SpongeBob the Musical: Viewing Thread

[n2nbaby]

7 tonight on Nickelodeon. Cant wait to see this and happy that Ethan Slaters incredible performance was preserved!

[cryan71]

Like that they shake the camera during the earthquakes.

[TheQuibbler]

Enjoying it so far! I appreciate that the camera work is pretty straightforward, not a lot of frenetic cuts and movement. The spotlight work is a little off, though.

[thealtoslament]

Unrelated to the actual show (which I’m enjoying immensely thus far) but it’s been a long time since I’ve watched commercials on a children’s channel and were they always this intolerable?

[jacobsnchz14]

Even though, book and score-wise, this wasn't my style when I saw it June 2018, I cannot argue its imaginative direction, concept, and design. Plus, it got kids to the theatre. I hope lots of kids and families enjoy it when it goes out on tour soon.

Honestly, this (like Legally Blonde) proves that a live TV musical should be filmed and staged as an actual theatre production with a live audience. The Corny Collins segments of Hairspray Live were close to what needed to happen. As elaborate as The Sound of Music and Peter Pan were, design-wise, The Wiz was close, but missed the mark without having an audience. Rent didn't need to be the concert that I think JCS needed to be. This and Legally Blonde are great examples of how these need to translate.

[ggersten]

Aargh, missed first half hour and DVR wasn't set.  Will there be a repeat airing/showing?

[ACL2006]

where was this filmed?

[Jakeevan942]

ACL2006 said: "where was this filmed?"

 

They filmed the show last month at the Theater Royal Plymouth in the UK.

 

[TheatreFan4]

Honestly, this (like Legally Blonde) proves that a live TV musical should be filmed and staged as an actual theatre production with a live audience. 

Agreed. There is not one gain to be had by doing something like this live and only leaves you open to looking sloppy and getting stuck in situations like the Rent disaster.

[ggersten]

Found a showing on NickWest on my satellite and another showing at midnight - so I'll get to record it all.  Our tickets for the tour are for March 17

[Mike Barrett]

Started a tad late but this is cute! Makes me wish I saw the show on broadway. I’m enjoying the camera work as well, simple and just simply covering the action. Well done!

[ggersten]

Mike Barrett said: "Started a tad late but this is cute! Makes me wish I saw the show on broadway. I’m enjoying the camera work as well, simple and just simply covering the action. Well done!"

The director, Glen Weiss, is the usual director for The Tony Awards broadcast.  

 

[cryan71]

Now I'm looking forward to seeing this on tour.

[Miles2Go2]

I had it DVR’d did so I’m just starting it now about 10 minutes ago but after seeing the touring production recently, I’m enjoying seeing it again.

[Miles2Go2]

TheatreFan4 said: "Honestly, this (like Legally Blonde) proves that a live TV musical should be filmed and staged as an actual theatre production with a live audience.

Agreed. There is not one gain to be had by doing something like this live and only leaves you open to looking sloppy and getting stuck in situations like the Rent disaster."

I’m guessing it might be cheaper and simpler to do it live? Or is it a marketing coo to say it’s live? I’m not saying any of this is true. I’m just saying there’s gotta be a reason why channels continue to do it. For the record, I think JCS is only televised live production that has completely worked. 
 

I was also wondering. Was the televised Peter Pan production with Mary Martin (I think?) from my youth live or prerecorded? I don’t think it was performed in front of an audience. 

[ACL2006]

I haven't watched NICK in forever, but their commercials stoop to a level below any intelligence on earth.

[TheatreFan4]

>>>>>I’m guessing it might be cheaper and simpler to do it live? Or is it a marketing coo to say it’s live? I’m not saying any of this is true. I’m just saying there’s gotta be a reason why channels continue to do it. For the record, I think JCS is only televised live production that has completely worked.

It's all marketing. There's no way in hell that it's cheaper to do especially considering how much more rehearsal is needed to do it live.

[n2nbaby]

This is filmed so nicely. I wish more people gave this show a chance on Broadway. It’s unbelievably fun and Slater is just so damn good.

[ACL2006]

yeah, the Networks(ABC, NBC, Fox) need to ditch the Live musical thing and do Broadway: LIVE. Though only once a show closes, then have the Network put the money out to have the show filmed live.

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

I’m enjoying this far more then expected. I prefer Lilli Cooper to Christina Sajous, but seeing this reminds me how Ethan Slater was doing on stage. The show had flaws, but he gave a great performance that was worthy of the praise he got.

[ACL2006]

It's cute and all, but it's just not my type of show.

[yankeefan7]

I loved it and glad I got to see it since I missed it on Broadway when my wife and daughters saw it. It is such a fun show and better than I expected. Ethan Slater is fantastic. I guess he did not win the Tony because he was just a simple sponge -lol

[TheQuibbler]

My favorite tweet of the night. 

[VotePeron]

Y’all thought I was done posting about SpongeBob last September...

But for real. What a wonderful night. The broadcast was as close to perfect as you could imagine - the filming was clear and fluid, it never felt like a cringe-y movie of a musical. The breaks into commercials were wonderful, and the 15 minutes of material they cut from the original broadway show for time throughout the evening was done seamlessly.

I thought the performances were stellar, and 90% of the magic from Broadway came with it. The biggest miss for me was the Rube Goldberg machines, but I guess people that never knew those existed won’t even notice.

[TheQuibbler]

VotePeron said: "...and the 15 minutes of material they cut from the original broadway show for time throughout the evening was done seamlessly. "

What did they cut? I saw the show three times but didn’t really notice too many differences, aside from a missing verse in “Poor Pirates.”