Sideshow: 'SpongeBob SquarePants' musical: On its way to Chicago and NYC!

Think SpongeBob SquarePants is just for lil' kids?

Think again, chum.

Nickelodeon's mega-popular show is getting a Broadway makeover, courtesy of some of the biggest names in pop. Variety says a team of musicians, including Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith and singer John Legend, are hard at work on The SpongeBob Musical, which will premiere in Chicago in summer 2016 before heading to New York. Also involved are The Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, Tony winner (and onetime Philadelphian) Cyndi Lauper, and David Bowie. The musical is co-conceived and directed by Tina Landau of Chicago's famed Steppenwolf Theater, with book by Kyle Jarrow. Tix and info: www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Selected acts from Philadelphia's two-day Budweiser Made in America Festival on the Ben Franklin Parkway on Saturday and Sunday will stream live on Tidal (tidal.com), Jay Z's music service. The show will feature Beyoncé, the Weeknd (real name: Abel Tesfaye), J. Cole, Meek Mill, Nick Jonas, and a gazillion more great acts.

WRTI-FM on-air host Jill Pasternak, 81, retired as of Monday, the station announced. Pasternak, weekday afternoon announcer and host of Crossover, started at the station when it took on its daytime classical format in 1997, and was its only female classical announcer. Kile Smith, who has often substituted for Pasternak since her last on-air date in June, will stay on during a national search for her replacement, said station manager William Johnson.

- Peter Dobrin

The fourth book in the late Stieg Larsson's mega-selling Lisbeth Salander series hits stores Tuesday. As Mr. Larsson is deceased, The Girl in the Spider's Web actually was penned by novelist David Lagercrantz. But don't look for an English-language movie version, says USA Today: David Fincher's 2011 adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo did so badly it may never spawn any sequels. . . . Vampire Diaries actress Candice Accola and husband Joe King (of The Fray) are expecting their first baby together. King has two from his first marriage. . . . "Honey I'm Good" singer Andy Grammer will compete on the forthcoming season of Dancing with the Stars, says People.

Rumors that Kanye West and Donald Trump plan to have a sing-off (or was it a Jell-O wrestling match?) for the White House sadly are incorrect.

West did announce Sunday on MTV's Video Music Awards that he plans to run for president (of the United States of America), but he has his eyes set on 2020.

You might think all this is a joke. But it seems the Democratic Party is so keen for new blood it has given Kanye a thumbs-up.

"Last night @kanyewest declared his candidacy for president in 2020. Welcome to the race, Mr. West. Glad to have you," the party tweeted Monday. What if Kanye does win? Would we get to watch War Room meetings on spouse Kim Kardashian's reality show?

215-854-2736