‘The SpongeBob Musical’ to Premiere in Chicago Next Summer

  • SpongeBob Squarepants is headed to the stage in “The SpongeBob Musical,” a Broadway-bound production that will feature original work from musical talents like Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Jonathan Coulton, Dirty Projectors, The Flaming Lips, John Legend, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, T.I. and David Bowie.

    “The SpongeBob Musical” will premiere in Chicago late next spring at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre on July 7, 2016 and run through July 3. After that, it will head to Broadway with an anticipated 2016-2017 season.

    The musical’s official description reads: “The end is near. Only one sponge can save the day. But he’s going to need help from some of the greatest songwriters in rock and pop music history. ‘The SpongeBob Musical’ unleashes anarchic absurdity under the sea… and on Broadway. A rousing tale of a simple sea sponge who faces the unfathomable. It’s a celebration of unbridled hope, unexpected heroes and pure theatrical invention.”

    Kyle Jarrow will pen the book with music supervision from Tom Kitt. David Zinn will oversee sets and costumes with lighting by Kevin Adams, projections by Peter Nigrini and sound by Walter Trarbach. Nickelodean will produce.