Spongebob Tour Cast Rumor- Page 2

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 7:00pm

There are specifications to joining Equity:  acquiring 25 (or 50) "EMC Points", which you get by working as a non-Equity actor at an Equity theatre. Or, an Equity company can buy your card for you. 

Some non-Equity actors feel they can get more work, albeit at a lower salary, so they hold off on getting their card. Many regional theatres throughout the country hire both Equity and non-Equity talents, and some only have limited Equity contracts. In addition to the benefits of being in a union, there are also union dues, and it's generally a higher-quality talent pool that you're competing against for roles.

I absolutely view non-Equity as second-rate. The actors are less experienced; the production values are frequently lower; the working conditions are not as good as Eq tours; and the ticket prices are sometimes (shockingly) the same as for an Equity tour. It's a cheap and greedy cash grab by opportunistic producers. 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 8:31pm

inmyownlittlecorner said: "joshua bess has announced that he’s joining the tour on his instagram. he’s previously been roger in the 20th anniversary tour cast.kind of a strange shift in characters


https://www.instagram.com/p/B1MgPS4JE0M/?utm_source=ig_web_button_native_share"

I'm not familiar with him as a performer but his Instagram profile describes him as "part time skateboarder" and there's a few skateboard tricks in the show so that could be why. 

[inmyownlittlecorner]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 8:36pm

chrishuyen said: "inmyownlittlecorner said: "joshua bess has announced that he’s joining the tour on his instagram. he’s previously been roger in the 20th anniversary tour cast.kind of a strange shift in characters


https://www.instagram.com/p/B1MgPS4JE0M/?utm_source=ig_web_button_native_share"

I'm not familiar with him as a performer but his Instagram profile describes him as "part time skateboarder" and there's a fewskateboard tricks in the show so that could be why."

oh, that makes a lot of sense! i didn’t get to see the show so i did know of these tricks. this show seems more wild the more i hear about it

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 8/21/19 at 9:56am

Official cast and is out now! https://thespongebobmusical.com/cast-crew/

[darreyl102]

Posted: 8/21/19 at 12:35pm

Interesting, I haven't heard of any of these actors but here's hoping! I'll definitely probably have to see the show if it comes near me cuz I really really love the Broadway production.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/21/19 at 12:46pm

darreyl102 said: "Interesting, I haven't heard of any of these actors but here's hoping! I'll definitely probably have to see the show if it comes near me cuz I really really love the Broadway production."

 

Don't expect the "Broadway production". I'm sure it will be re-designed  (and re-staged) for the road. I do wonder if they will use Costumes from the Broadway run? I think there are many very talented non-union Actors there, I don't have a problem with that. But when the original creators are involved I don't see them taking a pay cut to do the tour.

 

 

[Kad]

Posted: 8/21/19 at 1:09pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "There are specifications to joining Equity: acquiring 25 (or 50) "EMC Points", which you get by working as a non-Equity actor at an Equity theatre. Or, an Equity company can buy your card for you."

Equity producers don't "buy" cards for people. They offer Equity contracts to non-members, which then makes those people eligible to join. Most people join this way.

 

[VotePeron]

Posted: 8/21/19 at 3:39pm

It looks like Tina Landau is going to be the primary director in the room, which I believe is rare for a non-equity tour. Really hoping the production value isn't garbage for the tour, but then again a "cheap" set could work really well in Spongebob's favor.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/21/19 at 3:58pm

VotePeron said: "It looks like Tina Landau is going to be the primary director in the room, which I believe is rare for a non-equity tour. 

No I don't believe it says that anywhere. Do you have a source?  It means that her direction will be used -- but I;m pretty sure that one of her associates will be "in the room".  She may stop by during tech to give notes, but I seriously doubt she will be there full time.

 

[VotePeron]

Posted: 8/21/19 at 4:37pm

JSquared2 said: "VotePeron said: "It looks like Tina Landau is going to be the primary director in the room, which I believe is rare for a non-equity tour.

No I don't believe it says that anywhere. Do you have a source?It means that her direction will be used -- but I;m pretty sure that one of her associates will be "in the room". She may stop by during tech to givenotes, but I seriously doubt she will be there full time."

 

She posted on Instagram in rehearsals for the tour, so she's at least going to be a bit hands-on, I imagine. Not sure how SDC (Directors Union) handles non-eq tours - you are most likely right that an Associate is at the helm but Tina is volunteering time to be active.

 

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/21/19 at 7:47pm

I doubt Tina is "volunteering" her time. When a Broadway Director's name is attached to the tour, they are usually "hands on".

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/21/19 at 7:50pm

I can't wait to see how this turns out. I'm curious if it'll be completely rethought for the tour or just scaled down.

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

Posted: 8/22/19 at 12:56am

CATSNYrevival said: "I can't wait to see how this turns out. I'm curious if it'll be completely rethought for the tour or just scaled down."

If Nickelodeon is still involved...and with their money...I am cautiously optimistic about the set and the entire tour. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/8/19 at 1:32am

I just got done looking through photos of the tour and I’ve got to say the actor playing spongebob on tour is just as ripped, If not more so, than Ethan Slater. I just find this so odd... does Tina have some kind of fetish? Here are the pics.... https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Sqxl2HdVG/?igshid=6cj0uzgkqofe

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 10/8/19 at 7:20am

Call_me_jorge said: "I just got done looking through photos of the tour and I’ve got to say the actor playing spongebob on tour is just as ripped, If not more so, than Ethan Slater. I just find this so odd... does Tina have some kind of fetish? Here are the pics....https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Sqxl2HdVG/?igshid=6cj0uzgkqofe"

It is a physically demanding role...

[inmyownlittlecorner]

Posted: 10/8/19 at 7:33am

https://youtu.be/qbcoblK_YY4

Here are some show clips that got released, I think last week? It looks really good from what I’ve seen, although, I heard from friends who saw the tour in NY that the set is toned down a LOT, which makes sense. I’m hoping to see the show with my sister, who is much closer to the target demographic, so I’m gonna bite my tongue until then. 

[Luminaire2]

Posted: 10/8/19 at 11:37am

Funny reading the conversation from earlier in this thread re Equity vs Non-Equity. Working conditions/pay/status aside. All actors start non-union. Yes actors grow with experience. But to say non-equity actors are somehow lesser or not going to be as good is just laughable. Any actor can be good or may not be and that is not determined by their union status. I have seen many non-equity productions where I found the actors way more engaged, earnest, and giving it their all then many equity tours where many seem to just phone it in for the cheque.

[Sho-Tunes-R-Us]

Posted: 10/9/19 at 1:12am

Looks from the tour clip that the set is somewhat scaled down (perhaps no ramps?),
but costumes look identical to Broadway production. Energy level of performers looks high. Very excited for my group's attendance in February at San Fransissyco's Golden Gate theatre. I love, love, loved the show in Boston and NYC.

Updated On: 10/9/19 at 01:12 AM

[VotePeron]

Posted: 10/9/19 at 9:02am

Luminaire2 said: "Funny reading the conversation from earlier in this thread re Equity vs Non-Equity. Working conditions/pay/status aside. All actors start non-union. Yes actors grow with experience. But to say non-equity actors are somehow lesser or not going to be as good is just laughable. Any actor can be good or may not be and that is not determined by their union status. I have seen many non-equity productions where I found the actors way more engaged, earnest, and giving it their all then many equity tours where many seem to just phone it in for the cheque."

From my point of view, the non-eq tour argument is never about the talent, but the production value of the show as a whole. That’s the disappointing part of many non-eq tours, though it seems the lights and costumes look identical to Broadway here! They’re missing the entire second level/unit of the set, which they may have paid for on a larger scale. Then again, the current Cats tour is Equity but still using these inflatable set. It’s all relative. 
 

At the end of the day, the SpongeBob Musical is on tour in some capacity...and that’s enough of a win for me!

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 10/9/19 at 5:20pm

Just wanted to jump in on the defense on non-equity tours. Rent was non-equity for years, and was a breeding ground for new talent. Most notably, back when I saw it, the squeegee guy was played by Aaron Tveit. Just because someone doesn't have their equity card yet doesn't mean they are less talented than those who do.

Back on the subject of Spongebob, I'm excited for this tour, having seen it twice on broadway. From the photos it looks like David Zinn recreated as much of that set as could reasonably tour. 

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

Posted: 10/9/19 at 6:00pm

Isn't the issue with non-Equity tours not one of talent but of money? The tours are paying less to (some might say "taking advantage of" inexperienced people and those savings are not passed onto consumers, who rarely know they're seeing less seasoned actors and who are paying the same prices they'd pay for, say, Betty Buckley (assuming she goes on, not to open that can of worms).

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 10/9/19 at 7:23pm

Yeah it’s not an issue of talent it’s an issue of production value. You’re getting a watered down production for the same price.

[yellibean2]

Posted: 10/24/19 at 3:56pm

Anyone seen the tour lately? I won the lottery in Boston but when I click on the link to buy tickets it looks like virtually the entire theater is unsold...

[Owen Parker]

Posted: 10/24/19 at 7:49pm

I saw the tour in Boston on Sunday and the theatre looked sold out, but I checked Ticketmaster and it does not look that sold out next weekend at all...I would go, the show is so much fun and the cast is amazing! Hopefully more people end up buying tickets before the weekend

[Mark_E]

Posted: 10/28/19 at 10:36am

I saw the tour in Boston on Saturday afternoon, having previously seeing the Broadway production Twice. For those of you concerned about a diminished production - you needn't worry. Yes the scale is smaller, but the set and staging is the same in principle, just on a smaller scale with the design not extending "outside of the proscenium". The cast - I thought were all excellent, with some standouts being Lorenzo Pugliese as SpongeBob and Méami Maszewski who played Pearl (what a voice!)

Still just as daft and fun a show as it was in New York.