I'm thrilled to announce that in conjunction with the production opening November 9 on Broadway, I'm giving away two tickets to a performance of this new show.
First, you'll need to subscribe to Steve On Broadway (SOB) (don't worry, the subscription is free and you may cancel at any time). By subscribing, you'll be providing your preferred email address so I may notify you directly if you're the lucky winner. To subscribe, all you need to do is input your email here and hit "subscribe me":
Second, you must follow Steve On Broadway on Twitter by going here and then retweeting one of my contest messages. (If you're not on Twitter already, sign up today - it's quick, easy and free.)
Finally, you'll need to follow Steve On Broadway via Facebook by clicking here and clicking "Follow." (If you're already not on Facebook, sign up today - again, it's quick, easy and free.)
Complete all three steps by Sunday, November 14 (midnight EST), and you'll automatically be entered in the SOB Contest for two free tickets to see The Pee-Wee Herman Show live on Broadway. Please note that tickets are for weeknight performances only.
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post. However, in conjunction with SpotCo, two tickets for The Pee-Wee Herman Show will be given away to one lucky reader.
If you live around the Big Apple and you've seen a certain dapper dude sporting a gray suit, red bow tie and white loafers all over town during the past couple weeks, chances are you've spotted a loner, Dottie, a rebel. You've seen the resurgent Paul Reubens as his alter-ego Pee-wee Herman.
The fact he's been all around Manhattan proves he's no fool. No, he's one of the savviest marketers to hit the Great White Way in a long time.
In addition to clearly having fun, whether it's riding the subway or visiting some of New York's neighborhoods and restaurants, he's not only spreading immense joy, but ingeniously spreading the news about The Pee-Wee Herman Show that begins previews on October 26 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. Proving he's a master of social networking, he even chronicled his tracks over Manhattan via FourSquare.
Personally, I've been astounded by how well he's utilizing social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Even though his ever-adoring fan-base had largely been dormant for years, he's attracted 258,861 fans via Facebook (as of this writing) and counts 600,323 followers on Twitter. Plus, he's mobilizing them to buy tickets.
Reubens has also succeeded in encouraging his fans to visit Steve On Broadway (SOB). Recently, I conducted a poll to find out the new Broadway show beginning this month that you most wanted to see. While Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown held an early lead over The Scottsboro Boys, once Pee-wee tweeted and wrote about it on his Facebook page, the contest was over. Even after I reached out to each of the other shows recommending they follow Pee-wee's lead in engaging their audiences just to make it fair, no show came close to The Pee-Wee Herman Show, which logged a whopping 63.7% of the votes out of 857 cast.
Some people know how to work a room. Pee-wee Herman knows how to work a city and network socially. Will his genius translate at the box office? I'm betting it will. I already have my ticket and can't wait to see his show.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
SOB's Theatrical Firsts Of The Noughties: My First Blog And Bloggers Meet-Up
Over the course of the last decade, I’ve been truly fortunate to enjoy a number of enlightening firsts in my personal theatergoing that have only served to increase my deep and abiding love for the art form known as live theatre. What follows is one of my ten favorite experiences of the last ten years.
In April 2006, I began Steve On Broadway (SOB), not because I work in the theatre, but because I am deeply passionate about it.
While the silence at first was deafening as I wondered who on earth could ever possibly find little old me, let alone want to, I was surprised as the hits started coming and a dialogue was formed with you, my dear readers, along with a growing contingent of other bloggers who are fellow theatre enthusiasts.
Initially, I had no idea how many of us there were. And to be perfectly honest, I’m still not exactly certain as so many come and go, while others are clearly here for the long haul.
It wasn’t until March 2008 that my dialogue with my fellow bloggers leapt to the next level. Thanks to the coordination of my dear "sister" Esther at Gratuitous Violins, a blog she created only after I urged her to turn her comments she left on my site into postings she could claim as her own, I finally came face to face with a wide swath of these men and women by virtue of our first-ever bloggers brunch.
Ever since that time, I’ve been proud to meet an ever-growing online community of true theatre aficionados. Early this year, one of them, my friend dear Jan of Broadway & Me broached the subject of organizing this coterie of theatre bloggers into something more. She suggested organizing a theatre bloggers association. While it would take producer Ken Davenport to make Jan’s inspired dream a reality, the fact is there are now 40 theatre bloggers who comprise the Independent Theatre Bloggers Association (ITBA), and I am very pleased to be a member of this fledgling organization.
It's been such an honor meeting these individuals who reside in such far-flung places as London, Chicago, Providence, Boston, Minneapolis and of course New York City. To have forged some strong friendships with many of them has been icing on the cake.
As the world of social networking continues to evolve, I realized earlier this year that it was time to adapt Steve On Broadway for Twitter and Facebook. As someone who had previously scoffed at the notion of using Twitter, I’ve come to depend on it for learning so much of my news. In a very short period of time, I’ve become quite proficient at micro-blogging, and both it and Facebook have enabled me to reach an even greater audience.
If you’ve read this far, I want you to know how much I appreciate your having taken the time to read SOB. I thank you for being part of my online audience, which now includes members of the broad theatre communities throughout the United States as well as in such far-flung places ranging from Australia to the United Kingdom.
Just as I am deeply humbled by the friendship so many of you have given to me, just an average theatre fan, I am also grateful for your support. What ostensibly started out as something I did just for my own personal enjoyment has transformed itself into a part of a larger dialogue among like minds.
Thank you for joining me on my theatrical journeys. Here's to many, many more over the next decade.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles Limited run extended through May 31, 2011 (Show will go on hiatus starting January 15 and reopen at Brooks Atkinson Theatre on February 8)
Rock Of Ages - Open-ended run (Show will go on hiatus starting January 9 and reopen at Helen Hayes Theatre in March)
As someone who has been involved in both politics and public relations, it's no wonder I love watching theatre. Good or bad, it's the raw energy of seeing a live performance that gets my adrenaline pumping. From the moment I saw my very first Broadway show ("Annie" in London in 1979), I was hooked. Now I see as many as 70 shows each year ranging from soaring musicals to two-hander plays. And these eyes just may be in an audience near you!
