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SpongeBob Squarepants to star in his very own musical

He has dominated TV screens for 16 years and has two box-office hits under his belts.

Now, the world's most absorbent, yellow and porous cartoon character is setting his sights on Broadway.

On Monday (Aug 31), Nickelodeon announced that SpongeBob Squarepants and his friends will be starring in their very own musical next year.

The production, unsurprisingly titled The SpongeBob Musical will premiere at Chicago's Oriental Theatre on July 23, 2016 and will feature original songs written by some of the biggest names in the music industry who also happen to be fans of the character, such as Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper and John Legend.

It is slated for a Broadway opening in the 2016-17 season.

Nickelodeon's president of content and development and production, Mr Russell Hicks told the Chicago Tribune: “All of those amazing composers are fans of SpongeBob."

“Music has always been an important part of the show and everyone saw this as a real creative challenge... We have a story and a sub-plot, but it’s all spiced with the particular flavourings of the SpongeBob universe.”

According to Rolling Stone, the musical has been described as a "rousing tale of a simple sea sponge, who faces the unfathomable" and "a celebration of unbridled hope, unexpected heroes and pure theatrical invention" by the musical's producers.

The SpongeBob Musical's director, Ms Tina Landau, said that an original story will be crafted specially for the musical but also assured fans that it will remain faithful to the TV series.

"We will present the world of (SpongeBob's habitat) Bikini Bottom and its characters in a whole new way that can only be achieved in the live medium of the theater," she said.

Sources: Rolling Stone, Chicago Tribune, Guardian

 

UncategorisedMusicalbroadwayNickelodeonBikini BottomAnimation