Posted: 12/4/17 at 9:42am
I'm ready! I'm ready, i'm ready! I'M READY!
Post 'em here! Let's discuss! :)
Updated On: 12/4/17 at 09:42 AM
Posted: 12/4/17 at 11:43am
I just checked ticketmaster to look at some upcoming performances. The ticket sales are abysmal. Not even a quarter of the orchestra sold for this Friday and Saturday.....They need some raves tonight
Posted: 12/4/17 at 11:56am
I feel like they might not be flat-out raves, but they'll be kind. Not scathing.
Posted: 12/4/17 at 12:16pm
I saw the show on Wednesday night from second row, center. There were some empty seats, but mostly it was full. And let me say - AMAZING show. Never thought I'd say that when this was announced, but I couldn't possibly love it more. If it weren't for the fact that he's playing Spongebob, Ethan Slater would be a dead ringer for that TONY this year. What an amazing star-making performance. That dude has it ALL and works his ass off! I can't imagine how exhausted he must be after a two show day.
I see this being the SHREK of the year... People will like it, some will LOVE it, it'll get kind reviews, but it probably won't last long... and after that, it'll be done EVERYWHERE. Doesn't help that it's playing in one of the biggest houses on Broadway... It's just so hard for "kid/family" shows to succeed nowadays.
Posted: 12/4/17 at 3:26pm
Funny fact for my fellow 90s kids: Lesli Margherita just tweeted that she's the singing voice in the old episode where Spongebob, Patrick, and Mr. Krabs look for the Flying Dutchman's treasure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u79Nh3I0Oiw
Posted: 12/4/17 at 4:31pm
Overkill said: "It's just so hard for "kid/family" shows to succeed nowadays."
Then how do you explain Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? No snark intended. I just heard that show was awful and after being away for 6 months, I was surprised to come back and see it still playing...
Back to Spongebob, I am surprised to hear many people enjoy it. I find the cartoon annoying, so I haven't seen it, and have no desire to, but I wish all involved the best of luck and hope the reviews are good.
Posted: 12/4/17 at 5:15pm
Overkill said: "It's just so hard for "kid/family" shows to succeed nowadays."
Aladdin? Lion King? School of Rock? Anastasia?
Posted: 12/4/17 at 5:39pm
Went Saturday night and while it wasn't a total loss (Ethan Slater was terrific, what they did to the Palace Theater was truly unexpected and quite effective, I felt like they really invested in the sound system in there too... very cool sound effects guy house left...Jai'len Christine Li Josey's voice is outstanding ...) my biggest issue with the show is that is just wasn't that funny. Others will disagree but I was pretty disappointed. (Jon Rua if you're reading this, please annunciate better in Poor Pirates. That's a very clever song but if no one can understand what you're singing it falls flat)
Posted: 12/4/17 at 5:43pm
ChiTheaterFan said: "Overkill said: "It's just so hard for "kid/family" shows to succeed nowadays."
Then how do you explain Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? No snark intended. I just heard that show was awful and after being away for 6 months, I was surprised to come back and see it still playing..."
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is closing on January 14th.
Posted: 12/4/17 at 5:55pm
^Yes, bad choice - but look at Haterobic's titles. Family fare does well -- IF adults also want to see this.
Now, I have not seen this, and have no desire to do so. That being said...if my kids were younger and wanted to see this, I'm pretty sure I still wouldn't go -- the thought of paying b'way prices for SPONGEBOB annoyance (to me) is non-negotiable. I suggest that many adults might feel the same way.
Time will tell.
Posted: 12/4/17 at 6:05pm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/spongebob-squarepants-bubbly-musical-delight-palace-theatre/
The Telegraph has given it 4/5 stars!
"Dare I say that adults as well as children are likely to find SpongeBob absorbing"
Posted: 12/4/17 at 6:08pm
The humor in Spongebob to anyone who isn't already a fan is really weird and wacky, and the television show itself mostly appeals to those who were the right age for it to have an impact - people born in the late 90s, like me. There's something special about a huge chunk of a generation being able to share inside jokes from a silly animated show about a sponge. It's a niche thing, and I completely understand if people outside of that specific group don't immediately gravitate toward it.
Shows like Charlie, School of Rock and Lion King all had something going for them to appeal to a wider audience: a Broadway star + classic book, a popular film, Disney + beautiful visuals. For Spongebob, the task was to find a way to make it appealing to everyone, or at least enough to fill the majority of a 1700 seat house. I hope the critics believe they have.
Updated On: 12/4/17 at 06:08 PM
Posted: 12/4/17 at 7:43pm
The Hollywood Reporter is mixed-to-positive...
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/spongebob-squarepants-theater-1064137
Posted: 12/4/17 at 8:05pm
The Wrap is mixed...
https://www.thewrap.com/spongebob-squarepants-broadway-review-bouncy-tunes-keep-soggy-book-afloat/
Variety seems to be positive ...
http://variety.com/2017/legit/reviews/spongebob-squarepants-review-broadway-musical-1202629957/
Posted: 12/4/17 at 8:06pm
Posted: 12/4/17 at 8:16pm
BroadwayConcierge said: "Time Out New York is very positive, though it gives it 4/5 stars."
I love this excerpt from the review - so true!! The set is pure magic!
"But what send the show soaring are David Zinn’s sensational costumes and set, which includes Rube Goldberg–esque contraptions on each side of the stage. (It's like what everyone wanted but didn't get at Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.)"
Posted: 12/4/17 at 8:24pm
Posted: 12/4/17 at 8:37pm
Posted: 12/4/17 at 8:56pm
The Chicago Tribune seems mixed...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/broadway/ct-ent-spongebob-broadway-review-1205-story.html
Posted: 12/4/17 at 8:59pm
HuffPost is very positive! They called it the best musical of the season!
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/spongebob-squarepants-the-musical-is-the-surprise_us_5a25cd24e4b0b1dc3502ab23
Posted: 12/4/17 at 9:02pm
It reads as negative to me.
Really happy that Wesley is being a constant shout out in these reviews! Double Featured Actor nominees for Wesley and Gavin?
Posted: 12/4/17 at 9:41pm
The Daily News is positive...
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/theater-arts/spongebob-squarepants-delights-broadway-theater-review-article-1.3676615
Entertainment Weekly gives it a B...
http://ew.com/theater/2017/12/04/spongebob-squarepants-broadway-review/
The Daily Beast is positive...
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-brilliant-spongebob-squarepants-on-broadway-is-zany-colorful-and-anti-trump
Posted: 12/4/17 at 9:57pm
Brantley is pretty mixed. He gives a massive rave for Ethan Slater, and says if you're a fan of the show, you'll fall in love. If you have nothing to do with the show, though, there's not much for ya (unless you smoke weed before the show...which he says he did).
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/04/theater/spongebob-squarepants-broadway-musical.html
Updated On: 12/4/17 at 09:57 PM
