Ken Davenport responds to SPONGEBOB musical: "Why This Broadway Bound musical worries me."

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 11:17am

"I try to remain super positive about our lovely little industry, even when things make me go “Ummmm?”

I had one of those, “Ok, Ken, stay positive. Stay positive. No cracks. Stay positive,” moments a few weeks ago when a new musical announced that it was on its way to Broadway.

That musical?

SpongeBob SquarePants.

Hey! I said stay positive!

In an obvious “We’re getting our butts kicked by Disney” move, Nickelodeon and its ginormous parent company, Viacom, are trying to get into the game.

So what concerns me?

Well, allow me to let the comments on the Entertainment Weekly article about the announcement speak for me:

I feel like they’ll put anything on Broadway these days. And that’s not always such a good thing . . .

This is just so dumb and ridiculous. Can’t they give this tired franchise a 10 year break or something? And can Broadway do something original?
Look, I’ll admit, I can be as commercial as they come, and if there were unlimited Broadway theaters, I’d say come one, come all, to shows based on animated kids television shows or shows based on office supplies or whatever. But in an era when Broadway theaters are in such high demand, I wonder if SpongeBob is the best use of our space? (And I’m sure that strange little character will get a theater, because, well, Viacom has billions of dollars and billions of political favors to call in.)

Broadway has gotten more and more Vegas-y over the years, and more and more theme park-y. And while grosses are up, I’m concerned that if we usher in shows like SpongeBob our reputation may suffer (as evidenced by the comments above – and by how I’m sure you all feel about this idea). Years ago, a SpongeBob musical would just tour around the country (and world) making gobs of money (which SpongeBob has done), but it seems the success of Disney on Broadway has made the executives at Viacom want to march into NYC and make a bigger mark.

But SpongeBob isn’t Beauty and the Beast, or The Lion King or even The Little Mermaid. For these musicals and their movies, the source stories were epic, classic, hero journey structures that appealed to all generations, and will for decades. I went to The Lion King on a date. You think SpongeBob will be a date show? Instead of coming from an organic place of “let’s make a show that people will love” it seems to be coming from a place of “let’s make a show that will make us money.” (And that usually never ends well.)

All this means that the Producers of SB have their work cut out for them for sure. I do give them a ton of credit for hiring the supremely talented Tina Landau to captain the Spongey ship. (Although I do question their choice of a pop-soup score that is to be provided by “Aerosmith, T.I., Sara Bareilles, Lady Antebellum, and John Legend.” I guess it could work, but it feels like another purely commercial play. There is a reason why one composer/lyricist team writes most Broadway musicals. And they could have gained so much more legitimacy by hiring a tried and true musical theater team.)

Now, I could be wrong . . . and SpongeBob could be a generation-busting fantastic musical that could revolutionize the form. And I hope to G above that I am wrong, and that it is just that.

But I’m worried that it won’t be. And I’m worried that the Broadway that supports that kind of show, over original work by new authors, by independent producers, is just not the Broadway where I want to be.

Ok, I’m done. I’ll be more positive tomorrow. Promise.

But in the meantime, what do you think of SpongeBob coming to Broadway?"

https://www.theproducersperspective.com/my_weblog/2015/03/why-this-broadway-bound-musical-worries-me.html

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 11:23am

Very interesting article. I do agree with him. Where I might see a different perspective, is that Beauty and the Beast (to me, anyway) was a musical on film. It was constructed like one. It eas only time until it happened. The Lion King on the other hand was such a different being in itself, and with the ideas of Julie Taymor, it became something truly unique. After that Disney just tried to make stage versions of their movies. Some I Iike and some I don't. I agree with Mr. Davenport, and hope some producers see this article as well.

[jv92]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 11:26am

He's right on all accounts-- questioning the very idea of the project, and then questioning the idea of using pop songs and not an original score by actual theater writers.

And he's right about the Disney shows. Granted, I think the shows were better off being left as films, where they were charming, tuneful, and in the case of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, an artistic triumph, but at least those shows take themselves somewhat seriously.

[The Josh]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 11:28am

I think a Spongebob musical is a great idea for schools. Not for Broadway.

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 11:29am

I'm glad he weighed in on this. I refused to even read the thread about this previously because I was so disturbed by the concept. This is just saying: "throw us enough money and you can have a stage." It puts Broadway in the news in a lousy way.

[tazber]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 11:49am

Broadway has gotten more and more Vegas-y over the years, and more and more theme park-y.

Says the person who instituted "tweet seats".

Because that's totally not theme park-y.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 11:57am

Yeah, he has valid points, sure, but it's coming from the producer of The Awesome 80s Prom and works by new authors such as Cyndi Lauper.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 12:31pm

Eh, I'm not thrilled about the idea of a SpongeBob musical, but I think he gives far too much credit to Disney here. Sure, the works Disney shows are based on are classics, but let's not pretend that putting those movies on stage wasn't a way to squeeze more money from those franchises. I get not wanting Broadway to be heavily commercialized, but if you wan't to start lamenting that, you might want to start in the 20s and work your way forward.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 12:45pm

This is the most hypocritical article ever written. Ya'll know what kinds of gimmicks and antics Mr. Davenport has manufactured and spearheaded in recent years... right? Taz mentions just one of about a dozen. Truly, the hypocrisy is just astounding.

[felixleiter]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 1:08pm

While I'm not sure how I feel about the musicalization of Spongebob, I do know firsthand that this kind of sentiment has been on Viacom's and Nickelodeon's radar for a long time. Last Spring my agent sent me an appointment for something titled "The Untitled Tina Landau Project". It was a closed developmental workshop being done last Summer. The sides were clearly Spongebob, but the character names were all different-Spongebob was Boxfish boy, Mr Claw was Mr.Crab, etc. The note from casting at the time was to keep everything very hush hush. My Agent literally told me not to show the sides to anyone. So at the audition as Bernie is walking me in, he stops me and says-"you know what this is, right?" I say, "yeah of course". He says he was just making sure because they don't even want anyone saying the word "spongebob" yet. He said that the producers are very very worried about it getting around to the public that this was actually happening because they didn't want to suffer 2 years of public skepticism as the piece gestates. As I finished, I was again asked not to talk too much about the project. Anyway, I didn't get the show, but I've been curious about the untitled Tina Landau project ever since. This at least confirms a little about the need for secrecy last year.

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 1:29pm

Spongebob has basically been a money-printing machine for Nickelodeon since the first movie, so it's probably not unreasonable to be dubious about the forces behind this.

[darquegk]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 4:58pm

I can't see this turning out well, but things have surprised me before. Also, let's look at what Spongebob is as a franchise- is it still hip with kids? Spongebob has always walked a line between "kid's cartoon" and "the most successful and popular stoner comedy franchise since Cheech and Chong," and I think that demographic has grown more and more strongly associated with the franchise.

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 10:36pm

this from the guy whose trying to bring Hazel: The Musical to broadway, hypocritical hack.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 10:43pm

This year's Spongebob movie is lapping the grosses on the original film from over a decade ago, so it's still a very commercially viable franchise.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 10:43pm

Double post Updated On: 3/20/15 at 10:43 PM

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 3/20/15 at 11:32pm

I'm still trying to imagine what the costumes will look like. Lol.

Updated On: 3/20/15 at 11:32 PM

[binau]

Posted: 3/21/15 at 12:00am

"Says the person who instituted "tweet seats". "

True, but Ken Davenport has been a producer of THE VISIT, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, MOTHERS AND SONS, MACBETH etc.

I don't really know him, and I know he attracts some criticism here, but I personally respect the shows he often produces. It's clear he has a respect for art.

Updated On: 3/21/15 at 12:00 AM

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 3/21/15 at 12:07am

^ all the above shows you have listed (except Macbeth) he is a producer only in the sense of investing enough money to be called one.

[binau]

Posted: 3/21/15 at 12:25am

That is still respectful, in my opinion. Money is exactly what these shows need to get off the ground.

Updated On: 3/21/15 at 12:25 AM

[Theater'sBestFriend]

Posted: 3/21/15 at 8:34am

"Yeah, he has valid points, sure, but it's coming from the producer of The Awesome 80s Prom and works by new authors such as Cyndi Lauper."

Leave Cyndi Lauper alone. She's been a collaborator with the likes of Robert Rauschenberg and David Byrne. If you don't get that she's a smart and serious artist with talent, taste and integrity, ask them. She happens to be commercially successful, but without being a sellout like so many. She was justly recognized and rewarded by the theater world for bringing her talent to the stage.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 3/21/15 at 8:40am

That is still respectful, in my opinion.

Mr. Davenport is far from "respectful." Keep living in your dreamland, though.

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/21/15 at 9:41am

Sounds like a bad case of sour grapes to me.

Mr. Davenport,

Don't tell others what to bring to Broadway.

You're hardly in a position to lecture anyone else. Look at the dogs you've brought to Broadway: Bridges, Mothers and Sons? And you're wagging your finger at others?

The nerve, the arrogance, the self-importance.......

Hail to Sponge Bob! May it prosper on Broadway!

[devonian.t]

Posted: 3/21/15 at 9:57am

And a few years ago some people would have whined- "a musical by the South Park guys- oh no!", or- "a musical with Sesame Street like puppets- horrible!"

At this stage, who knows? I doubt anyone involved is just throwing any old rubbish together. Sure, it could turn into 'Shrek' but it could also be a fresh, witty and life-affirming show reaching across the ages.

There's a lot of music in Spongebob and the likes of 'Now that we're men' is every bit as much a legit showtune as many I've heard from the Golden Age!

[cbcgirl4life]

Posted: 3/21/15 at 7:03pm

This would just be better off as a show at Universal, or at least starting there.

[binau]

Posted: 3/21/15 at 7:04pm

"Mr. Davenport is far from "respectful." Keep living in your dreamland, though."

My post described a specific behaviour as respectful, rather than him as a person. However, if you would like to provide some very detailed information about why he isn't 'respectful', feel free to do so. (As I said, I don't know him at all).