What is the Fate of SPONGEBOB?

This article says demolition and construction begins at the Palace on September 15. Will SpongeBob move elsewhere (maybe the Marquis)? Or just close shop Labor Day weekend?


https://therealdeal.com/2018/06/06/tsx-broadways-developers-say-completed-project-will-be-worth-4-2b/

Updated On: 6/8/18 at 02:09 PM

The short answer to the thread title is, whatever Nickelodeon wants it to be.

(Insert Clever Name) said: "If it wins best musical"

Chances are slim to nonexistent on that one.

It also depends on the producers' theater contract with the Nederlanders. If the contract states that they have to be out by a certain date if the construction project proceeds, then they have no recourse. However if the contract doesn't have that provision (which is VERY unlikely), and they manage to stay above the "stop clause", then the Nederlanders would either need to negotiate a buyout, or else pay to move them to another suitable theater (the Marquis)?

BroadwayConcierge said: "This article says demolition and construction begins at the Palace on September 15."

It also says they haven't yet raised the $300M they need to start construction.

I thought they had cancelled that project. Well, they are only selling tickets through the beginning of September, so they don't really have to announce anything until August.

Joshua Boyd-Williams said: "Here's where I'm at. Because this has been announced to close the Palace Theatre on September 15th, and seeing as how Spongebob is only selling tickets til the 2nd, why exactly haven't they announced a closing or a possible (but not likely) move? It doesn't seem like they're gonna be releasing more tickets, especially with this construction moving forward. Also seeing as how they're not doing the best at the box office, would it really be worth it to move to another location? Maybe if their ticket sells do improve a lot, it's a possibility. Even though it's most likely that they won't win best musical, if anything they would come in close second to The Bands Visit, I wonder if any other tony wins would help the show."



While many shows see an uptick in sales after the tonys (from sheer exposure) the only one that seems to make a real difference is winning best new musical.

I really wish that Spongebob just had started in a smaller house to begin with. The reason why ticket sales aren't great is because of the size of the Palace. I was really hoping that they would have taken the Walter Kerr because that would have been the perfect size to fit in audiences....Oh well.

BroadwayBeebe said: "A friend involved with the production told me that out of the 41 houses, Spongebob could only fit into 5 of them due to the size of the production. I know the Lyric and Gershwin were two, but those were never open options. If they were planning on moving houses, they only have two other choices. I wish I could remember what they were."

Probably St James and Shubert?

Alex M said: "I really wish that Spongebob just had started in a smaller house to begin with. The reason why ticket sales aren't great is because of the size of the Palace. I was really hoping that they would have taken the Walter Kerr because that would have been the perfectsize to fitin audiences....Oh well."

Well, they have been doing better in terms of filling up the Palace Theatre lately. Though who knows how long that's gonna last. I'm just thankful they never had audiences like Escape to Margaritaville has been getting recently. Those are terrible.

My guess is that they just close and announce a tour at the same time. I mean, a tour really has to be what Nickelodeon was eyeing this entire time. A 9-month Broadway run is just gravy.

Spongebob was the most fun I've had in a theatre. Maybe ever. I saw a preview where it seemed like mostly stoned mid-twenty year olds (like myself) and you would have thought it was a rock concert. Every joke landed perfectly, there was cheering and applause that was thunderous, and I'm Not A Loser for a mid show standing ovation.

But I recognize that the stigma it had on it before it ever came in and that it's been playing at around 50% of it's box office potential. I have a feeling it will close in September and that it will do splendidly on tour.

I wish nothing but the absolute best for this show, it's genius director, and it's dynamite cast! Go get a $30 rush ticket if you haven't seen the show, sit back, relax, smoke a little, and HAVE FUN!!!