'SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical' Surpasses One Million Dollars as Audiences Bid Farewell to Bikini Bottom

Teary-eyed audiences might have said goodbye to the Tony-winning Broadway musical SpongeBob SquarePants on September 16 just before residents of Bikini Bottom packed up their dressing rooms at the Palace Theatre. But in its final week on Broadway, the fan-favorite tuner based on the beloved Nickelodeon animated series saw a hearty boost at the box office. The musical took in a gross of $1,052,896.50 USD, up from last week's intake of $828,817.50, filling the Palace to 94.18% capacity, a strong increase from last week's attendance of 80.97%, and marks the musical's second highest-grossing week since it began (and its highest of 2018). This might feel like goodbye to SpongeBob SquarePants for now, but the show will soon delight audiences across the US when it launches a national tour in fall 2019, so there is still plenty to look forward to for SpongeBob and his family of friends. Amateur licensing for the musical is slated to become available in early 2019 as well.

Although it was the final Broadway performance of SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, the cast, crew and audience made sure that the show went out with a bang, with raucous joy filling the entire theatre. To commemorate the last performance, for the performances intermission, Tom Kenny recorded a special message as his iconic French Narrator character saying “last intermission ever”, at which point, the audience collectively screamed “NOOOOO!”.

Before and following the final performance, the cast and crew of SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical went onto social media to say goodbye to the show, and say thank-you to fans for their support:

Last. Intermission. Ever. pic.twitter.com/r2W9Ekr6R9

— SpongeBob Broadway (@SpongeBobBway) September 17, 2018

final audience collectively screaming “NOOOOO!” as tom kenny narration says “last intermission ever” is a BIG MOOD.

— Wesley Taylor (@WesTayTay) September 17, 2018

The crowd is insane tonight. Giving me life!! Thank y’all for being the best fans in the universe. @SpongeBobBway 4ever

— Kyle Jarrow (@landoftrust) September 17, 2018

The energy in The Palace tonight is UNREAL.

— SpongeBob Broadway (@SpongeBobBway) September 17, 2018

It’s been a great 🐬🐬🐬run, folks 💛💙 pic.twitter.com/6NuGox8dJh

— SpongeBob Broadway (@SpongeBobBway) September 17, 2018

I’m sad it’s over, but last night’s final @SpongeBobBway show was just, hoo boy. There was so much raucous joy in the room, it’s going to keep me warm for about ten years. So proud to have been a part of this remarkable thing.

— Jonathan Coulton (@jonathancoulton) September 17, 2018

It’s crazy how playing an assortment of fish every night has taught me more about being a better person than any other human role I’ve played. Thank you @SpongeBobBway and everyone involved for the constant reminder that everyday can be the BEST DAY EVER!!!!

— L'ogan J'ones (@TheLoganJones) September 16, 2018

An incomplete list of things about Spongebob for which I am forever grateful:
- the (years long) process
- the (ever evolving) show
- the (outrageously amazing) fans
- the (now family) cast
- the (now family) crew
- the (surprisingly relevant) message
- the (best) year of my life

— Ethan Slater (@ethansaslater) September 16, 2018

Whatever comes there’s just one thing to do: Make the Best Day Ever with all of you. @SpongeBobBway #PalaceTheatre @SquigsRobertson pic.twitter.com/1Nlpc8JmbQ

— Kyle Jarrow (@landoftrust) September 16, 2018

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sheldon wanted to play all the parts.

A post shared by Wesley Taylor (@sirwestaytay) on Sep 16, 2018 at 2:44pm PDT

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bye bye, big guy 💚

A post shared by Wesley Taylor (@sirwestaytay) on Sep 16, 2018 at 6:47pm PDT

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three more twerks. 📸 @tinalandau

A post shared by Wesley Taylor (@sirwestaytay) on Sep 15, 2018 at 2:42pm PDT

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This show has meant a little too much for me to be able to write about it succinctly. Suffice it to say, I’ll miss this thing quite a bit. . . . #finalweekend #spongebob #spongebobbway #palacetheatre

A post shared by Ethan Slater (@ethanslater) on Sep 15, 2018 at 10:22am PDT

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Blurry.

A post shared by Ethan Slater (@ethanslater) on Sep 16, 2018 at 6:35pm PDT

The official SpongeBob SquarePants Musical Twitter page says it best, though:

If you need me, I’ll be crying listening to our cast album until we tour in fall 2019

— SpongeBob Broadway (@SpongeBobBway) September 17, 2018

Click Broadway.com and Playbill.com.

Watch SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon and Nicktoons!

SpongeBob SquarePants - The New Musical Original Cast Recording is available to purchase today at https://spongebobmusical.lnk.to/SpongebobMusicalRecording.

More Nick: David Zinn Wins 'Best Scenic Design of a Musical' 2018 Tony Award for 'SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical'!

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