SpongeBob SquarePants announces Broadway closing date

The final performance of the Broadway premiere of SpongeBob SquarePants is set for September 16, 2018 at the Palace Theatre.

Sad news for everyone's favorite Sponge... Producers of the Broadway premiere of SpongeBob SquarePants have announced a closing date of September 16, 2018 at the Palace Theatre due to previously planned theatre renovations beginning mid-September. The good news, however, is that the Drama Desk Award-winning "Best Musical" will embark on a National Tour beginning in the fall of 2019. Upon closing, the Broadway production will have played a total of 327 regular performances and 29 previews.

Executive Producer Susan Vargo released the following statement: "Our bold reimagining of SpongeBob SquarePants as a musical has been embraced by SpongeBob fans and theatre-goers alike, who experienced the wonderous life in Bikini Bottom first-hand during the Broadway engagement in New York City. It will continue absorbing audiences across the country and around the world."

SpongeBob SquarePants began previews at the Palace Theatre on November 6, 2017 and officially opened on December 4.

The Nickelodeon musical, conceived and directed by Tina Landau, features a book by Kyle Jarrow and original songs provided by a host of popular artists including Yolanda Adams, Steven Tyler & Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Jonathan Coulton, Alexander Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Flaming Lips, John Legend, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T's, They Might Be Giants and T.I., with an additional song by David Bowie. Additional lyrics are by Jonathan Coulton.

Synopsis: "Stakes are higher than ever before as SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face the total annihilation of their undersea world. Chaos erupts. Lives hang in the balance. And just when all hope seems lost, a most unexpected hero rises up and takes center stage. Get ready to dive to all-new depths of theatrical innovation at SpongeBob SquarePants, where the power of optimism really can save the world!"

The principal cast of SpongeBob SquarePants includes Tony Award nominee Ethan Slater (as SpongeBob SquarePants), Tony & Olivier Award nominee Gavin Lee (as Squidward), Lilli Cooper (as Sandy Cheeks), Danny Skinner (as Patrick), Wesley Taylor (as Sheldon Plankton) and Brian Ray Norris (as Eugene Krabs).

The creative team features orchestrations, arrangements & music supervision by Tom Kitt, choreography by Christopher Gattelli, scenic & costume design by David Zinn, lighting design by Kevin Adams, projection design by Peter Nigrini, sound design by Walter Trarbach, and hair & wig design by Charles G. LaPointe.

The musical staged its world premiere production at Chicago's Oriental Theatre in the summer of 2016.

SpongeBob SquarePants is produced on Broadway by Nickelodeon with The Araca Group, Sony Music Masterworks and Kelp on the Road.

"SpongeBob SquarePants", which debuted in 1999, is an American animated television series created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg. Set in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom, the series follows the adventures of the title character and his friends. A film adaptation was released in 2004, with a sequel released in America on February 6, 2015.

SpongeBob SquarePants Tickets are now available for performances through to September 16, 2018.

^{(Photo by Joan Marcus)}