompoint, Bryonha Parham, Oneika Phillips, Jon Rua, JC Schuster, Abby C. Smith, Robert Taylor Jr., Allan Washington
Theatre: Theatre Royal, Plymouth
Producer: Nickelodeon, Austin Shaw, Paul J Medford, Susan Vargo, Doug Cohn, Rob Bagshaw
Book: Kyle Jarrow
Music and Lyrics: Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alex Ebert, The Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, T.I., David Bowie, Tom Kenny & Andy Paley
Director: Tina Landau Filmed Live Director: Glenn Weiss
Orchestrations and Arrangements: Tom Kitt
Choreography: Christopher Gattelli
Scenic & Costume Design: David Zinn
Lighting Design: Kevin Adams
Sound Design: Walter Trarbach
Foley Design and Performance: Michael Dobson
Projection Design: Peter Nigrini
Music Supervisor & Conductor: Julie McBride
Cast:
Ethan Slater (SpongeBob SquarePants), Gavin Lee (Squidward Q. Tentacles), Danny Skinner (Patrick Star), Brian Ray Norris (Eugene Krabs), Wesley Taylor (Sheldon Plankton), Christina Sajous (Sandy Cheeks), Ensemble: Kyle Matthew Hamilton, Katie Lee Hill, Curtis Holbrook, L’ogan J’ones, Jai’len Josey, Kelvin Moon Loh, Lauralyn McClelland, Vasthy Mompoint, Bryonha Parham, Oneika Phillips, Jon Rua, JC Schuster, Abby C. Smith, Robert Taylor Jr., Allan Washington
Sources
Articles
Websites
- Reuben Baron, “The SpongeBob Musical Is Must-See TV (No, Seriously!)” Comic Book Resources (Dec 5, 2019)
- Joshua Barone, “SpongeBob SquarePants Musical to Open on Broadway,” New York Times (June 5, 2017)
- Ben Brantley, “Review: ‘SpongeBob SquarePants,’ a Watery Wonderland on Broadway,” New York Times (Dec 4, 2017)
- BWW News Desk, “THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL: LIVE ON STAGE! Draws 1.7 Million Viewers,” Broadway World (Dec 12, 2019)
- Sopan Deb, “With a Singing SpongeBob, Nickelodeon Aims for a Broadway Splash,” New York Times (Nov 22, 2017)
- Sopan Deb, “He Knows Bikini Bottom. Now He Gets to Swim There,” New York Times (Nov 22, 2017)
- Greg Evans, “Broadway’s ‘SpongeBob Musical’ Swims To Nickelodeon For December Splash; Director, Cast To Reunite,” Deadline (Oct 17, 2019)
- Andrew Gans, “Broadcast Date Set for SpongeBob SquarePants Musical on Nickelodeon,” Playbill (Nov 19, 2019)
- Neil Genzlinger, “Stephen Hillenburg, ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ Creator, Dies at 57,” New York Times (Nov 27, 2018)
- Jeremy Gerard, “Broadway Review: Psychedelic ‘SpongeBob Squarepants’ Rocks The Palace,” Deadline (Dec 4, 2017)
- Caitlin Huston, “‘SpongeBob Squarepants’ cast to reunite for filmed performance on Nickelodeon,” Broadway News (Oct 17, 2019)
- Chris Jones, “Young SpongeBob saves the day, in a big, loud way,” Chicago Tribune (June 19, 2016)
- Ruth Kinane, “The SpongeBob Musical Live on Stage! to debut on Nickelodeon in December,” Entertainment Weekly (Oct 17, 2019)
- Ashley Lee, “The SpongeBob SquarePants musical is airing on TV. Why theaters are thrilled,” LA Times (Dec 2, 2019)
- Kaitlin Milligan, “BWW Review: THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL: LIVE ON STAGE! Brought The Iconic Characters to Life on Nickelodeon!” Broadway World (Dec 8, 2019)
- Ryan McPhee, “How Director Tina Landau Found the Broadway Musical in SpongeBob SquarePants,” Playbill (Nov 5, 2017)
- Ryan McPhee, “TV Adaptation of SpongeBob SquarePants Musical Will Air on Nickelodeon,” Playbill (Oct 17, 2019)
- Steven Oxman, “Pre-Broadway Review: ‘The SpongeBob Musical’,” Variety (June 20, 2016)
- Denise Petski, “‘Spongebob Musical: Live On Stage!’ Draws 1.7 Million Viewers In Live+3 Simulcast For Nickelodeon,” Deadline (Dec 12, 2019)
- Michael Paulson, “‘SpongeBob’ Musical Will Close on Broadway and Plan for a Tour,” New York Times (July 8, 2018)
- Press Release, “World Premiere of Broadway Bound ‘The SpongeBob Musical’ Summer 2016 in Chicago,” TV By the Numbers, Aug 31, 2015
- Press Release, “Nickelodeon to Debut Original Television Musical Event The SpongeBob Musical: Live On Stage! Saturday, Dec. 7, at 7:00 P.M. (ET/PT)”, Business Wire (Nov 19, 2019)
- Press Release, "CONCORD THEATRICALS ACQUIRES LICENSING RIGHTS FOR NICKELODEON’S BROADWAY HIT “THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL”", Concord (April 2, 2020)
- David Rooney, “'SpongeBob SquarePants' Musical to Close on Broadway,” The Hollywood Reporter (July 8, 2018)
- Claire Shaffer, “‘Spongebob Musical’ Televised Performance Will Air on Nickelodeon,” Rolling Stone (Oct 17, 2019)
- Nathan Skethway, “Check Out Brand New Photos From First National Tour of The Spongebob Musical,” Playbill (Oct 2, 2019)
- Marilyn Stasio, “Broadway Review: ‘SpongeBob SquarePants,’ the Musical,” Variety (Dec 4, 2017)
- Alexis Soloski, “SpongeBob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical review – sugar-shock visual pleasure,” The Guardian (Dec 5, 2017)
- TV News Desk, "THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL: LIVE ON STAGE Available on DVD Nov. 3," Broadway World (Sept 29, 2020)
- Hedy Weiss, “Feel-good 'SpongeBob Musical' rumbles, toils and bubbles,” Chicago Sun-Times (June 20, 2016)
- Stephi Wild, "Watch: SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS Musical is Available to Watch For Free on YouTube," BroadwayWorld (Nov 26, 2024)
- Jonathan Wolfe, “‘SpongeBob’ Musical Will Open in Chicago, With Sights on Broadway,” New York Times (Aug 31, 2015)
Websites
- Broadway World, “BWW TV: Ethan Slater and Tina Landau Get Ready for Nickelodeon's Bikini Bottom Broadcast!” Accessed via: https://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay/BWW-TV-Ethan-Slater-and-Tina-Landau-Get-Ready-for-Nickelodeons-Bikini-Bottom-Broadcast-20191130
- IMDb, “SpongeBob Squarepants,” Accessed via: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206512/
- Playbill, “SpongeBob Squarepants, The Broadway Musical,” Accessed via: http://www.playbill.com/production/the-SpongeBob-musical-palace-theatre-2017-2018
- The SpongeBob Musical, Cast & Creative, Accessed via: https://theSpongeBobmusical.com/cast-crew/
- The SpongeBob Musical, “National Tour,” Accessed via: https://thespongebobmusical.com/tickets/
Written by Luisa Lyons (November, 2019; updated March 2020)