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.
Remember how just last week, I described how enigmatically Ellingseemed to be marketing itself? Well, the puzzle pieces are falling into place and not a moment too soon. After all, the play begins Broadway previews this evening.
Not only has Elling wisely begun engaging audiences via its website, Facebook and Twitter, but you may now add to those its presence on YouTube. There, you'll not only find the first real preview discussion of what Elling is about (see above video), but also two television commercials for the comedy (see below).
To be honest, the commercials don't do it for me, but I found myself intrigued by the video preview.
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.
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.
If you've clicked onto this particular story thinking you're going to get a review on that brand new film out this weekend, think again.
Sorry. But stick around and continue reading anyway.
Instead of a movie review, I've learned about another new social network. This one is intended as a social media platform that caters to live theatre audiences, while cultivating new ones. Together, the Alliance of Resident Theatres (ART)/New York and TheaterMania.com have launched the New York Theatre Network (NYTN), which officially launches on September 28, but is already live.
According to media materials provided to me, NYTN will serve as a "multi-prong theatre hub" used as:
An information source, an event site, and a home for social networking, dedicated to deepening the engagement between artists and audiences in the theatre capital of the world.
Think of a compendium of the New York theatre offerings beyond Broadway. True to the mission of ART/New York, NYTN is filled with information about plays, musicals and venues comprising some of the nearly 300 members of ART/New York's Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway community.
To reach those potential audiences that contemplate life beyond Broadway:
NYTN is unique in that it puts both the larger theatre with a sizable advertising budget and the smallest theatre with no advertising budget on a level playing field. As the “MenuPages” of the theatre world, NYTN allows users to browse in multiple ways -- satisfying every appetite. NYTN also allows fans and member theatres to deepen their relationship by interacting through open discussion boards that can be created by the theatre company or the fans. NYTN’s social networking function allows users to see what their friends are sharing and liking and then makes recommendations to users based on their own preferences as well as their friends’. Additionally, users can view videos associated with the shows and purchase tickets to shows through the site.
Personally, some of the best shows I've seen in New York City over the past few years have been those out of the Broadway spotlight. It's encouraging to see an opportunity for those offerings to reach new audiences.
I applaud the combined efforts of ART/New York and Theatermania.com to harness the power of social networking to -- as ART/New York Executive Director Virginia Louloudes has so eloquently stated -- "Bring live theatre back into popular culture ... and demonstrate that theatres are affordable and accessible to everyone."
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!
