SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS closing Sept.16- Page 4

[mrandrey215]

Posted: 8/12/18 at 11:36am

I LOVE the show so much! I've seen in 4 times and I'm going to the final show! I'm sad that Lilli Cooper left, though.

[Sarah329]

Posted: 8/12/18 at 3:55pm

I think this show will do so so great on tour. I saw it twice on Broadway and although I wasn’t a big fan, I loved Wesley Taylor and I hope he finds another broadway show soon. Also hoping to see Curtis H. as Spongebob again if he announces a date he’ll be on, since I personally loved him as Sponge more than Ethan (oops)

[Danielle49]

Posted: 9/16/18 at 2:57pm

The matinee is probably around intermission now, with the final peformance this evening. If anyone has final show reports or stories, I’d love to hear them! The show has its critics, but count me as one of the folks who adored this sweet musical.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 9/16/18 at 3:08pm

I'll be sure to report from tonight. I know tons of people attending - really excited to celebrate this show one last time.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/16/18 at 3:18pm

Saw the show this week and really enjoyed it. Didn't think I would.

[Danielle49]

Posted: 9/16/18 at 3:22pm

I saw the show 3 times and planned on seeing it again before closing, but couldn’t make it work. Just thinking about the cast performing “Best Day Ever” tonight is making me emotional. For those going, have a wonderful time!

[Br0adway]

Posted: 9/16/18 at 3:38pm

Saw it yesterday and there was something special with the cast on stage. They were having a blast together and they are probably thinking that this group won’t be together anymore. Wish I could have seen it earlier in its run. We had the worst and rudest group of people around us yesterday. Wish I could see it one more time to take it all in and not be distracted constantly.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 9/16/18 at 10:27pm

What a miraculous night - or should I say, year.

I, and many others have become huge fans of this show, and have been a frequent visitor of The Palace for the past 11 months. Tonight was just as special and crazy as anyone would imagine the closing night of SpongeBob SquarePants on Broadway to be. The highlight of the evening was by far Tina Landau's amazingly touching curtain speech, where she called out to every facet of the production, from crew, to front of house, to cast, to fans. It was wonderful to see everyone on stage as a family, as their love and passion so clearly shows in the overall performance. Tina closed the speech with a beautiful poem she wrote which I hope makes it's way online, but it began along the lines of: "We fought through skepticism and sometimes ridicule to prove that art comes in all forms" which I thought was a lovely way to embrace the power of this show.

Throughout the show, Jai'len offered some extreme extra riffs, Wesley Taylor & Gavin Lee made sure to steal each scene they were in, and Ethan held it together perfectly until the first few lines of Best Day Ever, when he finally broke down and took a second before restarting. The audience was...insane, and as always with closing shows, borderline rude. The standing ovations were very common but undisputed - my biggest issue was the cheering after almost every single action. It 100% felt more like an Inside Joke/Fan Performance instead of Final Performance - but as someone who saw the show a zillion times, I accepted it.

One thing I couldn't help from think at the end of the night is I truly have no idea how Tina Landau and Ethan Slater lost their Tony Awards this year. It boggles my mind. But I am so glad to have supported them over the past few years, and will continue to do so for the rest of their careers.

It was awesome being a part of the Bikini Bottom family this past year - and I hope it brought as much joy to everyone who saw it as it brought to me :)

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 9/16/18 at 10:52pm

Thoughts will come later, but god WHAT A NIGHT!

Side note: I will never do a closing stage door again.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/16/18 at 11:31pm

My wife and daughters (they are in their late 20's) really enjoyed it and sad to hear it closed.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/16/18 at 11:33pm

"Side note: I will never do a closing stage door again"

That does not sound good, sorry !!

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 9/16/18 at 11:40pm

yankeefan7 said: ""Side note: I will never do a closing stage door again"

That does not sound good, sorry !!"

Crap show. I made it for 10 minutes. Was at the front behind a mom, but people were pushing and squishing me, posters were in my face. So unsafe. Barely saw the actors who were Squidward and Krabs and left when they were right at me because it was that bad, but saw Sandy and Plankton. Bolted out before Ethan/Spongebob came because that would murder me.

My phone is weird, so I’m posting my stuff tomorrow morning. Will look forward to be Miss Redeyes at work (my train doesn’t come home until 2)

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 9/17/18 at 6:53am

Last night was by far the most memorable night in the theater for me. The most wild, unbelievable, emotional, and magical night I ever witness on Broadway. I’m so proud of this show. This was an horrible idea turned into a beautiful, positive, and uplifting piece of art, thanks to a brilliant cast and crew who gave the show its heart and soul. 

The audience was bat s**t insane! Any line or any movement ended in cheers. They pointed the coral at the beginning, for example and that was met with wild screams.

The longest standing ovation was for “the guy who made all the sounds”. He entered the stage and everyone was immediately on their feet. The new actor who was Patchy had a standing ovation too. Ethan, of course, had a whole 30-sec standing ovation. He somehow managed to ignore it after a while and continues on. Gavin and Danny got mini standing ovations as well. The songs that had standing ovations were Simple Sponge (30 seconds!!!), Bikini Bottom Day, No Control, Daddy Knows Best, When Going Gets Tough, Bikini Boogie, Tomorrow is and Super Star Savior. I'm Nof a Loser had the biggest reaction of the night. It had a mid-standing ovation and Gavin actually looked shocked/touched. The standing ovation was the longest, having it be a 45 seconds.

The emotions tonight were raw. Danny was actually crying during Bikini Bottom Day during his solo and he barely made it through the first half of first act. Some of the cast lost it during Tomorrow Is. I saw Mrs Puff and Old Man Jenkins crying together :’( Ethan was cool until Best Day Ever. He broke down during "I'm glad I'm here with you." Oooooffffff, that was really rough. He needed a moment to get through the lyric. The whole song was met with sobs from the cast and the audience. During the quiet moments of the song, you hear sniffles and cries. It was hard. Ethan, Danny, and Christine (Sandy) actually huddled together crying after BDE. 

Surprisingly, no Tom Kenny or Stephen Hillsburg. During the speech, it was the director, the book writer (Who I met during intermission), the score writer, the choreographer, the lead producer, and associates. The only song writer was the guy who wrote Bikini Bottom Day. The big fans were so rude, yelling at Tina, interrupting her every minute or so. Let the woman speak!

Three notes: 

Like VotePeron said, Ethan, the sound designer, and Tina were 300% deserving of their Tonys. I do not know how and why TBV got the Tonys it did, but really a huge shame on the Tony voters choosing name over art. I do not get especially how Tina (or Michael in that matter) lost Best Direction. Her direction made and redeemed the show. That Tony was practically gift wrapped for her.

I loved the new actress who was Sandy. Christine, I think? I liked her a bit more than Lilli because she was a less of a impression of the cartoon. and did her own thing. Her Sandy was anxious, but tough when she had to be. She was more fast-talking as well.

Oh, and...

Tom Kenny: Enjoy your Last Intermission Ever

EVERYONE: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Updated On: 9/17/18 at 06:53 AM

[haterobics]

Posted: 9/17/18 at 6:59am

disneybroadwayfan22 said: "I do not get especially how Tina (or Michael in that matter) lost Best Direction. Her direction made and redeemed the show."

Tony voters favored a show that didn't need creative redemption?

[haterobics]

Posted: 9/17/18 at 7:06am

 

[raddersons]

Posted: 9/17/18 at 7:30am

haterobics said: "disneybroadwayfan22 said: "I do not get especially how Tina (or Michael in that matter) lost Best Direction. Her direction made and redeemed the show."

Tony voters favoreda show that didn't need creative redemption?"

I think it’s more of a sense of what’s more impressive: taking something that’s already good and maintaining its quality, or taking something that has a lot of problems and giving it lots of redeeming qualities?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/17/18 at 1:26pm

Disney Broadwayfan 22 said, " I do not know how and why TBV got the Tonys it did, but really a huge shame on the Tony voters choosing name over art."

 

Huh?   Exactly what "name" are you referring to?  To say TBV isn't art is entirely incorrect.  Hard to compare these two shows as they are in such incredibly different worlds, but no way TBV isn't ART.   

[haterobics]

Posted: 9/17/18 at 1:44pm

raddersons said: "I think it’s more of a sense ofwhat’s more impressive:taking something that’s already good and maintaining its quality, or taking something that has a lot of problems and giving it lots of redeeming qualities?"

And I think the Tony voters accurately captured which they found more impressive...

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 9/17/18 at 1:58pm

haterobics said: "And I think the Tony voters accurately captured which they found more impressive..."

Agreed. And I think the Tony voters totally got it right.   Maybe it’s because I adored TBV (I was pleasingly surprised by SS), but I think it’s unfortunate that in a post celebrating one show and it’s glorious closing night, that one poster decided to take time to bash another show. There was no need to downgrade one show to defend the thread’s intended show. It just turned the thread away from its intended focus. 

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 9/17/18 at 2:01pm

Surely “Best Direction” would be judging by direction alone, no? If you want to say SpongeBob “as a show” was a mess, then that would be the argument for why it didn’t win Best Musical, not Direction.

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 9/17/18 at 2:06pm

Elfuhbuh said: "Surely “Best Direction” would be judging by direction alone, no? If you want to say SpongeBob “as a show” was a mess, then that would be the argument for why it didn’t win Best Musical, not Direction."

So the director owns no responsibility if the show "as a show" is a mess? Interesting argument. Kind of like the operation was a huge success but the patient died.

[Sauja]

Posted: 9/17/18 at 2:18pm

If we want to talk about Tony's this show should have won, I can see arguments for Slater, Mackinnon, and Sound Design. But for me, the one that was an actual case of robbery was Best Costumes. Nothing on Broadway last year was as eye-popping, inventive, original, or exciting. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 9/17/18 at 4:02pm

Sauja said: "the one that was an actual case of robbery was Best Costumes. Nothing on Broadway last year was as eye-popping, inventive, original, or exciting."

Is that how they decide the category, though? The most out there, exciting thing should win?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/17/18 at 4:04pm

I liked this thread more when it was about closing night.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 9/17/18 at 4:19pm

Ahhh I loved this show. Way more than I ever thought I would. Easily in my top 5 favorite musicals.

Thanks haterobics for posting that video.