Missing Broadway.com’s Long-form Media Coverage

[SondheimTesori]

Posted: 3/29/23 at 4:22pm

I’ve recently been ruminating about how much I miss some of the longer interviews, backstage videos, and conversations from Broadway.com. It feels like with the creation of the Broadway Show and the organizational changes,  they’ve started  creating much shorter bite-sized content generally.  Now I know people have complex feelings about their coverage in general, but Broadway.com’s interviews is a huge part of what made me fall in love with the theater and learn more about those who make it.

And while their bend of presentation has always been more accessible and obviously in coordination with the website’s ticket-selling goals, I think there is something beautiful about Wontorek’s goal to treat theater artists as stars!!! I think it granted a level of interest and legitimacy to performers who are usually given the short-shift by other media.

I feel like you can see this trend elsewhere with more high-brow offerings as well. I so miss Downstage center and the working in the theater panels from the American Theater wing as well. Obviously the media landscape is evolving and content is too, but I think is genuine importance in substantive and varied coverage of this precarious industry. 

Updated On: 3/29/23 at 04:22 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/29/23 at 4:29pm

I think the format has just changed. On the homepage right now, there's a 10-min interview with Jeanine Tesori & David Lindsay Abaire, and an 8-minute interview with Andrew Burnap. And they probably realized that some of the things were either a waste of money/not driving tickets, better served by social media (i.e. giving someone a camera to film backstage).

[BwayinVan]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 3:07am

I was just thinking this the other day. I really enjoyed the 8 wk vlogs they used to do. It seems like the last one was Six which was before Covid. You really got a good look behind the scenes. For me those vlogs got me interested in shows and actors I wouldn’t have normally known about. Here’s hoping they come back. 

[seaweedjstubbs]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 9:04am

I miss it as well. The Broadway Show is too polished and kinda boring. We never would’ve gotten Lillias White’s iconic CATS rant on The Broadway Show. I also loved “Side By Side with Susan Blackwell” and some of the more comedic stuff that was just more silly and fun. I haven’t really seen any equivalent to those types of segments on social media yet.

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 9:32am

BwayinVan said: "I was just thinking this the other day. I really enjoyed the 8 wk vlogs they used to do. It seems like the last one was Six which was before Covid. You really got a good look behind the scenes. For me those vlogs got me interested in shows and actors I wouldn’t have normally known about. Here’s hoping they come back."

I was gonna say the same thing. Those vlogs cheered me up every week pre-pandemic! I hope someone on here is able to tell Paul Wonterek that we want those show vlogs back! I can already picture Bonnie Mulligan doing one for Kimberly Akimbo!!!

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 9:50am

I agree with the OP. Can we talk about the best thing Broadway.com ever did?

The Jackie Hoffman Addams Family Vlog Series, which got more than the usual 8 episodes (I believe she did 23). 

Not Broadway.com, but Seth's Chatterbox videos I miss dearly! The Jackie Hoffman (can you tell I'm a fan) and Mary Testa interview was the best hour on the internet when you could still find it. 

 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 12:17pm

That Jackie Hoffman blog series was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen on that site. Sherie Rene Scott’s Ursula interview comes close second.

I hope they eventually get back into the long form videos because they really were fascinating and fun. Great marketing strategy and way to keep people engaged. 

Honorable mention to the late, great Carole Shelley saying in a Wicked backstage tour from ‘05, “if you look in the mirror there you can see the boys changing, that’s what I like to do…”

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 12:25pm

"faaaaan maaaiiillll"

never forget Jackie Hoffman showing the Follies marquee at the Marquis across the street from the dressing room and being like "ah, a show I would actually enjoy being in." Maybe the producers didn't love that content, but I sure did!

Also love the longform "documentaries" they did for the revival of SIDE SHOW, and the multi-week series on bringing TALE OF TWO CITIES (lol) to Broadway.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 12:48pm

Wasn’t it through Jackie Hoffman’s vlog that it was revealed Jerry Zaks was actually the director of the show?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 2:33pm

Call_me_jorge said: "Wasn’t it through Jackie Hoffman’s vlog that it was revealed Jerry Zaks was actually the director of the show?"

No, Michael Riedel and other media confirmed that Zaks came on after Chicago and essentially re-directed the whole thing to prevent Nathan from walking (and he was billed as "creative consultant". But she was further confirmation.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 2:39pm

The vlogs are such fun historical references too. The fact they had Carolee Carmello do one for Scandalous that was supposed to be 8 weeks long but ended after 6 weeks because the show closed was always so funny to me, but it is kinda neat to have that first person perspective on film for one of the more recent legendary flops. 

[BossBroadway]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 3:06pm

Having these 8 week vlogs would be great for marketing. I can only imagine how fun the Bad Cinderella one would be. 

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 3:13pm

I miss side by side.  It was such great content. And Jackie Hoffmans Addams family vlog or Kyle Dean Masseys clogs

Another is ShowPeople which i would love to see this season with Lea Michele or Carolee Carmelo, Sweeney Todd or Parade. Or even just catch-ups with Bernadette Peters. Aaron Tveit. Cheyenne Jackson. Or Gavin Creel. 
 

I miss a less polished content. Because I agree the Broadway show is so boring

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 3:14pm

And it's not just the lack of Broadway.com, it's the lack of Theater Talk too. And, on certain days, Riedel's column.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 3:44pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "And it's not just the lack of Broadway.com, it's the lack of Theater Talk too. And, on certain days, Riedel's column."

You took the words right out of my mouth. I miss Theatre Talk so much. The Tony predictions, Tony after shows, and season previews with Michael Musto, Jesse Green, and Patrick Pacheco can still make me laugh all these years later.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 3:58pm

The episode of Theatre Talk with Joan Rivers on the panel has and will always be one of my favorite videos. I wish broadwaycom can make a separate channel for us theatre nerds that has all the intricate behind the scene videos and interviews.

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 5:15pm

I enjoyed the character studies

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 6:00pm

The Jackie Hoffman blogs are one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. The fan mail on the stolen chaise lounge?? Incredible.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 3/30/23 at 8:03pm

Oh God! I forgot about the chase lounge!!