Industry Pro Newsletter: New York Starts to Open Doors for Audiences, TYA will be Central to Recovery, and UK Theatres Head Outside

February 15, 2021 -

Now more than ever, the students might be the future. The education department of a theatre company has long been an important piece of the business model - but that might be more true now than it has ever been before. While audiences still can't come into most of our performance spaces, students are still able to be reached in digital ways. These digital programs not only increase access, they are increasing the number of students (of all ages) who are able to engage with theatre in an all new way. In a time of continued social distancing, what we are learning about bridging that distance will be important for us to remember when we no longer have to stay apart out of necessity for public health. This week, we've got stories about connecting with audiences, with students, and continually questioning what our performance spaces should look like, along with stories about the ongoing economic impact of the shutdowns.

Social Media Quick-Start Guide for Theatres

Ahead of next week's Industry Pro webinar all about social media for theatres, BroadwayWorld's Social Media Manager Taylor Brethauer put together a quick-start guide for theatres and producers looking to utilize social media in their production and company marketing efforts, using plenty of examples from the BroadwayWorld social media pages.

Want to learn more about social media for your theatre? Join us later this month for our Industry Pro Webinar, all about the ins and outs of social media for theatre companies. More information below or click this link to register now!

BroadwayWorld Announces New Updates to Stage Mag - Including Animated Covers!

In response to incredible user feedback, BroadwayWorld has rolled out multiple new features and enhancements to our new digital program builder - Stage Mag! These include multi-user capabilities for creating the Stage Mag, the ability to add an animated GIF as your program cover, and more! Check out all the new features here.

Putting on Student Performances in the Midst of the Pandemic

American Theatre looks at how Lincoln Center kept their educational programming alive, bringing new methods of dramaturgical exploration alongside a live captured version of Dominique Morisseau's Pipeline to keep their programming available for New York City students - who outside this program hadn't yet had the opportunity to attend live theatre.

Don't Forget TYA in Calls for National Art Support

We've covered many of the calls and proposals for a new federal theatre project, but one thing those proposals are lacking, according Jonathan Schmidt Chapman, is a focus on the role the arts should play in the lives of children. Writing in American Theatre, Chapman says, "A comprehensive arts strategy that centers access to the arts as the right of every child will not only support the future of the creative economy, but will also help to heal the soul of the nation."

Theatre Across the UK Make Plans to Head Outside

No longer wishing to be subject to as much uncertainty, theatre companies across the UK are taking advantage of government programs and private funding to build outdoor performance spaces that allow for social distancing. While there may still be some governmental restrictions on performance, these new spaces will allow them to be more in control of their seasons over the next year while the vaccine distribution continues.

PBS NewsHour Covers the Economic Impact of the Broadway Shutdown

In a PBS NewsHour special, they interviewed Kate Shindle, John Kristiansen, and more to discuss the impacts of the industry wide shutdown and the myriad of relief measures that have been tried to various levels of success.

New York takes a Step Back Towards Live Performance

In a series of announcements, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that venues with over 10,000 seats could reopen at 10% capacity for sporting events and live performance, with audiences testing before taking their seats. While this doesn't yet mean a return to the stage for Broadway or other venues, it is a step in the right direction to getting audiences back into seats and into the city. Additionally, the Governor announced a series of pop up performances to take place throughout the spring and summer in the city.

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Come Together to Push DEI Legislation

The Unions, including AEA, AGMA, SAG-AFTRA, SDC, and more have come together to lobby Congress to create stronger Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to create more programs that incentivize diversity and inclusion in the workplace for creative projects.

Something Fun - Broadway Sings Blood Rock the Musical

While the pandemic has derailed many shows that were in the process of getting ready for the stage - that doesn't mean all progress has stopped. The team behind the new musical Blood Rock were able to put together and release a new EP featuring six songs from the show - and you can give them a listen at the link above! If you want to learn more about the show, they also took over our Instagram account last week.

February Industry Pro Webinar: The Ins and Outs of Social Media for Theatre with the BroadwayWorld Social Team!

Join BroadwayWorld's Chloe Rabinowitz and Taylor Brethauer for a discussion of the in's and out's of the various social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook Twitter, and tiktok), how BroadwayWorld has grown their accounts in the last year, what posts they've found to be successful, how best to work the algorithm, and what the biggest trends (and how to spot them) are on theatre tiktok! The presentation will be followed by a q+a to answer your questions about social media.

Register Now to Join us Wednesday, February 24th at 3pm Eastern!

Are You Streaming Content?

The BroadwayWorld Streaming Calendar is the go-to resource for theatre audiences looking for a theatrical experience in their own living room. The best part? Listings are completely free of charge (with paid boosting options available). Add your streaming content today!

Need a digital program for your audiences?

Then check out Stage Mag from BroadwayWorld! This modern, fully interactive show program comes with an easy-to-use interface for building your program. Check it out at stagemag.broadwayworld.com.

Want more information about marketing options with BroadwayWorld? Request a media kit here and a member of our sales and marketing team will reach out promptly.