While many debate the merits of technology at our fingertips, social media was designed to connect people, expand the reach of causes, questions, conversations, and create borderless communities. Broadway took advantage of social media in a monumental way throughout 2016. As theatre continued to garner the national limelight, theatrical experiences and reactions to them on social media—from industry professionals and fans alike—followed suit. Here are five ways Broadway impacted the theatre-loving world via social media.
READ MORE: 17 BROADWAY SOCIAL INFLUENCERS TO FOLLOW IN 2017
1. LIGHTS, CAMERA, LIVE EVENTS!
From live television musical broadcasts to conventions and festivals, 2016 was the year that Broadway fans from all over the country were able to access their favorite stars and shows through technology. Live-tweeting these broadcasts united the online community of viewers in the moment, and livestreaming offered unprecented access to the hub of New York theatre.
BroadwayCon
The inaugural BroadwayCon saw over 4,000 Broadway fans arrive in New York City to celebrate all things theatre, even with a blizzard on the horizon. The excitement and enthusiasm spilled over the walls of the Hilton Hotel. With Facebook Live, Instagram, Periscope, and Twitter, Broadway fans all across the nation got a taste of the inaugural convention.
I got the @playbill pajamas & I'm going to run around the hotel all night having adventures!! #BroadwayCon #snowedin pic.twitter.com/uJlx2RxtTH
— Laura Heywood (@BroadwayGirlNYC) January 24, 2016
WATCH: ANTHONY RAPP, CHRISTINE PEDI, AND TYLER MOUNT TALK BROADWAYCON 2017 WITH HOST RUTHIE FIERBERG
Elsie Fest
The second annual Elsie Fest took place Labor Day weekend on Coney Island. Fans gathered together for a theatrical music festival. The day-long fest saw performances from Megan Hilty, Tituss Burgess, Pasek and Paul, and more shared across social media.
Then @LizGoesOn sang "Journey to the Past" with @DarrenCriss on tambourine and we all gracefully freaked out pic.twitter.com/oVInLuEqAS
— Playbill (@playbill) September 6, 2016
Grease: Live!
Congrats to #ThomasKail & #AlexRudzinski for Outstanding Directing For A Variety Special #GreaseLive #EmmyAwards pic.twitter.com/0lziP1IW3X
— GREASE: LIVE (@GoGrease) September 19, 2016
BroadwayHD is live streaming the performance of #SheLovesMe tonight.
Broadway theater in my living room?
Yes, please.
HDMI cable FTW.— Jess R (@JessRunk) June 30, 2016
#SNLinManuel
I mean, Crucible Cast Party was a docudrama of all of our late teen years....right? #SNLinManuel #theatregeek
— Courtney Kochuba (@CourtKochuba) October 10, 2016
Hairspray Live!
Settle in kids, this controlled vibrato is going to make everything feel like it's gonna be okay. #JHud #HairsprayLive
— Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) December 8, 2016
Live-streaming was also used to bring fans inside the theatre and behind the scenes. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first Periscope outing garnered over 1 million “hearts,” and the live-stream of Jennifer Simard’s Tony-nominated performance during Disaster’s! final show on Playbill’s Facebook led to Twitter personality, Annoying Actor Friend, campaigning for Simard to perform on the Tonys with the hashtag #PutSimardOn. Site-specific moments, like the final #Ham4Ham or Wicked’s Elphaba reunion, became accessible to fans across the country and the world.
Not to mention, Playbill began livestreaming from the red carpets of Broadway’s fall openings. Through Facebook Live, the viewers at home directly interacted with talent on screen, answering your questions in real time!
2. HAMILTON’S PASSIONATELY SMASHIN’ EVERY HASHTAG
It was truly the year of Hamilton, in every respect. Lin-Manuel Miranda reached 1 million followers on Twitter (and celebrated with a #1MillionGifs party), and the production spawned a handful of interactive hashtags inviting fans to share Hamilton-esque moments and reactions.
#Will4Ham
"While you slummin in the city in your fancy heels. You searchin for an urchin who can give you ideals" #Will4Ham pic.twitter.com/vF2SYZS5Zo
— Neely P (@Neely711) January 5, 2016
#Gram4Ham
This is beautiful #Gram4Ham #Hamilton pic.twitter.com/es0PdQIkoG
— Peggy Schuyler (@schuylerpeggy1) February 23, 2016
#Hamilgrads
Even more #Hamilgrads passionately smashing every expectation this weekend. Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/rWVh0ax9y5
— Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) June 19, 2016
#HamofThrones
Lemme offer you some free advice-talk less,smile more.dont let em know what yr against or what yr for #HamofThrones pic.twitter.com/SkUEGYpxs7
— ashara dank ���� (@liesandarborgol) September 14, 2016
#SNLinManuel
Was it just me or did @Lin_Manuel's opening monologue totally feel like an opening number as host of the Tony Awards?!?! #SNLinManuel
— NUMBER1FANSIE (@number1fansie) October 10, 2016
#HamildocPBS
Taking a break. #HamildocPBS is on in the background. An hour passes.
Mom: You've said EVERY SONG is your favorite song.
Me: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
— J. Johnson-Blalock (@JJohnsonBlalock) October 22, 2016
#EduHam
There were some revolutionary performances today at #EduHam! Learn more about the program: https://t.co/1vnlUfm08P pic.twitter.com/4oO7kX5QGC
— Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) November 2, 2016
SHOP HAMILTON MERCHANDISE AT THE PLAYBILL STORE.
One hashtag did not celebrate the show, it called for a boycott. #BoycottHamilton began after Vice President-Elect Mike Pence attended the November 17 performance. At curtain call, cast member Brandon Victor Dixon delivered a statement from the company to Pence, which led to wide-spread debate. Some believed that it was inappropriate for Dixon to use such a platform to voice his opinion, and started #BoycottHamilton as a way to protest the show. However, Hamiltion actually set a record the week after the Pence visit, grossing over $3 million during an eight-performance week.
3. BROADWAY CAUSES
Members of the theatre community lit up the Twittersphere in support of various causes and movements.
#BroadwayforOrlando
At the 2016 Tony Awards, the Broadway community pinned silver ribbons—quickly designed by Tony-winning costume designer William Ivey Long—to their black tie attire in commemoriation of to the victims of the June 12 shooting in Orlando, FL. On June 15, over 60 Broadway artists gathered together as #BroadwayForOrlando to record “What the World Needs Now is Love.”
#Bway4BLM
The next month, after two black men, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, were shot by police, the Broadway community organized in support of Black Lives Matter, through #Bway4BLM. On August 1, Broadway for Black Lives Matter (now renamed the Broadway Advocacy Coalition to stand up for multiple causes) hosted a Black Lives Matter event to protest the wave of police brutality against black citizens. Broadway performers such as Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Joshua Henry, and more took part in the event through spoken word, song, and dance.
So proud of @adriennelwarren @amberskyez @BroadwayBlack, Britton Smith& every1 involved in the inspiring & moving #BWAY4BLM event last nt❤️
— Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) August 2, 2016
"#BlackLivesMatter is an ARTISTIC MOVEMENT." Prof. Frank Roberts #BWAY4BLM
— Broadway Black (@BroadwayBlack) August 2, 2016
READ MORE: WHY BLACK LIVES MATTER, ESPECIALLY TO BROADWAY
Wells Fargo’s Ads
In September, the Broadway community rallied against Wells Fargo’s ad campaign, which implied careers in science were more valuable than those in the arts. A number of Broadway artists shared their disappointment on Twitter, including Andy Mientus, Cynthia Erivo, Robert Lopez, and Michael Cerveris.
Arts education saved my life and countless others. Artist life is beautiful. Don't listen 2 @WellsFargo- it's a trap pic.twitter.com/Dz3Q6mNlEL
— Andy Mientus (@andymientus) September 3, 2016
READ MORE: THEATRE COMMUNITY RALLIES AGAINST WELLS FARGO ADVERTISEMENTS
4. DIVERSIFYING THE GREAT WHITE WAY
Diversity and inclusion remained important topics to the Broadway community. Through events like #Bway4BLM, the community was able to continue conversations about the state of diversity in the New York City theatre scene and beyond.
This year’s Tony Awards made history when four black actors won in all musical acting categories. Social media exploded with celebratory sentiments for Cynthia Erivo, Daveed Diggs, Leslie Odom Jr., and Renée Elise Goldsberry.
TONY AWARDS MAKING HISTORY! TAKE NOTE, HOLLYWOOD!! #TonyAwards @TheTonyAwards
— Andrada (@AndryPresh) June 13, 2016
Thank you, @leslieodomjr, @CynthiaEriVo, @DaveedDiggs, and @reneeelisegolds for exemplifying Black excellence. #TonyAwards
— emily (@flymetotheemily) June 13, 2016
Many took to Twitter with questions about casting choices, from Porchlight’s production of In The Heights to Bay Street Theatre’s Prince of Egypt.
It saddens me that after such a wonderful multicultural season on Broadway a piece set in AFRICA has not one POC. #PrinceOfEgypt ��
— Cynthia Erivo (@CynthiaEriVo) July 23, 2016
With regards to the @BayStTheater_ reading of #princeofegypt 2day I was able to have an open conversation with the Director, who was 1/3
— Cynthia Erivo (@CynthiaEriVo) July 25, 2016
Was open to hearing my concerns and committed to making sure that, though on the outlook, the reading seems to lack POCs, the eventual 2/3
— Cynthia Erivo (@CynthiaEriVo) July 25, 2016
Incarnation will be wholly inclusive. To be able to have a conversation is a wonderful positive step for art, and learning for all. 3/3
— Cynthia Erivo (@CynthiaEriVo) July 25, 2016
Still, many called the 2015-2016 Broadway season a banner year for diversity, and the community witnessed black actors command the concert stage with Jason Robert Brown and Subculture’s one-night-only benefit concert of The Last Five Years, starring Cynthia Erivo and Joshua Henry. It was the first time two black actors played these roles in such a prominent arena. Days before the concert, Henry told Playbill.com, “I hope that it just continues to give black actors and other actors of color opportunities in ways they haven’t had before.”
Dear Theater Powers:
Can @CynthiaEriVo & @joshuahenry20 do all the musicals together?
Love,
All who love chemistry, charisma & talent#L5Y— karen bailis (@kpbailis) September 13, 2016
I am so grateful for tonight. That was as perfect an evening as I will ever have. Thank you @CynthiaEriVo & @joshuahenry20 & everyone. #L5Y
— Jason Robert Brown (@MrJasonRBrown) September 13, 2016
READ MORE: CYNTHIA ERIVO AND JOSHUA HENRY REVEAL THEIR THOUGHTS ON DOING THE LAST FIVE YEARS
5. FUN, LAUGHS, GOOD TIMES
Even though social media served as a space for serious discussion and debate, Broadway also shared moments of fun and joy with the community.
Broadway Babies
Three major Broadway baby announcements came via social media this year. With parents like these, can you imagine what kind of lullabies these kids will hear?!
Leslie Odom Jr. and Nicolette Robinson
Megan Hilty and Brian Gallagher
Laura Benanti and Patrick Brown
Mannequin Challenge
One of the most recent trends to hit the internet, the Mannequin Challenge, consisted of a group of people quite literally standing still like mannequins. Several productions within the Broadway community got in on the action—or, well, inaction.
