In a fascinating revelation, actor Ethan Slater has shared the unconventional story of how he landed his career-defining, Tony Award-nominated role as SpongeBob SquarePants. The journey began not with a typical audition call, but with a casting director's blunt and unusual observation about his physicality.
The Unforgettable Casting Call
Speaking recently at his alma mater, Vassar College, the star of 'Wicked' recounted the pivotal moment. Following an audition for 'Romeo and Juliet' in New York, where he met casting director Erica Jensen, Slater received a call from another casting director, Paul Davis. Davis was involved with a mysterious workshop project that had not yet been named.
"I was sitting on a beanbag chair and I was holding a SpongeBob plush doll, and I was looking at a poster of all the faces that SpongeBob makes," Slater recalled the setting. It was then that Davis called him and delivered the now-famous line: "We've got a workshop that we're casting. I can't tell you what it's called, but I think you're the right shape."
The actor's initial reaction was one of humorous offence. "I was like, 'That is so hurtful'," he admitted. Despite the odd comment, he was soon sent the audition material for the untitled project, which would become 'The SpongeBob Musical'.
The Audition That Sealed the Deal
The audition process was as unique as the initial casting call. Slater was required to perform a scene and create an original physical comedy routine. He chose a classic moment from the beloved Nickelodeon animated series where SpongeBob unknowingly eats a bomb baked into a pie by his neighbour, Squidward.
"SpongeBob doesn't know, and Squidward does know, and the sun's setting, and he knows that at sundown, SpongeBob's going to explode," Slater described the high-stakes comedic scene. He decided to approach the absurd premise with surprising emotional realism. "It's not Eugene O'Neill. I'm kidding, it's better," he joked about the famed playwright. "So we were doing the scene and I was like, 'I'm just going to play it super, super real.'"
His choice impressed director and playwright Tina Landau, who advised him to work on SpongeBob's signature laugh and invited him back for a callback.
Preparing for the Callback: A Billie Jean Dance-Off
For the crucial second audition, Slater immersed himself in preparation. He watched "a ton of SpongeBob" episodes and devised what he considers one of his finest audition pieces. His task was to create another physical comedy routine, and he delivered an unforgettable performance.
"It was a three-minute dance to Billie Jean, but a bee was attacking me," Slater described the surreal audition. He has since called it "one of my proudest auditions of all time, my Billie Jean dance." This creative and physically demanding routine ultimately helped him secure the iconic role.
From Workshop to Tony Nominations
Ethan Slater's dedication paid off spectacularly. He starred in the musical's world premiere in Chicago in 2016 before reprising the role on Broadway the following year. 'The SpongeBob Musical', co-conceived and directed by Tina Landau with a book by Kyle Jarrow, featured an impressive soundtrack with music from artists like Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Sara Bareilles, Cyndi Lauper, and John Legend.
The Broadway production, which also featured actors like Danny Skinner, Lilli Cooper, Gavin Lee, and Stephanie Hsu, became a critical and commercial success. It garnered an impressive 12 Tony Award nominations in 2018. Slater himself received a nomination in the prestigious Best Actor in a Musical category. The show's success led to a national tour, a United Kingdom tour, and a televised special.
Life After Bikini Bottom
Since his breakout role, Ethan Slater's career has continued to flourish. He recently starred in the highly anticipated movie adaptation of the Broadway smash 'Wicked' and its sequel. Looking ahead, the multi-talented actor has co-written and will star in the upcoming play 'Marcel on the Train', scheduled for its Off-Broadway debut in February 2026.
In recognition of his inspirational career trajectory, Vassar College honoured Slater in 2024 with the Young Alum Achievement Award. This award celebrates graduates from the past decade who have made significant impacts in their fields.
From a cryptic comment about his 'shape' to a Tony-nominated performance that defined a generation's stage adaptation of a cartoon classic, Ethan Slater's story is a testament to the unpredictable and often humorous paths that lead to theatrical success.
