SpongeBob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical

**Spongebob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical** was a musical theatre group act on Season A of *FuzGT*. They were eliminated in the Semifinals.

## About

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical (originally titled The SpongeBob Musical, later retitled as such for the national tour) is a stage musical, co-conceived and directed by Tina Landau with songs by various artists and a book by Kyle Jarrow. It is based on the Nickelodeon animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants and made its world premiere in June 2016 at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago. Following a month of previews, the musical opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre in December 2017.

The show was produced by Nickelodeon, The Araca Group, Sony Music Masterworks and Kelp on the Road.

The musical opened to critical acclaim. With twelve Tony Award nominations, it tied with Mean Girls for the most-nominated production at the 72nd Tony Awards in 2018. The show closed at the Palace Theatre on September 16, 2018 due to theatre renovations. At the time of its closing, it had played 29 previews and 327 regular performances. A non-Equity North American tour opened on September 22, 2019 at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, New York. On December 7, 2019, Nickelodeon aired a television special of the show featuring members from the original Broadway cast. The tour closed in 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The SpongeBob Musical is scheduled to resume touring in the UK in 2023. [1]

## Audition

Spongebob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical’s audition in Episode A01 consisted of performing their opening number, “Bikini Bottom Day”. Utterly confused, Spinach buzzed the act. Although he voted “No”, Fuz and Ace voted "Yes," sending the group to the Mop Round.

## Mop Round

Spongebob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical's Mop Round performance in Episode A09 consisted of Ethan Slater, the show's lead, performing "Not a Simple Sponge", accompanied by background singers and blacklight dancers. Fuz, guest judge Smack, and Spinach gave the group standing ovations, with Spinach admitting to finally understanding the act. SSTBM was one of the acts chosen to advance to the Live Shows in the week's Top 8, advancing them to the Quarterfinals.

## Quarterfinals

SpongeBob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical's Quarterfinals performance in Episode A12 consisted of performing "I'm Not A Loser", a tap dance number starring Gavin Lee and a large ensemble of backup singers and dancers. Fuz, Ace, and Fresh all gave the group standing ovations. SSBTM was revealed to have placed 6th overall in the vote, advancing them to the Quarterfinals.

## Semifinals

SpongeBob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical's Semifinals performance in Episode A15 consisted of the ensemble, led by Ethan Slater, performing "Best Day Ever". Fuz and Ace gave the group standing ovations. They did not receive enough votes to be sent to the Finals, eliminating them from the competition instead of Coming True.

## Trivia

* They were the highest placing act in Season A to receive a "No" vote in the auditions, and the only act in the Semifinals that was buzzed during the auditions as well (Spinach being responsible for both).