Overview
Synopsis
SpongeBob SquarePants is the musical adaptation of Nickelodeon’s long-running animated children’s sitcom of the same name. We find ourselves in the undersea city of Bikini Bottom, inhabited by happy-go-lucky and ever-optimistic yellow sea sponge SpongeBob SquarePants and his equally quirky circle of friends and neighbors. SpongeBob’s pleasant existence is abruptly interrupted when it is discovered that Mt. Humongous, a nearby volcano, will erupt within the next 48 hours and completely obliterate Bikini Bottom. SpongeBob, trying to prove to himself and the world that he is not “just a simple sponge,” resolves to save the day when everybody else has given up all hope.
Though SpongeBob SquarePants is incredibly fun and family-friendly, its timeless story of identity, crisis, and community is also a witty allegory that examines and critiques the politics of the modern era, and it does so in such a way where children will appreciate and understand the plot line, while adults can read between the lines and extract even more from the musical’s message. SpongeBob SquarePants features an eclectic score of music, each song having been written by a different musical artist with the purposes of recreating the type of musical hodgepodge exhibited by the original television series.
Show Information
- Book
- Kyle Jarrow
- Conceived By
- Tina Landau
- Arrangement
- Tom Kitt
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- SpongeBob SquarePants television series
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2016
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Spectacle
- Time & Place
- Present day, Bikini Bottom, Pacific Ocean
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Heavy
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Elderly Characters, Large Cast
Context
SpongeBob SquarePants, also known as SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway/NEW Musical, is a musical stage production based on the popular cartoon series of the same name. Premiering on June 7, 2016 at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago, SpongeBob ran until July 10 before transferring to the Palace Theatre on Broadway. Previews began on November 6. 2017 and opened on December 4. The production closed on September 16, 2018 due to renovations at the theater. The Broadway production was nominated
to read the context for SpongeBob SquarePants and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
PRE-SHOW
The show begins with a pre-show interaction with Patchy the Pirate, SpongeBob’s number one fan and president of the SpongeBob fan club. Patchy reveals to the audience that he has traveled from Encio, California to make a “pirate copy” of the musical on his phone. Two security guards escort Patchy off the stage, as the show is about to begin. The security guards remind the audience to turn off their cell phones and the curtain rises on the play.
ACT ONE
SpongeBob
to read the plot for SpongeBob SquarePants and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Silent |
Songs
The composer of each song is noted in parentheses next to the song title.
Act One
- *Bikini Bottom Day (Jonathan Coulton) - SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, Sandy, Mr. Krabs, Plankton, Karen, Company
- Bikini Bottom Day (Reprise 1) (Jonathan Coulton) - SpongeBob
- No Control (David Bowie & Brian Eno) - Perch, SpongeBob, Mr. Krabs, Pearl, Squidward, Patrick, Sandy, Company
- BFF (Plain White T’s) - SpongeBob, Patrick, *BFF Letters
- *When the Going Gets Tough (T.I.) - Plankton, Karen, SpongeBob, Company
- Just a Simple Sponge (Panic! at the Disco) - SpongeBob, Company
- Daddy Knows Best (Alex Ebert) - Mr. Krabs, Pearl, Company
- Hero Is My Middle Name (Cyndi Lauper) - SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy
- Super Sea Star Savior (Yolanda Adams) - Patrick, Sardines
- Tomorrow Is (The Flaming Lips) - Sandy, SpongeBob, Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Plankton, Karen, Company
Act Two
- Poor Pirates (Sara Bareilles) - Patchy, Pirates
- Bikini Bottom Day (Reprise 2) (Jonathan Coulton) - SpongeBob
- *Bikini Bottom Boogie (Steven Tyler & Joe Perry) - Electric Skates
- Chop to the Top (Lady Antebellum) - Sandy, SpongeBob
- (I Guess I) Miss You (John Legend) - Patrick, SpongeBob
- *I’m Not a Loser (They Might Be Giants) - Squidward, Company
- Just a Simple Sponge (Reprise) (Panic! at the Disco) - SpongeBob
- *Best Day Ever (Andy Paley & Tom Kenny) - SpongeBob, Company
- Bikini Bottom Day (Finale) (Jonathan Coulton) - SpongeBob, Company
- SpongeBob SquarePants Theme Song (Derek Drymon, Mark Harrison, Stephen Hillenburg, & Blaise Smith) - Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A version of a work modified from another medium or language, making it suitable for a new performance context.
Allegory is a storytelling device in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract ideas or moral qualities. In theatre, allegorical plays often deliver social, political, or religious messages beneath their surface narrative.
The antagonist is a character who opposes the protagonist and creates conflict within the story. They are not always villains but are critical to the development of dramatic tension.
A non-literal theatrical scene representing a character's inner thoughts, fears, or desires, often surreal in style.
Short for 'legitimate theatre,' referring to traditional stage drama as opposed to musical or commercial performance. The term is also used to describe a classical vocal tone suitable for operatic or legit musical theatre roles.
The main character of a play or story, typically the one whose journey or conflict drives the plot. The protagonist often experiences growth or change.
A spoken rhythmic vocal style incorporated into modern musicals and theatre to convey energy, storytelling, or protest.
The visual elements in a production—such as costumes, scenery, and effects—that create an impressive or dramatic presentation.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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