Is it too late for Spongebob?

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 12/9/16 at 2:39pm

It seems that Spongebob has been hovering over Broadway for months, looking for a place to sit his bikini bottom this season. It's been widely expected here that On Your Feet would announce its closing, thus opening up the Marquis. 

The clock is ticking. Is it getting too late for this to happen?

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 12/9/16 at 2:46pm

If not this season, probably next. 

There is no "deadline" here. And it's already been speculated to ultimately land next season because of lack of theater availability this season. 

[wssinsider]

Posted: 12/9/16 at 3:28pm

No Spongebob anytime soon. They lost a couple of investors after the Chicago fiasco. Cast is in limbo 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 12/9/16 at 3:31pm

It was a flop in Chicago. The reviews were quite good but people weren't showing up. I'm sure investors got cold feet. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/9/16 at 3:36pm

wasnt it rumored it would go into a jujamcyn house? I could see it ending up at the Al Hirschfeld

Updated On: 12/9/16 at 03:36 PM

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 12/9/16 at 3:38pm

Is the "fiasco" the sales in Chicago, wssinsider?

[gleek4114]

Posted: 12/9/16 at 3:38pm

To be fair, that's really how most Pre-Broadway tryouts are. A lot of hits have done horrible business out of town.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 12/9/16 at 4:53pm

gleek4114 said: "To be fair, that's really how most Pre-Broadway tryouts are. A lot of hits have done horrible business out of town.

 

"

Out of curiosity, which ones? I don't follow out of town grosses. I assumed that if a show tanked out of town,  the show would either skip Broadway, or arrive with its tail tucked between its legs, and be put down shortly thereafter. 

[Leaf Coneybear]

Posted: 12/9/16 at 5:24pm

It'd be a shame if it never made it, I saw it in Chicago and thought it was great

[markypoo]

Posted: 12/9/16 at 6:05pm

I recall reading that some of the show's producers were disappointed in its b.o. performance in Chicago.

That's all I know.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/9/16 at 6:09pm

I saw it in Chicago and thought it needed LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of work.  Good effort, but overstuffed with ideas and materials.  Like a cutesy Spider-Man 1.0.  It was not a big seller in Chicago and had tons of discounts every week.

[markypoo]

Posted: 12/9/16 at 6:32pm

Plus it was incredibly LOUD throughout...

[whatdoesntkillme]

Posted: 12/9/16 at 8:48pm

Yeah I was not a fan when I saw it in Chicago. I agree that it needs a bigger theater in order to set up successfully, especially if they want to spill into the house like they did at the Oriental, so the Marquis is probably their best bet. 

Hypothetically speaking, if they scrapped their plans for Broadway completely, I wonder if they would release the already-recorded cast album. 

[markypoo]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 12:06pm

I'm curious to know if one of the investors they lost was a little company called nickelodeon.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 12:36pm

If they are still planning on transferring I wonder what the likelihood is that they'll wait for the 2018-2019 season. Since next season will most likely have to new big juggernauts, Frozen and Harry Potter. Or could Spongebob compete with those two?

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 12:39pm

I adored this show. 

[massofmen]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 12:49pm

they wanted the marquis but On your feet is somehow selling. They will more than likely come in the fall. 

[bruceway]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 10:31pm

massofmen said: "they wanted the marquis but On your feet is somehow selling. They will more than likely come in the fall. 

 

"

it really hasn't been selling. They might just be leaving it there for latino tourists. Still, that sucks! SpongeBob is leaps and bounds better than On Your Feet! Is it possible they'll announce something once Nick & Lilli are done with tick tick BOOM?

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 11:22pm

Call_me_jorge said: "If they are still planning on transferring I wonder what the likelihood is that they'll wait for the 2018-2019 season. Since next season will most likely have to new big juggernauts, Frozen and Harry Potter. Or could Spongebob compete with those two?

 

"

Spongebob will not be competing with Harry Potter as that is a play and it's market is already set in stone. As is Frozen's. 

[Corey38]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 11:24pm

I'd say that Harry Potter wouldn't be as large of competition as Frozen would be. Frozen and Spongebob are both based on beloved a children movie/show (although IMO spongebob was great even for adults). I don't think many potter fans would be deciding between Spongebob and Potter, but I can imagine lots of families deciding between Frozen or Spongebob.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 12/11/16 at 1:05am

not happening this season

[RippedMan]

Posted: 12/11/16 at 3:15am

At this point a play might sneak in, but I'd think a big, splashy musical like Spongebob wouldn't have the time frame to announce. Maybe they should just tour it? 

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 12/11/16 at 7:45am

Wouldn't it in theory be better to wait a season? This season has a pretty full docket of musicals and giving themselves time to work and wait for the right time frame might work out better for them. I personally want to see it because it just seems like it'll be a good time.

Updated On: 12/11/16 at 07:45 AM

[Cfried]

Posted: 12/11/16 at 10:49am

RippedMan said: "Maybe they should just tour it?"

Agreed. I think this production would be much better off as a tour rather than on Broadway. 

[Dysquith13]

Posted: 12/11/16 at 11:09am

Cfried said: "RippedMan said: "Maybe they should just tour it?"

Agreed. I think this production would be much better off as a tour rather than on Broadway. 

Agreed as well, maybe it could retune itself at every tour stop (provided that's allowed with union rules) and make a stop at Broadway to become tony eligible a/la Christmas Story and Bring it On. Then it goes quickly to have rights available to schools and community theatre.

"