Hashtags, anniversaries, and EGOT wins, oh my! 2018 has been a busy year on Broadway and social media has been there to capture it all through the immortality of the internet. Here are five Broadway moments when the social media spotlight shined on Broadway.
1. #Hamildrops
Lin-Manuel Miranda essentially shellacked a “Watch This Space” billboard on Twitter with the advent of his #Hamildrops. Each month, Hamilton fans received a "new" track from the musical's creator via his Twitter account—including cut Hamilton songs, music videos, and new musical arrangements. While technically the series kicked off in December 2017 with "Ben Franklin's Song" from Miranda and The Decemberists, the impact of the Hamildrops passionately smashed every expectation each month of 2018—up to and including the December 20 final #Hamildrop featuring (mic drop) former U.S. President Barack Obama. Before that, fans across musical genres clamored for the variety of artists who collaborated with Miranda—from Ben Platt to Ibeyi to Weird Al Yankovic.
Want to listen to all 13 #Hamildrops? Playbill has a Twitter thread for that:
A #thread for when you want to listen to all of @Lin_Manuel's #Hamildrop tracks �� �� pic.twitter.com/TKcs5dqt25
— Playbill (@playbill) May 31, 2018
2. #BeltTheVote
The theatre community is one of activism. For this year’s Midterm Election, Broadway performers raised their voices to #BeltTheVote! Led by Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon, Hamilton), superstars like Sara Bareilles, Joshua Henry, George Salazar, Andrew Rannells, and more teamed up to ensure people across the country were registered to vote. When Election Day came, performers flaunting their “I Voted” stickers and encouraging engagement with civic duty filled our newsfeeds.
This November let’s #BeltTheVote! @BCEFA and @WhenWeAllVote are teaming up to make sure the theater community is registered to vote. Learn more at https://t.co/08d8ULcdeA and find out how to get your theater or school involved in @BeltTheVote!! pic.twitter.com/pCKOz3KCW4
— Rory O’Malley (@RoryOMalley) September 6, 2018
Not a stitch of make up, haven’t combed my hair and yet I look fantastic. @BeltTheVote #BeltTheVote #VoteInYourMix #HeadVoiceVoting pic.twitter.com/tQmUto6ABq
— Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) November 6, 2018
3. Live-Tweeting Live Broadcasts
What’s the most swankified place in town? For NBC's live concert events, it was Broadway Twitter. With NBC's broadcasts of Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert and A Very Wicked Halloween, Twitter buzzed with the commentary and celebration of Broadway fans. Viewers from all around the country tuned in to the broadcasts on their televisions, but the action was two-pronged because fans (including Lin-Manuel Miranda) tuned into Twitter for in-the-moment conversation and observations. The Twitter experience has become a singular one, reserved only for live musical broadcasts, leaning away from the more traditionally quiet live theatre experience.
That was not a concert. That's live theater, every night. #JesusChristSuperstar #JCSlive
— Sam Nagel (@sammynaynay) April 2, 2018
�������������������� Women as some of the 12 apostles. YES! #JesusChristSuperstarLive #Jesuschristsuperstar #JCSTheMusical #JCSLive
— Renee Grassi (@MissReneeDomain) April 2, 2018
Is this the best Sara Bareilles’ voice has EVER sounded or is it just me falling hard for Mary Magdalene? #JCSLive
— ����Kyle Kringle���� (@KyleLauren) April 2, 2018
Look at us all, watching a musical together.
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 2, 2018
What a joy.
Thanks @OfficialALW. Thanks @SirTimRice
You're KILLING it, @BrandonVDixon @SaraBareilles @johnlegend @MistterJin @normlewis777 @JasonWTam and EVERYBODY!
READ: The 7 Best Things About Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert
