From the New York Times calling Twitter at the theater the “unsavory confluence of social media and the arts” to the St. Louis Shakespeare Theater’s artistic director calling “tweet seats” a “national trend,” the use of social media during performing arts is a hot topic in arts communities around the country, inciting passions on both sides of the social media fence.
Falcon Theater, long known for its edgy, quirky musicals and appreciation for the classics, has decided to jump into the fray head-first by initiating a Social Media Section during the run of THE 39 STEPS, February 10-25 at Monmouth Theater in Newport, Kentucky. Inspired by the feedback they’d received– often surreptitiously during the show, or at intermission– from past partnerships with social media savvy patrons, including local bloggers, Twitter users and Yelp Elites, Artistic Director Ted Weil and Director of Marketing Julie Niesen Gosdin thought that there had to be a way to incorporate this phenomenon in a more organized way. After participating in a divided, if enthusiastic, conversation about the idea of “tweet seats” with other arts supporters on Facebook and in person, Weil and Niesen Gosdin realized that their upcoming show, THE 39 STEPS, would be a great test for this controversial way of interacting with the audience.
Patrons in the Social Media Section– the back two rows of the theater– will be provided with discounted tickets, a hashtag, and the freedom to Facebook, Tweet and Instagram their way through the Hitchcockian farce. “We realize that not everyone is on Twitter or Facebook, but we find the feedback that we receive from those who are to be very valuable and constructive,” says Niesen Gosdin. “Not every show is suited for live social media, but a show like THE 39 STEPS, a fast-paced farce, is ripe for patrons to comment on Twitter, Facebook, or even to share photos on Flickr or Instagram.”
Instead of a Smartphone free-for-all, Falcon is instituting some guidelines. First, those who anticipate using their Smartphones for social interaction during the show are asked to sit in the back of the 85-person theater (each seat marked with a special logo), so as not to distract patrons with the glow of their devices. They’re asked to turn ringers off and brightness down, and anything they post to social media outlets should be hashtagged #Falcon39Steps.
Directions for liking Falcon on Facebook and following Falcon on Twitter will be available at the front of the house, as well as in the program. In exchange, participants in this program get discounted seats– normally $15-17, if you’re in the Social Media Section. “We realize that our theater is intimate, and that many of our patrons prefer to sit back and enjoy the show without any interaction,” says Niesen Gosdin. “We want to be sure to be respectful of all of our patrons, whether they want to interact online or not.”
For interview opportunities, please contact Julie Niesen Gosdin at 513.560.3419 or julie.niesen@gmail.com. To follow Falcon on social media outlets, find them at @FalconTheatre, https://www.facebook.com/falcontheater. To follow live tweets from THE 39 STEPS, search for #Falcon39Steps on Twitter or Google.
About THE 39 STEPS:
Adapted from the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film, which was based on on John Buchanan’s novel, THE 39 STEPS takes iconic scenes– the train chase, the Palladium– and recreates them with the power of four talented actors.
Director Alecia Lewkowich has assembled a talented cast, many of whom are familiar to Falcon patrons: Falcon veteran actor and director Dan Doerger (The Rocky Horror Show, Debbie Does Dallas, Hair, Down The Road) takes the role of Hannay, the unwitting victim of circumstance who find himself wrapped up in a world of intrigue and deception. Elizabeth Molloy, a familiar face at the Covedale Center for the Performing Arts and others, makes her Falcon debut taking on all three female roles for this show. Sharing all the other roles in the play are Mike Hall and Donnie McGovern who between them play 40 other roles.
THE 39 STEPS runs Fridays and Saturdays, February 10-25, 2012 at 8 p.m. at the Monmouth Theater, 636 Monmouth Street in Newport, Kentucky. Tickets ($17, $15 for students) may be purchased by calling 513.479.6783 or by visiting http://www.falcontheater.net.
About Falcon Theater:
Falcon Theater, started in 1989 by David Radtke and Ted Weil, has been presenting quirky, off-beat productions (and tried-and-true classics) for over 20 years. Recent productions include Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical, Evil Dead: The Musical, The Elephant Man and Fully Committed. Falcon is supported by grants from Artswave, the Purdy Foundation, and their 2011-2012 Season Sponsor is Yelp.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 