BWW Blog: How Twitter Has Become the New Stage Door

Go back to the time you saw your first Broadway, Off-Broadway, tour, regional, or whatever show. You have had a smile on your face since the first sound from the orchestra pit that cued the curtain to rise. By intermission, you are just in awe and may even have a tear in your eye. You just can't believe you are here, right now, in this moment.

Then, the curtain falls. It's over. But, you probably didn't see the curtain fall because you were running to what? The stage door. The one place you have a 99.9% chance of meeting everyone that was on stage in front of you just moments before. You'll get to engage in a five-second conversation, get your Playbill signed, and take a selfie. You're rubbing shoulders with stars! A moment you'll never forget.

Now, if you're like me, you didn't get to experience this magical time until an older age. I saw my first Broadway show last year, at 21-years-old. I saw NEWSIES on August 6, 2014, 18 days before it closed (and yes like any other fansie I'm still sort of bitter that it closed, but let's get back to the point). But something kept me feeling like I knew who these people were at the stage door before I actually got to meet them in person.

And it's all thanks to what? Twitter.

Twitter was on fire on Sunday before, during, and after the Tony Awards between stars, shows, and fans tweeting about their favorites! (Check out BroadwayWorld's Twitter Roundup here to see highlights!) During this year's inaugural live stream of the Tony Awards Red Carpet, Broadway actress, producer, and social media queen Randi Zuckerberg during an interview with IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU'S Sierra Boggess said one of the truest statements of social media I've heard. She mentioned that Twitter has become the new stage door. Getting that favorite or "at reply" from your favorite star or show is almost like meeting them in person.

And I completely agree. It was such a joy getting a favorite when I would tweet about a show's win during last night's Tony Awards, and I felt on top of the world if I got a reply! And, let's be honest, don't we get that same feeling when we make a five-second connection with our favorites at the stage door?

So, to those who run the social media accounts of Broadway shows, and also to the stars, please know how valuable Twitter is to the fans. It really has become the online stage door. The ability for fans to connect and interact with a New York City show from wherever they live is amazing. And with the introduction of Periscope, fans can watch these events happen in video rather than just 140 characters.

Thanks for helping and continuing for breaking down that wall, or rather, the door.

Check out Sierra's interview with Randi during the Tony Awards Red Carpet below!