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Post by anxiousoctopus on Jun 11, 2022 7:24:56 GMT
I know TheatreFan rumours aren’t always true but if this is happening then I am VERY excited theatrefan.co.uk/rumour-the-spongebob-musical-set-for-uk-tour/I know for a fact that the costumes and sets made for the pro-shot are still in storage in the UK (the original Broadway ones were being used for the US tour at the time), so everything is pretty much ready for a tour. |
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Post by iamamazing on Jun 11, 2022 9:33:58 GMT
So glad this one’s coming over :-D
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Post by theatremiss on Jun 11, 2022 10:44:48 GMT
I’m looking forward to this
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Post by Mark on Jun 11, 2022 11:04:17 GMT
I love this show, seen it twice in New York and again on tour in Boston. My one worry is whether a UK audience will be able to look beyond the title and see it as a proper piece of musical theatre, rather than just a "cheap kids show" (which it is not).
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 11, 2022 11:06:39 GMT
I love this show, seen it twice in New York and again on tour in Boston. My one worry is whether a UK audience will be able to look beyond the title and see it as a proper piece of musical theatre, rather than just a "cheap kids show" (which it is not). That’s certainly what I’d be thinking. Not necessarily cheap but definitely something marketed at children. I’ve never seen the cartoon series so a but puzzled as to what it actually is. |
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Post by danb on Jun 11, 2022 13:46:00 GMT
The Spongebob cartoon series is hilarious. So many classic moments of arbsurdism and massive ideas totally delivered. If the musical is anywhere near as good they’ll be onto a winner. I started to watch the recording of the show but wasn’t convinced.
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Post by squidward on Jun 12, 2022 1:33:09 GMT
The recording of the show doesn’t really do it justice. It was shot in the UK with a much younger audience than it had on Broadway and with all the stops and starts during filming, it just ended up being quite flat, the polar opposite to how it was on Broadway.
The show was conceived and directed by creative genius Tina Landau, who really imbued the show with something magical, unexpected and moving. It swept the board at all the pre-Tony awards ( Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle etc) and then was completely snubbed at The Tonys apart from the much deserved design award given to David Zinn. I suspect this snub was a result of theatrical snobbery and a bridling against a show produced by a cartoon corporation. Fortunately for the show, it was well reviewed by most of the critics ( including the NY times).
I saw it twice on Broadway and both times was just buzzing by the end from spending time with the residents of Bikini Bottom in a wonderfully immersive space. For me it was just joyous from start to finish with a brilliant cast, a very funny book by Kyle Jarrow and fantastically good music from a mix of pop writers ranging from Bowie to Cindi Lauper, John Legend and Panic at the Disco.
I know a non-Equity tour of the US went out just a few months before COVID struck and then got cancelled. I heard it was a pretty second rate version of the original show. I’d be surprised if a tour of the UK would be successful, as it was hard for the producers in the US to shift the perception that it wasn’t just a theme park style kid’s show. In reality the audiences that were there the nights that I was in really did range from the elderly to the very young, with plenty of middle aged people and student ages in between,
I think they’d be up against the same perception problem here in the UK and it wouldn’t be a cheap show to tour by any means if it was produced to the Broadway standard. I could be wrong, but I just can see any oroducers taking a risk on a tour, especially with the post-COVID consequences the industry will be facing for some time to come.
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Post by sph on Jun 12, 2022 1:43:33 GMT
I'm very intrigued by this musical after how well it did critically in the States, but I have to admit I'm not sure the average brit outside of London is going to understand that it is a musical theatre production and not a "Peppa Pig Live!" type of show.
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Post by fiyerorocher on Jun 12, 2022 1:54:30 GMT
I didn't enjoy it on Broadway at all, but mostly because the audience was appallingly behaved. I know it's a kids show, but if your child can't sit still without running up and down the aisles, do not take them to a musical...
The songs also weren't anything to write home to. For me they fall into the BTTF category of entirely forgettable. Also like BTTF, you get way more out of it if you know the source material, and aesthetically it's pretty cool.
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Post by FairyGodmother on Jun 12, 2022 10:05:48 GMT
I'm very intrigued by this musical after how well it did critically in the States, but I have to admit I'm not sure the average brit outside of London is going to understand that it is a musical theatre production and not a "Peppa Pig Live!" type of show. That's a marketing issue, not an issue with us Brits in the provinces.  |
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Post by sph on Jun 12, 2022 14:09:17 GMT
I'm very intrigued by this musical after how well it did critically in the States, but I have to admit I'm not sure the average brit outside of London is going to understand that it is a musical theatre production and not a "Peppa Pig Live!" type of show. That's a marketing issue, not an issue with us Brits in the provinces.  Ah, but you are a theatre-going Brit in the provinces engaged enough to post on a theatre-related board. Unfortunately (in London too), the average person who sees the words "Spongebob Musical" won't even give it a second thought no matter how well it is marketed. I remember seeing Blood Brothers on tour years ago and there were big families with toddlers handing out packets of crisps and children crying and talking and hating every minute. Why? Because their parents saw the word "musical" and thought it was going to be basically panto. |
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Post by squidward on Jun 12, 2022 16:41:22 GMT
I didn't enjoy it on Broadway at all, but mostly because the audience was appallingly behaved. I know it's a kids show, but if your child can't sit still without running up and down the aisles, do not take them to a musical... The songs also weren't anything to write home to. For me they fall into the BTTF category of entirely forgettable. Also like BTTF, you get way more out of it if you know the source material, and aesthetically it's pretty cool. What’s BTTF? Did you go to a matinee on Broadway? We were fortunate enough to not experience any bad audience behaviour whatsoever both times we saw it, but those were both evening performances. I was completely unfamiliar with the source material but decided to give it a go after I’d seen some interviews with Tina Landau and some clips from the out of town try out. I think the writer and director tried very hard not to produce anything which couldn’t be understood unless you knew the cartoon well, but I guess you’d possibly get some extra Easter eggs if you did. I thought the music worked perfectly for the show, but would agree that it’s not a score that particularly stands up outside of the show ( apart perhaps from the John Legend song which is gorgeous). |
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Post by Mark on Jun 12, 2022 16:44:53 GMT
I went on Tony Sunday, was convinced Ethan Slater would win best actor. Was incredibly disappointed he did not.
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Post by viserys on Jun 12, 2022 16:49:57 GMT
There'll be a tour here in Germany later this year. I really regret missing it on Broadway (because I, too, initially thought it was just a Nickelodeon cash grab until I heard the album) to while I don't expect Broadway standards here, I do hope it will be done somewhat decently.
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Post by squidward on Jun 12, 2022 16:51:01 GMT
That's a marketing issue, not an issue with us Brits in the provinces. Ah, but you are a theatre-going Brit in the provinces engaged enough to post on a theatre-related board. Unfortunately (in London too), the average person who sees the words "Spongebob Musical" won't even give it a second thought no matter how well it is marketed. I remember seeing Blood Brothers on tour years ago and there were big families with toddlers handing out packets of crisps and children crying and talking and hating every minute. Why? Because their parents saw the word "musical" and thought it was going to be basically panto. Ooh, with respect, that’s a bit of a harsh generalisation isn’t it? I don’t think people who aren’t regular theatregoers or don’t engage with a theatre board are so dense that they think a musical is a panto. I do think that a show based on a kid’s TV show or film would definitely run that risk though, however alternative the production is and I expect if SB came to the UK, that’s exactly what would happen. Marketing the show to make it clear that it’s definitely not just for kids is a very difficult task and ultimately I think that may have been why SB only ran a year and didn’t transfer to another theatre when The Palace closed for redevelopment. |
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Post by squidward on Jun 12, 2022 17:00:45 GMT
I went on Tony Sunday, was convinced Ethan Slater would win best actor. Was incredibly disappointed he did not. He was ROBBED. So was Tina Landau, Gavin Lee and the show itself. I think there was some sort of agenda going on with the Tony voters there, probably because they didn’t want to encourage large corporations like Nickelodeon to start taking up space in Broadway houses. No-one seems to mind Disney doing the same thing though. Also the sheer creativity and innovation in SB really did deserve to be acknowledged in my humble opinion. |
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Post by squidward on Jun 12, 2022 17:05:15 GMT
I love this show, seen it twice in New York and again on tour in Boston. My one worry is whether a UK audience will be able to look beyond the title and see it as a proper piece of musical theatre, rather than just a "cheap kids show" (which it is not). That’s certainly what I’d be thinking. Not necessarily cheap but definitely something marketed at children. I’ve never seen the cartoon series so a but puzzled as to what it actually is. It’s so difficult to describe exactly what it is and therein lies the problem for the marketing people I guess.If you’re interested there are some great rehearsal clips and interviews with Tina Landau and David Zinn (designer) that convinced me it was a must see. It’s also worth reading a few of the reviews ( from Broadway, not the tour). |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jun 12, 2022 17:22:26 GMT
That’s certainly what I’d be thinking. Not necessarily cheap but definitely something marketed at children. I’ve never seen the cartoon series so a but puzzled as to what it actually is. It’s so difficult to describe exactly what it is and therein lies the problem for the marketing people I guess.If you’re interested there are some great rehearsal clips and interviews with Tina Landau and David Zinn (designer) that convinced me it was a must see. It’s also worth reading a few of the reviews ( from Broadway, not the tour).Which, if it was to play in Manchester, I might do. But really, most people wouldn’t and would just be dismissing it as the next kiddie show. So, could someone who has seen this please “sell” it to the average adult MT enthusiast? Nobody has actually said what it is. I’ve seen from my own research that it’s based on a children’s cartoon which takes place under the sea but yeah, ok, why do I as an adult want to see that? It’s not a question of people not “getting it”, people have to be told what they’re getting. |
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Post by sph on Jun 12, 2022 17:30:20 GMT
Ah, but you are a theatre-going Brit in the provinces engaged enough to post on a theatre-related board. Unfortunately (in London too), the average person who sees the words "Spongebob Musical" won't even give it a second thought no matter how well it is marketed. I remember seeing Blood Brothers on tour years ago and there were big families with toddlers handing out packets of crisps and children crying and talking and hating every minute. Why? Because their parents saw the word "musical" and thought it was going to be basically panto. Ooh, with respect, that’s a bit of a harsh generalisation isn’t it? I don’t think people who aren’t regular theatregoers or don’t engage with a theatre board are so dense that they think a musical is a panto. I do think that a show based on a kid’s TV show or film would definitely run that risk though, however alternative the production is and I expect if SB came to the UK, that’s exactly what would happen. Marketing the show to make it clear that it’s definitely not just for kids is a very difficult task and ultimately I think that may have been why SB only ran a year and didn’t transfer to another theatre when The Palace closed for redevelopment. I do think that overall, musicals are still thought of as "family entertainment" by the average person and there is a tendency for adults to bring their kids along to the theatre because they think that every musical falls under that genre. So it may sound a harsh generalisation, but well, here we are. Now that's not to say that Spongebob won't be family-friendly. I'm sure it will. But I have the feeling that there are going to be a lot of parents of very young children that are going to be somewhat surprised that it ain't Disney on Ice. |
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Post by annette on Jun 12, 2022 17:43:14 GMT
It’s so difficult to describe exactly what it is and therein lies the problem for the marketing people I guess.If you’re interested there are some great rehearsal clips and interviews with Tina Landau and David Zinn (designer) that convinced me it was a must see. It’s also worth reading a few of the reviews ( from Broadway, not the tour).Which, if it was to play in Manchester, I might do. But really, most people wouldn’t and would just be dismissing it as the next kiddie show. So, could someone who has seen this please “sell” it to the average adult MT enthusiast? Nobody has actually said what it is. I’ve seen from my own research that it’s based on a children’s cartoon which takes place under the sea but yeah, ok, why do I as an adult want to see that? It’s not a question of people not “getting it”, people have to be told what they’re getting. I could try and explain it, but Tina Landau (director) undoubtedly does better job that I could do: |
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Post by fiyerorocher on Jun 12, 2022 17:51:34 GMT
I didn't enjoy it on Broadway at all, but mostly because the audience was appallingly behaved. I know it's a kids show, but if your child can't sit still without running up and down the aisles, do not take them to a musical... The songs also weren't anything to write home to. For me they fall into the BTTF category of entirely forgettable. Also like BTTF, you get way more out of it if you know the source material, and aesthetically it's pretty cool. What’s BTTF? Did you go to a matinee on Broadway? We were fortunate enough to not experience any bad audience behaviour whatsoever both times we saw it, but those were both evening performances. I was completely unfamiliar with the source material but decided to give it a go after I’d seen some interviews with Tina Landau and some clips from the out of town try out. I think the writer and director tried very hard not to produce anything which couldn’t be understood unless you knew the cartoon well, but I guess you’d possibly get some extra Easter eggs if you did. I thought the music worked perfectly for the show, but would agree that it’s not a score that particularly stands up outside of the show ( apart perhaps from the John Legend song which is gorgeous). Evening show, I think, but it was a very long time ago now so I'm not totally sure. BTTF - Back to the Future. Currently taking up a perfectly good West End theatre. (I am not a fan) |
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Post by annette on Jun 12, 2022 17:53:38 GMT
Ooh, with respect, that’s a bit of a harsh generalisation isn’t it? I don’t think people who aren’t regular theatregoers or don’t engage with a theatre board are so dense that they think a musical is a panto. I do think that a show based on a kid’s TV show or film would definitely run that risk though, however alternative the production is and I expect if SB came to the UK, that’s exactly what would happen. Marketing the show to make it clear that it’s definitely not just for kids is a very difficult task and ultimately I think that may have been why SB only ran a year and didn’t transfer to another theatre when The Palace closed for redevelopment. I do think that overall, musicals are still thought of as "family entertainment" by the average person and there is a tendency for adults to bring their kids along to the theatre because they think that every musical falls under that genre. So it may sound a harsh generalisation, but well, here we are. Now that's not to say that Spongebob won't be family-friendly. I'm sure it will. But I have the feeling that there are going to be a lot of parents of very young children that are going to be somewhat surprised that it ain't Disney on Ice. I guess that was definitely the case with ALW's 'Cinderella', but that wasn't helped by the marketing campaign, or indeed just calling it 'Cinderella', but do you think people's perceptions would be the same with say Book of Mormon. Girl from The North Country or Menopause-The Musical? |
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Post by annette on Jun 12, 2022 17:54:40 GMT
What’s BTTF? Did you go to a matinee on Broadway? We were fortunate enough to not experience any bad audience behaviour whatsoever both times we saw it, but those were both evening performances. I was completely unfamiliar with the source material but decided to give it a go after I’d seen some interviews with Tina Landau and some clips from the out of town try out. I think the writer and director tried very hard not to produce anything which couldn’t be understood unless you knew the cartoon well, but I guess you’d possibly get some extra Easter eggs if you did. I thought the music worked perfectly for the show, but would agree that it’s not a score that particularly stands up outside of the show ( apart perhaps from the John Legend song which is gorgeous). Evening show, I think, but it was a very long time ago now so I'm not totally sure. BTTF - Back to the Future. Currently taking up a perfectly good West End theatre. (I am not a fan) Oh, thanks for clarifying BTTF. I'm 100% in agreement with you on that one. |
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Post by anxiousoctopus on Jun 12, 2022 20:56:35 GMT
I’m incredibly passionate about this show so prepare for an essay!
The show’s title does make it sound like a Peppa Pig Live level cashgrab but Nickelodeon essentially handed all creative control to Tina Landau at the start and it resulted in a gorgeous, positive, creative and inclusive show. The designs are gorgeous, the songs are fun and the plot is somehow more relevant than ever.
The Broadway cast was one of the most diverse I’ve seen (in terms of nationality, skin colour, gender and body type) and the message is all about how important it is to come together in times of crisis instead of blaming one another, blaming scientists and ostracising people seen as ‘other’. Considering it was written pre-2016 the themes have aged like fine wine.
I disagree that the score is forgettable. Tina Landau got different musicians on board (John Legend, David Bowie, Lady A etc.) so each song has a unique style to a specific character. Some of them aren’t typical musical theatre styles, but in my opinion very few are in any way ‘forgettable’.
The whole project is infused with love and the cast and crew have continued to rave about their experiences in the show. The day I see a professional production of this show live, I will cry and I’m not ashamed to say that.
I hope if this ever makes it’s way to the West End that some of the original Broadway cast returns (Gavin Lee has said he’d be willing to reprise his role as Squidward for the West End)
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Post by theatrenerd on Sept 2, 2022 10:17:10 GMT
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