The little sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea will be coming to the big stage next summer. That's right, Spongebob Squarepants will be getting a Broadway show. Of course, the Nickelodeon icon isn't doing it alone, he's enlisted the likes of John Legend, The Flaming Lips, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper and more to help with the play's music.
A Spongebob musical will hit the stage in Chicago beginning June 2016, USA Today reports. Details about the show remain scarce, but in a press announcement, it was teased that "the end is near. Only one sponge can save the day. But he's going to need help from some of the greatest songwriters in rock and pop music history." It was also revealed that the musical will feature a brand new, unique storyline and new music.
To help write the original music for the musical, musical supervisor Tom Kitt (If/Then) enlisted some major musical names. In addition to The Flaming Lips, Bowie, Legend and Lauper (who has won Tony Awards for her musical Kinky Boots), the Spongebob musical will also feature new original music from, Lady Antebellum, Panic! At The Disco, T.I., They Might Be Giants, Joe Perry and Steven Tyler.
Some of the musicians have worked in the world of Spongebob before. The Flaming Lips provided the soundtrack to the first Spongebob movie.
The Spongebob musical will hit the Chicago stage on June 7, 2016, and it's expected to be rolled out on to New York City's Broadway scene for the 2016-17 season. A cast for the production has yet to be announced.
