I think it’s safe to say that what the world needs now . . .more than ever . . . is love, sweet love.
I think it’s safe to say that what the world needs now . . .more than ever . . . is love, sweet love.
It took a pandemic for another network (besides our loyal friends at CBS) to give us an hour-long variety special . . . hosted by none other than Tina Fey! “One Night Only: The Best of Broadway” was a gift from the NBC gods. From the Jersey Boys opening to a number from Hamilton as well as performances from new shows like Jagged Little Pill, interviews with our stars like Rob McClure, a peek into the process of making a show, and more . . . this show did its job. It was a rest stop on this long highway of getting Broadway back up and running again. Now, NBC, what do we have to do to convince you to do this event next year??? (You can watch the special here on demand.)
So, I put it on the list. You can see the inspiring and action-initiating talks here.
Oh, and yes, we are doing it again next year. We already have a theme! Ready? It’s . . . “Places, please.” 🙂 Learn more here.
Ok, let’s be honest. Producers and Theaters are still figuring out how they are going to do theater THIS coming summer! And yet Berkshire Theater Group and it’s formidable leader, Kate Maguire, pulled it off LAST summer!
Godspell was the first production in the country to receive approval for production by Actors Equity . . . and even though the show had to pivot 147 times (including a last-minute change to present it outside), they pulled it off. And they got multiple NY Times articles as a result! While press attention wasn’t the goal, it did prove again that figuring out how to do something when no one else can, can get you a lot of attention. Luckily, because of the leadership of Ms. Maguire, that attention was all positive.
Boy did I need something to distract me from CNN today. You?
When I need some misdirection from something that is causing me a lot of anxiety, I play “Fantasy Broadway.” I put myself in the hypothetical chair of a decision-maker on Broadway . . . a Producer, a Theater Owner, a Director or any kind of TheaterMaker . . . and then I put myself in a tough situation . . . and I ask myself, “What would I do?”
I’ve played this game for Tony Award campaigns (how would I convince voters to pick my show?), staffing questions (what designers do I think are best for this project?), and more.
Here’s what I toyed with today:
One of the things I am grateful for is that I didn’t have any shows running on Broadway when the covid-curtain came down. (The four musicals that I have teed up- Broadway Vacation, Joy, The Neil Diamond Musical and Harmony- were just about to go into the workshop phase.) So I asked myself, “If I did have a show running on Broadway, what would I do to keep that show top of mind before our return?”
I came up with a bunch of stuff, but here’s the one I liked the most.
I’d put it on sale.
“But how, Ken? If you don’t know when Broadway is coming back, how would you know when to put the show back on sale?”
Let me be more specific.
I’d put ONE performance on sale. And that performance wouldn’t have an exact date attached. But it would be a guaranteed ticket to the VERY FIRST PERFORMANCE back. 🙂
See, at a time when so many things are unknown (including who will be our next President – although that seems to be relatively clear to everyone except ONE person), there is one certainty in my book . . .
When we’re given the “all clear” and Broadway reopens again? The very first time a curtain is raised on a show is going to be one of the most magical nights in the theater . . . EVER.
Just imagine for a moment . . .you’re sitting in the audience of your favorite musical. The house lights go out . . . the orchestra strikes up . . . the curtain rises and an actor appears. And then she sings . . .
I mean, people are going to go ballistic!!!!
It’s going to be historic. And fans are going to want to be a part of that incredible, sob-inducing, standing-ovation-that-may-last-an-hour, moment. They’re going to want to be a part of it so badly, that they’d buy a ticket for it now. Even without knowing exactly when it is!
Don’t you think?
And if you don’t think . . . tell me below why. And then YOU PLAY THE GAME! Come up with your own way that you’d keep your audience talking about your show while Broadway is shutdown and put it in the comments!
And then you can go back to watching CNN.
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Marketing is going to change in the post-pandemic world. That’s why we have a marketing panel at the TheaterMakers Summit, which starts in just SEVEN DAYS! Get your ticket here and see some of the 100 (!) speakers we have ready to help you in your theatrical pursuits. Click here and join us now.