Future of Toon Lagoon

[Legacy]

I’ll never understand why Universal doesn’t just add a cheap SpongeBob show at Toon Lagoon. They literally have an empty theater waiting for this. It’s easy money and it would eat crowds. Make it a “SING” type show.

Because even a bad show isn’t “cheap,” in the sense most people think, especially for a theater that size, and for a half-decent show. First, you have the up-front costs of upgrading/installing the show. That ignores any infrastructure upgrades that need to occur in the theater (which is probably substantial). Then you have to pay for the cast, which makes more than a front-line worker. They’ll typically get paid more based on need in the show, speaking roles get more than non-speaking, dancing, singing, stunts, etc. (think about how many actual speaking roles are in Bourne). Then you hire crew. More skilled positions that take time to find exactly what you need. Then you hire the minimum-wage attendants. Then… the show is poorly received.

The challenge for Universal is the lack of an “easy win” specifically for THAT theater. Disney is lousy with original music that, when performed live and well, will immediately draw a crowd. That amphitheater is actually best positioned for a “Theater in the Wild” remodel that supports a Broadway style show. But Universal doesn’t own the Broadway versions of the shows that fit that location. You want any show in that venue to fit Toon or Marvel. Developing a new show is extremely high risk. Universal’s track record is such they probably don’t dare touch that space until they *know* they have a winner.