SpongeBob or The Band's Visit

Hello posters. I'm taking another trip to NYC next month (with family this time around, as I got tickets for Anastasia for my mother for Christmas, and also seeing Avenue Q Off-Broadway with my brothers as one of them had never seen it and he's of the 'Avenue Q and Book of Mormon are literally the only musicals I have any modicum of interest in seeing" camp, along with other stuff. Just realized that near the end of the weekend I'll have time to myself as everyone else is leaving the city earlier, so I have enough time for a show, so I'm trying to decide what I'd like to see of the new batch. I'd rather not see any of the revivals (I'll catch MFL on tour). Of the new musicals from what I've heard and read Frozen and Mean Girls don't sound good enough to warrant seeing on Broadway rather than waiting for the tour, which means it's pretty much between SpongeBob and The Band's Visit.

My gut impulse has lately been pushing me towards SpongeBob mostly in basic disgusted reaction to some of the tones I've seen of a few people describing those who don't like The Band's Visit, but I thought I'd give it a fair shot here for people who truly believe that time would be better spent on The Band's Visit over SpongeBob. So essentially, feel free to sell me on The Band's Visit - however, please do not do so in any way that implies the extent of "If you don't like it, you're a sociopath/an idiot/an r-word/too stupid/lazy to understand it". I've seen a lot of that among its fans and it's disgusted me and is what's been pushing me closer to never want to see it period out of spite if it's the kind of show that fosters such snobby elitism.

Granted, for those who like SpongeBob more, I'd be open to reasons behind that being the better of the two for a night out as well. I really am torn despite currently leaning more towards SpongeBob. I've listened to the cast recordings of both and like both, though I do prefer SpongeBob's (I like Yazbeck, I especially adore the cast recording of Women on the Verge, but I didn't like what I have heard of TBV as much, though I didn't dislike it).

In any case, if anyone can make arguments to help me decide either way, I'd appreciate it. I'm going to try to keep an open mind on this, as long as the fans remain similarly open/accepting.

And I assume you are looking at Sunday afternoon. If so, Ethan Slater appears to be regularly out on Sunday afternoons and he was out today. Mean Girls was a pleasant surprise and The Boys in the Band was very good. Once on this Island is definitely worth seeing on Broadway instead of touring.

Updated On: 5/27/18 at 10:10 PM

See Anastasia...........a lot of people have dismissed this show............and while it is not An A, it is a solid B+ for Bway as the singing is delicious and the new leading guy Zach is gorgeous and sings better than most Bway guys. And how lovely to see Mary Beth Piel at the top of her game. The projections are simply beautiful. Sweet show especially if you can get low price tix.

Neither show is going to be the right show for any one person.. I can't speak to the Sponge as I haven't seen it, and my own friends have had diverse reactions to it: everything from it being an incredible amount of fun, all the way to stlrod's comments.



I've seen Band's Visit 2x now (just having had seen it yesterday to see Tony Shaloub. It's a quiet and sophisticated show about the universality of humanity's need to need each other.



What kind of shows do you like? Hate? How old are you? I brought 50 teenagers to see TBV and they liked, but didn' love it. (Except for my 17 year old son, who did.) However,this is the same group that didn't consider going to see Spongebob for more than 1 minute.

dramamama611 said: "Neither show is going to be the right show for any one person.. I can't speak to the Sponge as I haven't seen it, and my own friends have had diverse reactions to it: everything from it being an incredible amount of fun, all the way to stlrod's comments.



I've seen Band's Visit 2x now (just having had seen it yesterday to see Tony Shaloub. It's a quiet and sophisticated show about the universality of humanity's need to need each other.



What kind of shows do you like? Hate? How old are you? I brought 50 teenagers to see TBV and they liked, but didn' love it. (Except for my 17 year old son, who did.) However,this is the same group that didn't consider going to see Spongebob for more than 1 minute."

I"m sorry, I should have included that. I'm in my early 30's but I am also autistic (Asperger's), so I have trouble detecting a lot of nuance and such in some expressions. Favorite shows are up above, though I should explain those are mostly from what I know about them/cast recording/watching legal prior recordings on BroadwayHD and the like. Of shows I've outright seen live (only made two previous trips), here's what I've thought:

Loved: Come From Away (favorite hands down of shows I've seen live), Ragtime, (both prior saw at Ford's Theatre rather than Broadway, should specify maybe), Matilda, School of Rock, Hello Dolly. Also loved the tours I've seen of Something Rotten, R&H's Cinderella, and A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder

Liked but didn't really love: Fun Home, Aladdin, The Great Comet, Waitress, Groundhog Day, War Paint,

Disliked: Dear Evan Hansen

Updated On: 5/27/18 at 10:41 PM

Well, this is after the Tonys. The Band's Visit will likely win the Tony, so tickets might be scarce. That said, Once on This Island does an-in-person lottery, and when I was there basically every was offered at ticket from $40-60. I mean, that is a risk, considering it's right after the Tonys so you never know. If you an afford to, I'd buy in advance. And OOTS is worth it. It's an interesting show - racially - given a beautiful production.

Oak2 said: "So things have changed once again, and it's now possible I may be able to see TWO shows on that Sunday. So the dilemma returns for the Sunday Matinee. If that is the only showing on a Sunday is it still likely or not that Ethan Slater would be out for SpongeBob, and if he is would the show still be worth it?

Also I generally rely as much as possible on TKTS and Rush if I can to save money. However, it sounds like that might be too risky for the evening show? I've seen that Once On This Island shows up on TKTS a lot, but I'm not sure if that might change and it might not be on TKTS by showtime due to it being Lea Salonga's last performance combined with OOTI apparently being one of the fewshows actually doing an evening performanceon June 24th. Is this one where I should bite the bullet and just try to buy a ticket beforehand? Or would it be safe enough to still try for TKTS? I'll probably Rush either SpongeBob or The Band's Visit for the matinee - still haven't decided - though if I'm doing OOTI in the evening I might do SpongeBob just due to the settings of both shows, because that appeals to my mind in a way.

By all reports, one can walk up to Spongebob’s Palace Theatre right now before showtime and they still have rush tickets available. Of course, that could change with summer tourists and also after the Tony Awards if it wins more than just technical awards. I saw An American in Paris in this theater. I get the sense that this a fairly cavernous theater (I can’t really recall because I sat side orchestra and don’t remember looking up behind me) with lots of seats which helps explain why it has a hard time selling lots of its tickets at full price. So, even if Rush isn’t available, I’m fairly confident it will still be at TKTS.

I have heard Slater’s understudy (stand-in? I can never seem to get the terms correct) is also excellent.

From what you’ve said, it sounds like Spongebob might be more up your alley. I’m seeing it on 6/23 (matinee). But I feel like I’d be remiss if I didn’t put in a plug for The Band’s Visit. It shares some of the same themes as Come From Away (your favorite): the kindness of strangers, differences in cultures, loss. Personally, I loved TBV much more than CFA, but it is a much quieter, intimate, nuanced show and I would only recommend seeing it from front Orchestra (that’s where I upgraded my seat to based on recommendations and because people who sat in mezzanine said they didn’t feel as emotionally connected and had trouble hearing). Because of that and with the likely post-Tonys box office boost, I’d recommending buying ahead of time if you decide on TBV.

Also, not to muddy the waters further, but have you seen Hello, Dolly!, yet? It seems like it fits in with some of your favorites. And with Bernadette, you’d be seeing a Broadway legend plus it is listed at TKTS with often awesome seats.

Updated On: 5/29/18 at 08:33 AM

Thank you so much for the advice! Miles2Go, I have actually already seen Hello Dolly - I saw it the last time I was at Broadway for Memorial Day Weekend last year and saw it with Bette. I had jumped to buy tickets for that the day they went on sale. That was a wonderful show, but I don't think I want to see it on Broadway again. I'm probably going to take my mother to see it when it comes to Baltimore or DC on tour.

The more I'm hearing, it sounds like between the two, The Band's Visit sounds more like the show I'd be more likely to enjoy just as much on tour, while SpongeBob would possibly lose some of its spectacle without its current Broadway level of sets and such. I'm definitely going to keep a lookout for how the Tonys might change things, but the current plan is most likely Rushing or doing TKTS for SpongeBob for the matinee, and probably buying a ticket beforehand for OOTI in the evening.

I can speak the most to TBV, since I've seen it in person, as opposed to just promo clips and cast albums for the others. For me, it was one of the most exquisite evenings I've spent in the theatre. It's very small and quiet. You know how, in a lot of theatre, it feels like the characters are human but a polished sort of human, like the fact that they're written characters really shines through? In TBV, for me at least, they felt real. I went in with moderate expectations and by the end found myself in tears and feeling this hope and connection. I'm sure that it will be performed beautifully on tour and eventually in regional productions, but I honestly cannot imagine anyone being as mesmerizing as Katrina Lenk or a supporting cast as perfectly pitched as Stachel, Benson, Kantor, etc. (Tony Shalhoub was out when I saw it).

A side note as well, that may or may not be relevant to you: I have light-sensitive migraine issues, and some of the in-theatre pictures and videos that have surfaced were uncomfortable for me to watch because of the onslaught of visuals and neon. That's just my own experience but something that I feel is worth mentioning.

I would see "The Band's Visit". SpongeBob won't lose a thing on tour. "The Band's Visit" however will. It is a small off Broadway show that managed to keep its charm when moved to Broadway because it is in one of the smaller Broadway theatres. I cannot imagine it in the larger, mostly too large, touring venues, especially The Hippodrome - which despite the fact I live in the DC area, I will not go to. Not to mention the fact that "The Band's Visit" is aboslutely BEAUTIFUL.

On a side note , since you live in the Baltimore/DC area, I hope you take advantage of the fact we have a lot of theatre in the area that is equal to or better than what is on Broadway. Just right now alone: The Scottsboro Boys at Signature, "The Remains" at Studio Theatre, "Camelot" at Shakespeare and "The Invisible Hand" at Olney are all brilliant productions.

Updated On: 6/9/18 at 10:58 AM