Partnership Marketing: Met Season Opener Brings Opera to the People

“Opera is the ultimate art form. It has singing and music and drama and dance and emotion and story.”

— Diane Paulus

Though Diane Paulus makes a great point, the majority of the population rarely gets to experience opera. The epic art form often remains out of reach, a night at the opera evoking the gilded privilege of the few. But, to quote Diane Paulus again, “I don’t want art to exist in a bubble,” – and neither does the Met.

The Metropolitan Opera House is kicking off its 2023-24 season opener with a FREE live transmission (in partnership with the Times Square Alliance) of Jake Heggie’s “Dead Man Walking” on multiple screens in Times Square. There will be 2,000 seats available on a first-come, first-served basis, and theatreMAMA’s Met Opera Brand Ambassadors will be there to assist guests! 

Content Advisory: “Dead Man Walking”  contains a depiction of a rape and murder, as well as other adult themes and strong language.

To open the Met Opera’s new season with as much drama as, well, an opera, our Brand Ambassadors will activate all day on Tuesday, Sept. 26  throughout Manhattan. The Met Opera city takeover will feature 12 experiential Ambassadors who will evoke the creative spirit of the iconic opera house while spreading excitement about the Met’s new season across the community.

Partnering with the Met Opera to amplify the start of their 2023-24 season is a way to bring opera directly to the people. Did you know that this year’s event continues a 17 year-tradition of the Met live streaming their season opener? This initiative is an incredible way to break down the barriers that prevent people from experiencing the opera. Everyone should be afforded the opportunity to enjoy this grand art form, and theatreMAMA will make sure that evreryone in the city knows they can attend this event! The Met will even be offering a free audio stream of the performance for those who can’t make it to Times Square.

Photo Credit: The Metropolitan Opera

“Dead Man Walking” is the most performed modern opera of the last 20 years. The show is based on a memoir by Sister Helen Prejean that details her fight for the soul of a condemned murderer. Produced by Ivo van Hove and featuring mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato starring as Sister Helen, bass-baritone Ryan McKinny as the death-row inmate Joseph De Rocher, soprano Latonia Moore as Sister Rose and mezzo-soprano Susan Graham as De Rocher’s mother, “Dead Man Walking” is sure to be a thrilling season opener.

Opera can – and should – be accessible to everyone. By continuing to honor the tradition of live streaming their season opener, the Met is building a bridge from the opera house to the people. 

Hoping to catch another one of Met’s masterpieces this season? Tickets start as low as $25 AND  free audio broadcasts of the 2023-24 season will be available throughout the year on select Saturday afternoons.  So …  what are we waiting for? Let’s go to the opera!

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“Dead Man Walking” Live Stream iNFORMATION

What: “Dead Man Walking” Live Met Opera Transmission
When: Tues. Sept. 26, 2023 @ 6:30 p.m. (House opens at 5:30 p.m. and the pre-show live stream begins at 6 p.m.)
Where: Duffy Square and the Broadway Plazas, between 43rd & 44th Streets and 46th & 47th Streets
Content Advisory: “Dead Man Walking” contains a depiction of a rape and murder, as well as other adult themes and strong language.
Additional Info: “Dead Man Walking” is sung in English and is approximately 3 hours including a 30 minute intermission. This event is free and open to the public.

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Experiential Marketing: Antidote To The Loneliness Epidemic?

Cirque du Soleil’s 'Drawn To Life' Street Team Hits the Green at 33rd Annual Walt Disney World Participant Association Charity Golf Tournament!

theatreMAMA’s ‘Drawn To Life’ Street Team members pose with WDWPA Charity Golf Tournament participants.
Image courtesy of: Corporate Visual Services

What happens when a couple of ‘Drawn To Life’ Street Team members hit the links at a Walt Disney World Participant Association (WDWPA) Charity Golf Tournament? A hole in FUN!

A few weeks ago, the WDWPA hosted their 33rd annual charity golf tournament at the Magnolia Golf Course inside Walt Disney World® Resort. Sponsors included Cirque du Soleil + Disney ‘Drawn To Life,’ Hewlett Packard, Owner’s Locker, Rainforest Cafe and Ricoh. Professional photography was provided by Corporate Visual Services. 

Our experiential Street Team, costumed as giant pencils inspired by Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Drawn To Life,’ colorfully welcomed attendees and cheered them on as they teed off for charity. Our team even took to the course themselves, though their version of an ace included juggling golf balls and asking guests silly interview questions with their very own (completely non-functional) ‘Drawn To Life’ microphone. 

Image courtesy of: Corporate Visual Services

Image courtesy of: Corporate Visual Services

Image courtesy of: Corporate Visual Services

Image courtesy of: Corporate Visual Services

Image courtesy of: Corporate Visual Services

Our ‘Drawn To Life’ Street Team created an unforgettable experience for tournament attendees and brought a little bit of Cirque magic to the golf course. Thanks for having us, WDWPA!

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Hoping to catch this incredible show? Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Drawn To Life’ is offering a limited time ‘Sizzling Summer Savings’ discount until Sept. 22!  (Details below.)

Offer is valid for purchases through September 22, 2023 for performances of ‘Drawn To Life’ from June 23, 2023 to September 30, 2023. Valid for seat categories 1, 2, 3, and 4. Limit eight tickets per transaction and per Guest. Offer is available on both Adult (Age 10+) and Child (Ages 3-9) priced tickets. Children 2 and under are free provided they sit on their parent’s lap. Tickets may be purchased online at https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/drawn-to-life, or at the Drawn to Life Box Office at Disney Springs located at Walt Disney World® Resort by mentioning the Sizzling Summer Savings Offer.

theatreMAMA’s Brand Ambassadors at Times Square Tribeca Screening of Waitress

Last night was sugar, butter, FANTASTIC! Our Waitress Street Team went to Times Square for the TSX live Tribeca Film Festival simulcast screening of Waitress – Live On Broadway!

The event marked the first-ever Tribeca Film Festival screening in Times Square. The Times Square viewing of Waitress – Live On Broadway! was open to the public with 300 seats available on a first come, first served basis.

theatreMAMA’s Experiential Brand Ambassadors were at the event to ensure a sweet-as-pie experience for all attendees. Dressed in Waitress aprons and outfits inspired by the Broadway show, our team helped the public download the TSX app so patrons could hear the film’s audio as it was screened on TSX Entertainment’s 18,000-square-foot digital screen in the middle of Times Square. Our Brand Ambassadors also assisted in answering questions about the event, chatting with fans, posing for photos and hyping up the crowd – they even got the audience to do the wave!

Credit: Times Square NYC

Credit: theatreMAMA

The excitement and anticipation for the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Waitress – Live On Broadway! was palpable. Fans wore Waitress-branded attire and didn’t hesitate to cheer “Sugar, butter, flour!” along with our Brand Ambassadors as they opened up the seating area. Many came prepared with rain gear and event organizers even provided a free poncho at every seat in case of inclement weather. It started raining about 20 minutes into the screening, but that barely deterred Waitress fans who diligently put on their rain gear and stayed until the end of the event.

theatreMAMA had the sweetest time assisting with the TSX Times Square viewing of the Tribeca premiere of Waitress – Live On Broadway! What an honor it was to represent this beautiful show again and to be present at this historic screening event.

theatreMAMA’s Waitress — Live On Broadway! Brand Ambassadors posing for a photo with Waitress fans.

There is still time to catch Waitress – Live On Broadway! starring Sara Bareillis, Charity Angél Dawson, Caitlin Houlahan, Drew Gehling, Dakin Matthews, Eric Anderson, Joe Tippett and Christopher Fitzgerald. Additional Tribeca Film Festival screenings include:

• Thu June 15 - 2:30 PM 
  Village East by Angelika
  RUSH

• Sun June 18 - 5:30 PM 
  SVA Theatre

Order Up! Catch MAMA at Waitress Tribeca Film Premiere in Times Square

The Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Waitress, the Musical – Live on Broadway! will screen at 7:30 p.m tonight, Monday, June 12, at both the BMCC Theatre and in Times Square via TSX Entertainment’s 18,000-square-foot digital screen.

With a little help from the TSX app, the public will be able to watch Waitress, the Musical – Live on Broadway! in the middle of Times Square on the corner of 47th street and 7th avenue. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., attendees can claim one of the 300 available seats on a first come, first served basis. Brand Ambassadors from theatreMAMA will be there (dressed in our best Waitress-inspired attire) to help film-goers download the TSX app which will broadcast the film’s audio. In lieu of competing with the notorious noise pollution in Times Square, attendees will access the audio for Waitress, the Musical – Live on Broadway! from their own headphones and personal devices via the TSX app. 

The Times Square screening of Waitress, the Musical – Live on Broadway! marks the first-ever viewing of a Tribeca Film Festival feature in Times Square. Times Square attendees will view a live broadcast from the festival premiere that will include Sara Bareillis introducing the film and a live performance from the grammy-winning artist immediately following the screening.

Waitress, the Musical – Live on Broadway! captures the 2021 return engagement of Waitress, the Musical on Broadway and stars Sara Bareillis, Charity Angél Dawson, Caitlin Houlahan, Drew Gehling, Dakin Matthews, Eric Anderson, Joe Tippett and Christopher Fitzgerald. 

Our Waitress Street Team can’t wait to visit the diner once again! We’ve truly missed bringing a bit of Waitress to the patrons of Times Square after wrapping our Experiential Marketing campaign when the show closed on Broadway. We are ready to help make tonight’s premiere of Waitress, the Musical – Live on Broadway! as sweet as Jenna’s “deep dish blueberry bacon” pie! 

Tips for attending Waitress, the Musical – Live on Broadway! in Times Square:

• Arrive early to get seats. Attendees can arrive up to an hour prior to the 7:30 p.m. screening.

• This outdoor event is rain or shine. Please prepare for the possibility of inclement weather.

• Bring your phone and headphones so that you are able to access the film's audio via the TSX app.

•  Be sure to fully charge your phone so you can download the TSX app and access the audio for “Waitress, the Musical – Live on Broadway!” uninterrupted. 

• If you need help downloading the TSX app, find one of our Waitress Brand Ambassadors! We will be the team dressed in Waitress aprons and ready to assist you! 

If Sundance and SXSW Are Any Indication, 2023 IS The Year of Experiential Marketing

Though the past few years have been defined by a pandemic-necessitated pivot to virtual events, this year, event-attendees and companies alike seem to be craving in-person experiences. With our work in Experiential Marketing, we get it. There’s nothing better than meaningful, shared experiences – especially now that we can gather safely. Three years after the pandemic shutdown, we have truly understood what it means to be without live experiences, socially isolated and craving connection. That trial revealed to us just how important and impactful Experiential Marketing is.

We are only at the beginning of 2023, and two major festivals – Sundance Film Festival and South by Southwest (SXSW) –  have signaled a big, bold return of Experiential Marketing this year. Both festivals featured extensive immersive experiences and brand activations.

“We’re not really seeing a lot of engagement around hybrid or purely online [activations]. We have a handful of partners who are doing that but the biggest and most obvious thing we’ve seen is this roar to be back on the mountain and this excitement to be engaging in-person again.”

—Mary Sadeghy, head of partnerships and co-director of advancement, Sundance Institute, in an interview with Digiday.

At Sundance, there were 122 brands that came to Park City, Utah and 18 event marketing partnerships that set up activations along Main Street. Activations included classes, panels, parties, beverage stations and numerous other experiences for Sundance attendees.

The same approach was seen last week at SXSW in Austin, Texas. A great deal of brands created experiential activations throughout the festival, but the most exciting trend this year was the innovation of (ridiculously cool) brand houses. Lush, ParamountPlus, Planned Parenthood, Prime and Roku created interactive brand houses for the festival, each a unique and elaborate physical manifestation of the brands.

Hats off to the agencies and brands creating new experiences for all of us to enjoy! Innovation in Experiential Marketing is one of the most exciting aspects of this industry. theatreMAMA has been pushing the boundaries of brand marketing for almost 20 years and we have loved every second of it! Reflecting on past campaigns, and the imagination invoked by them, we are thrilled to continue innovating as we move forward, with gratitude, into a year defined by connection, shared experiences and Experiential marketing. 

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Queen to Queen: A Post-Show Event at Chicago’s Ambassador Theatre

Two members of our Chicago Dance Mob pose under Jinkx Monsoon’s Chicago poster outside the Ambassador theatre.

Yes. You read that correctly. Jinkx Monsoon and Kristin Chenoweth will unite their queendoms in Queen to Queen, a one-night-only, post-show concert event on Friday,  March 17th at The Ambassador Theater. 

Monsoon, Broadway’s newest queen who made their historic debut this year as the first drag queen to portray Matron “Mama” Morton in Chicago, and Chenoweth, long-reigning Broadway royalty, will share the stage for the first time in a “jazzy” event following the March 17th performance of Chicago The Musical. Access to the event will be granted to all ticket holders who attend the 8pm show that evening.

Use promo code: GOODTOMAMA to save up to $50 on Chicago tickets

We couldn't be more jazzed about this dazzling duo! Don’t miss out on this royal union – get your tickets now! Use Code: GOODTOMAMA to save on tickets.

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