When I heard that Spongebob Squarepants was debuting on Broadway last December, I was interested to see how they’d make the 2 dimensional rectangular sponge into a 3 dimensional live character. I can’t front, the thought of the Nickelodeon series coming to life almost seemed corny. But then O’Shea saw clips of the musical, pointed at the TV screen with his big bright brown eyes and said, “I want to see that!”
I couldn’t forget the look on his face. The excitement was palpable. So as his 5th birthday drew near, I remembered his expression and made arrangements to take him to see the Spongebob Squarepants Broadway Musical. After hearing that the show would be ending in September, I wanted to make sure that we took full advantage of the time we had left.
Unfortunately, they only had available seats for the 8 o’clock show. Normally, that would be fine but our little guy is a wild card. Either he’s game or he’s not. Taking him to an evening show meant that he could become cranky, fall asleep, or just lose control.
Honestly, he went through a series of emotions leading up to the day. Fortunately, the toys he had tucked away in his backpack kept him calm throughout the entire show.
His eyes were glued to the big stage as he watched Spongebob and his friends go on a quest to save Bikini Bottom from the spewing lava caused by Mount Humongous.
In the beginning, the mom in me wondered if my 5-year-old would have a hard time following the plot line. But, that wasn’t the case all. O’Shea knew all the characters and even kept me in the loop of all the drama that ensued.
You can also rest assure that the Spongebob Squarepants Musical appeals to kids of all ages. It incorporates various genres of music including hip hop, gospel, heavy metal, and pop. The musical features songs by Yolanda Adams, Sarah Bareilas, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, John Legend, and T.I., to name a few.
There’s also a live band. But, the show isn’t only about the live music. The musical tackles the true meaning of friendship and the importance of teamwork to accomplish any goal.
So, if you’re planning to take your little ones to see the show, there’s still time. Spongebob Squarepants Musical runs through September 16, 2018.
5 Tips for Taking Small Children to Their First Broadway Musical
Before you purchase tickets, make sure the show is appropriate for your child. How long is the run time? Will your child understand the storyline? Is your child mature enough to sit through the musical? These are just some of the questions I asked myself prior to taking my kids to a broadway musical. Not every show is family friendly.
Choose the right showtime
As I mentioned, we went to an 8pm show because that’s the only showtime that was available on his birthday. However, a 2 o’clock time slot would have been more convenient. The show let out around 11pm, which was way past his bedtime. Since it was a special occasion, my husband and I made an exception.
Follow the rules
Some shows have an age requirement. Last year, I wanted to take the kids to see the Lion King. O’Shea was only 4-years-old at the time, which was too young according to the rules. A child has to be at least six to attend. It’s a good thing I checked, I didn’t want to risk being turned away. However, not everyone may follow the rules. For the record, there were babies in the audience when we went to see Spongebob. Just sayin.’
Have a Talk With Your Child Beforehand
My husband and I had a chat with the kids before their first Broadway experience. We tackled everything from how to behave during the show to when to take bathroom breaks.
Be Prepared for Anything
Let’s face it; kids are unpredictable. When I took Anastasia to her first show, she talked the entire time. I expected the same from her talkative little brother, but that wasn’t the case. He, on the other hand, refused to go to the show last minute without his favorite toys. His besties made his first broadway experience even more enjoyable for the both of us.
Have you taken your kids to see the Spongebob Squarepant musical? What was their first Broadway experience like?
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