Facebook is supposed to be only for people over 13, but the kids' series about a porous, absorbent yellow sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea has accrued more than 46.5 million Facebook fans, nearly a quarter of whom are based in the U.S.
NickelodeonSpongeBob SquarePants is headed to Broadway.
A new nautical-set musical based on the popular Nickelodeon animated series will debut on Broadway in the 2016-17 season. It will make its world premiere in Chicago, beginning performances on June 7, 2016, at the Oriental Theatre. The limited engagement will run through July 3.
Co-conceived and directed by Tina Landau, The SpongeBob Musical includes music by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Jonathan Coulton, Dirty Projectors, The Flaming Lips, John Legend, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper, Panic! at the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants and T.I., with an additional song by David Bowie and additional lyrics by Coulton. It features a book by Kyle Jarrow, and music supervision by Tom Kitt.
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The stage jump is just another frontier for the Bikini Bottom-set television series, which premiered in 1999 and has been the most watched animated program with kids for more than 13 consecutive years. It is also the most widely distributed property in Viacom history, seen in over 185 countries and translated into more than 50 languages. Its two feature films, 2004’s The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and 2015’s The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, grossed $140 million and $311 million worldwide, respectively.
The production’s creative team includes choreography by Christopher Gattelli, scenic and costume design by David Zinn, lighting design by Kevin Adams, projection design by Peter Nigrini and sound design by Walter Trarbach. Casting will be announced shortly. It will be produced by Nickelodeon.
Sept. 8, 10:30 a.m. Updated with Gattelli’s information.
