BWW Blog: Kaci Pelias - Twitterin' in the Theatre

I wake up to sunlight streaming in my window and birds singing "Opening Up" from Waitress. There's a delightfully positive mood in the air that signals that something amazing is about to happen. I check my phone and...

"EDSkeggs liked your tweet"

I blink. I look again. I even scream (only a little). I'm enthused: my favorite actress and role model liked my Fun Home one-year-anniversary tweet. I also see that Fun Home actresses Beth Malone and Lauren Patten have done the same, which set the tone for the rest of my fantastic day.

This is the beautiful reality of Broadway. Because stage stars aren't as overwhelmingly famous as those in film (the exception being, of course, good ole Lin-Manuel), theatre geeks have more direct contact with the actors and shows they obsess over.

Most shows will have an official social media account on Twitter and Instagram, posting news about the show or footage of backstage shenanigans. This gives fanatics a look inside their favorite show, something that means a lot to those of us who live far away. Fans can feel a connection with 1) the show that they love, and 2) other people who love that show, forming a loving and coherent fandom.

Broadway stars also frequent social media, on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and the occasional Tumblr. Like film actors, fans feel as though they have a private look inside their favorite star's life. Social media also allows for a bit of connection between actors and fans, due to the more relaxed relationship between the two in the Broadway world (though it remains a fan-idol relationship). This connection could be as small as a "like" on Twitter, but which is still very important and meaningful. Sometimes we just need a little validation that we matter, and the thought that someone like Emily Skeggs thinking that we're important enough to warrant her appreciation is pretty cool.

XOXO,

K

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