CELEBRATING A BANNER YEAR FOR EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING: 2023 YEAR IN REVIEW

Happy New Year! 2023 has officially come to a close, and what a banner year it was!

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As we reflect on the past year, we can’t help but become overwhelmed with gratitude for all of the incredible opportunities 2023 brought to thetareMAMA. Back in March, we published a blog post titled, “If Sundance and SXSW are any Indication, 2023 is the Year of Experiential Marketing,” — we are over the moon that our prediction came true!

theatreMAMA’S Year in Review: 2023

Chicago Dance Mob
The Chicago Dance Mob had an epic year! The iconic Street Team was featured on “The Broadway Show,” attended the Curtain Up Broadway Festival, brought the “All the Jazz'“ flash mob back to Times Square, helped patrons save on tickets to Chicago and celebrated the musical’s 27th Anniversary on Broadway.

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Sling TV + The Bachelor Activation
We created a brand new living media campaign for Sling TV! To promote ABC being available on Sling TV in New York markets, seven models clad in dapper tuxedos evoked ABC’s The Bachelor by passing out 500 long-stemmed red roses with Sling TV discount cards elegantly tied around them to the public. Additionally, ten MAMA Brand Ambassadors flooded the streets with cheer and enthusiasm while handing out discount offers and 900 Sling TV swag bags.

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Cirque du Soleil + Disney ‘Drawn to Life’
We launched a new living media campaign for ‘Drawn To Life’ by Cirque du Soleil & Disney at Disney Springs in Orlando, FL. ‘Drawn to Life’ marked our 15th experiential marketing partnership with Cirque du Soleil! The immersive Street Team operates daily out of the residential show’s big top and box office. MAMA’s ‘Drawn to Life’ team was also invited to attend exciting off site events like the WDWPA Charity Golf Tournament and Orlando Pride.

theatreMAMA Turned 18!
April 9, 2023 marked MAMA's 18th birthday and 18 years of joyful, creative, innovative, connecting Experiential Marketing campaigns!

Blue Man Group
Our Blue Man Group Brand Ambassadors had a blast promoting the long-running Off-Broadway show at various locations across New York City and at events like Intrepid Kids Week, NYC Pride and NYU’s Welcome Week.

Waitress
We brought back our Waitress team to celebrate the Tribeca Film Festival screening of Waitress — Live on Broadway! The event marked the first-ever Tribeca Film Festival screening in Times Square. theatreMAMA’s Experiential Brand Ambassadors were at the event to ensure a sweet-as-pie experience for all attendees.

Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground & The Democracy Project
Over the summer, MAMA’s Brand Ambassadors got a bit Presidential promoting the limited runs of Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground Off-Broadway and The Democracy Project at Federal Hall.

Madison Square Garden Street Teams
We were thrilled to promote multiple events at Madison Square Garden in 2023! Events included various boxing matches, Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Twas the Night Before … and audience ingress services at the Mariah Carey and Travis Scott concerts.

The Metropolitan Opera Season Opener
To open the Met Opera’s new season with as much drama as, well, an opera, our Brand Ambassadors activated all day throughout Manhattan. The day culminated with our Met Opera Street Team assisting guests as they arrived to watch a free live transmission (in partnership with the Times Square Alliance) of Jake Heggie’s Opera, Dead Man Walking, on multiple screens in Times Square.

Goosebumps + Sony Pictures
Just in time for Halloween, theatreMAMA got to bring Slappy, the legendary Goosebumps dummy, to life to promote the new series by Sony Pictures and Disney +. The Slappy Brand Ambassadors activated outside the Javits Center to offer limited edition Goosebumps tote bags to New York Comic Con attendees. Fans swarmed the Slappy team to snap pictures and chat about their love of the franchise.

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X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X at the Metropolitan Opera
MAMA's ambassadors celebrated X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X premier Met Opera performance with a special activation in both Brooklyn and Harlem. The Met team passed out limited-edition zines that featured quotes from the opera's libretto, by playwright, poet, and journalist Thulani Davis, superimposed on images of Black life in Harlem by the photographer Jamel Shabazz. The X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X team continued to activate in Harlem and Brooklyn throughout the show’s limited run.

Candy Cane Greeters
Our Candy Cane Greeter program returned to Radio City for its fourth year! MAMA’s Candy Cane Greeters took the ordinary to extraordinary for guests waiting in line to see the Christmas Spectacular Starring The Radio City Rockettes! Looking for a little North Pole magic? The Candy Cane Greeters create an immersive experience while assisting guests entering and exiting Radio City Music Hall.

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Official Brand Ambassadors for the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes
Our Official Brand Ambassadors for the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes returned for their ninth year promoting NYC’s most iconic holiday show! Patrons were delighted to engage with our joyful holiday Street Team, and equally as thrilled for the opportunity to purchase discount tickets with theatreMAMA’s sales team discount code.

Rockefeller Center Elves
Our Rockefeller Center Elf Street Team returned this year to spread a whole lot of holly-jolly while assisting guests visiting the area! The Elf team handed out informative holiday maps, led guests to the Rock Center Santa Experience, helped guests navigate Rockefeller Center attractions, shops and restaurants and brought holiday magic to NYC!

Cirque du Soleil x Art Basel
We were given the incredible opportunity to create the Cirque du Soleil Icon program! Cirque invited MAMA Brand Ambassadors, Derrick and Ali, to experience Art Basel, Miami while interacting with the art and artists as the Cirque Icons. Celebrating 40 years of productions that offer emotional, compelling entertainment, the Cirque Icons were thrilled to shine their light on the incredible artists that were showcased at Art Basel. Our team even partnered with local influencers to further amplify Art Basel and Cirque du Soleil. What an exciting collaboration!

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Thank you to all of our wonderful clients, fabulous Brand Ambassadors and stellar staff for making 2023 an epic year! We look forward to working together again in 2024 and can’t wait to see what this new year brings!

theatreMAMA's Chicago Dance Mob Celebrates Chicago's 27th Anniversary on Broadway

On November 14, theatreMAMA’s Chicago Dance Mob celebrated Chicago the Musical’s 27th year on Broadway! Our Brand Ambassadors spent the day in Times Square creating razzle-dazzle moments with Chicago fans and offering killer deals to the iconic show.

Then, two members of MAMA’s Chicago Dance Mob “fosse-ed” on over to the Ambassador Theatre to help hand out free bowler hats to the first 500 guests in line as a way to commemorate the milestone occasion. Soon enough, all the killer-dillers at the Ambassador Theatre had their bowler hats on and were ready to celebrate Chicago’s 27th anniversary on Broadway!

We had a fabulous time celebrating Chicago’s 27th birthday. Thanks for having us, Chicago!

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?

Reflections on Pride Month: Our Team on the Meaning of Pride & the Arts

Today may mark the end of Pride month, but LGBTQIA+ Pride is celebrated everyday at theatreMAMA. We are committed to affirming, uplifting and advocating for increased visibility and equality for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Looking for resources and/or to get involved? Check out The Center. The Center offers the LGBTQ communities of NYC advocacy, health and wellness programs; arts, entertainment and cultural events; recovery, parenthood and family support services.

Last weekend, our Blue Man Group Brand Ambassadors attended Youth Pride 2023 in Brooklyn and the annual NYC Pride Parade. Blue Man Group even made a special appearance at Youth Pride! Our Experiential Street Team handed out Blue Man Group swag, including Pride-themed temporary tattoos that were a big hit. What an honor it was to participate in such joyful celebrations of Pride!

Blue Man Group Brand Ambassadors at NYC Pride 2023; Blue Man Group performance at Brooklyn Youth Pride 2023; Blue Man Group Brand Ambassadors at Youth Pride 2023

This month, we also had the privilege of celebrating our MAMAs who are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Staff members graciously shared their thoughts on what Pride and the arts means to them. Check out their responses!

What Does Pride and the Arts Mean To You?

Maggie Tumiotto Jackson (she/her)

Pride and the Arts form a lifeline together which extends to those who may not be able to live safely or comfortably as themselves yet. It gives form, color, texture, music, light to a future that might otherwise be unimaginable for those who cannot yet show their pride.

Pride has enriched the arts through growing representation, and the Arts have helped Pride pull through to where it is today. Together, they will continue to guide us until everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community can finally flourish knowing they are safe, accepted, and celebrated—even those among us who are the most marginalized.

Hannah Dorph (all)

Pride means being proud of the person I’ve grown into despite every hardship and challenge. It means understanding that the complexities of gender and sexuality reach beyond imagined binaries.

Lizzie Montgomery (she/her)

It means being able to celebrate your truest self and the obstacles our community has overcome. 

Bailey Kelis / Bailey C Lewis (they/fae/he)

Freedom to explore myself without having to censor myself.

Tony Thompson (he/him)

Pride by its very definition means “to be especially proud” . I am proud to be full of Pride not just in the month of June. But, for every month. The Arts has helped me be true to myself and to never be afraid to be who I truly am! I’ll show pride for pride and for all days of my life! 

James Dirck (he/him)

Art - particularly acting - has always been a therapeutic form of expression for me. There’s a strong sense of community in theatre / film. Similarly, Pride creates a space for queer people to present themselves and share love in the truest form - not just during the month of June, but all throughout the year. 

Highlighting queer stories through art is a necessity to me. Sharing ourselves through an artistic medium educates those outside of the queer community, supports those within it and ultimately provides new ways for people to grow and connect. 

Art and pride have both been integral to my development as a gay man, as well as serving as the foundation for many of my closest friendships.

Evelyn Ziropoulos (she/her)

For me, Pride and the Arts are the warm passionate feelings of pure expression. Nothing is more true to me than having learned to allow myself comfort in loving the people I have loved and creating the art I've created. The Arts provide the manifestation of the subconscious reflection of myself, and how people I love helped me grow to be who I am. There is no limit to who that may apply to if you learn to be comfortable with giving yourself that opportunity. Everyone is deserving of that!

Grace Sword (she/her)

Pride AND the Arts means expressing your TRUE self and spreading love love love ❤️ 

Raúl Fox (he/they)

Being able to live my life as myself and opening minds and breaking chains for others. Art is my favorite human trade. It changes people and people change the world. 

Cavan Hendron (they/them)

The arts was always a place where I felt that I could be my whole self. And I don't think it's a coincidence that so many queer people find themselves involved in the arts in one way or another. At the end of the day, pride to me is about unapologetically being yourself and telling your story. As artists and storytellers, that is a HUGE reason why we do what we do. We should be uplifting the LGBTQIA+ community and their stories everyday. Through sharing those stories not only are we letting people know they're not alone, but we're healing and growing in the process. Keep using your voice, keep telling your stories, and most importantly keep being YOU. 

Jacob Davila (he/him/his)

Being able to be, live, love, and enjoy life the way you want to without any judgment or discomfort! Being able to be yourself with the support from the people you call family!! It’s YOU on the inside and outside!

Gosia Jasiniak (any)

I came out as lesbian last year and this June I want to take advantage of the Pride to really celebrate and embrace my identity. I’m also looking forward to meeting new queer people and create even bigger inner circle of friends!

Karla Giselle (they/them/theirs)

Pride because I love who I am. Arts for the chance of freedom. I’m a Queer Non-binary Latinx and proud.

🌈🌈🤍

Sydney Elliot a.k.a. Lil Ronnie (she/they) 

Pride is the reclamation of our own stories and identities. It means choosing to be proud of who we are despite worldwide efforts to make us feel shame.

Sah K. Brule (she/they)

It means just being yourself and not giving an “F” about anyone or anything that tells you you’re wrong or takes that pride away from you.

DJ Comins (she/her)

The arts; theatre, music, drawing, have meant the world to me since I was young. Getting to build my worlds creatively on paper or onstage is a dream come true, every single time.

We are so grateful to our amazing team who shared their incredible stories and ideas with us.

Happy Pride today and every day!

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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

Location Scouting for Experiential Marketing Activations: 5 Key Takeaways

theatreMAMA’s Street Team for Broadway’s Waitress at Bryant Park in NYC.

Experiential Marketing is a strategy that creates increased brand engagement, positive brand associations and memorable experiences that customers want to share through user generated content and word-of-mouth. Each Experiential Marketing campaign is uniquely designed to act as the living embodiment of a brand – we literally bring your brand to life. Because no two living media campaigns are the same, there are often myriad variables for us to consider when launching a new program at theatreMAMA. One of the most important variables to address when planning a new campaign is location. Even the most fabulous Experiential Marketing team will be ineffective if no one can find them. This frustrating scenario is why location scouting is KEY to a successful Experiential Marketing campaign. With that in mind, we compiled a list of 5 key takeaways from our location scouting experiences.

5 Key Takeaways: Location Scouting for Experiential Marketing Activations

theatreMAMA’s Chicago Dance Mob promoting Chicago the Musical in Times Square, NYC.

1. Know Your Demographics

Knowing who you’re targeting will often directly affect where a campaign takes place. Our Chicago Dance Mob seeks to engage both NYC tourists and locals who are interested in seeing Chicago on Broadway. To achieve this, we station our Street Team in the Times Square area where there is a healthy cross-section of locals and tourists making their way through The Theatre District. In contrast, promoting a boxing match at Madison Square Garden took our Brand Ambassadors across the city to bars and gyms in hopes of engaging local sports fans.

2. Weather Matters

Unfortunately, weather is a variable we can’t control, but we can prepare for it. While promoting Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Drawn To Life’ at Disney Springs in Orlando, we quickly realized that Florida in May means unrelenting sun and heat. To combat this, we scouted different locations throughout Disney Springs that could support our Street Team’s immersive theatricality and provide much-needed shade. Offering a reprieve from the sun helped us increase overall guest interactions and allowed our team to stay relatively cool while they work their Cirque-inspired magic!

theatreMAMA’s Street Team for Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Drawn To Life’ at Disney Springs in Orlando, FL.

theatreMAMA’s Street Team for LUZIA by Cirque du Soleil in Vancouver, Canada.

Having alternate locations in case of weather is paramount to successful location scouting. When considering a primary location, be sure to factor in alternate locations that could work in case of inclement weather. When Cirque du Soleil’s LUZIA took us to Vancouver, Canada, there was heavy rain predicted on the same day we were to launch an outdoor, parade-style activation that included a Mariachi band, 2 costumed-characters and 8 Brand Ambassadors. Because of this, our team diligently scouted alternative locations that would allow us to have the same massive impact, but would provide coverage for our performers. We figured out that we could station ourselves inside transit hubs and it was a huge success! Commuters were delighted by the Mariachi band and our Cirque du Soleil LUZIA-inspired performers! We offered the magic of Cirque du Soleil on a dreary, rainy day! 

3. Pedestrian Traffic is Important

Even in a pedestrian heavy area like New York City, there are still many locations that don’t generate high foot traffic. Assuming an area will be busy simply because it’s in a big city can lead to major disappointment on the day of an Experiential activation. Location scouting prior to an event can alleviate this issue. Taking the time to research an area, talking to locals about different neighborhoods, capitalizing on events already taking place and physically scouting activation locations are musts if you want to maximize the number of impressions a campaign makes. 

theatreMAMA promotes the Met Opera’s season launch with Street Teams located across NYC.

4. Proximity to Venue

When representing a live event or a brick and mortar business, proximity to the venue being promoted is essential. Patrons are more likely to engage with a brand immediately after an experiential interaction if they can easily access it. For our ‘Drawn To Life’ team in Orlando, that means locating our team within walking distance of the Cirque du Soleil big top! Guests experience fun, immersive interactions with our Street Team and become curious about the show. With the big top in such close proximity, our team can seamlessly send guests to the ‘Drawn To Life’  box office to find out more information and purchase tickets to the show. Likewise, our Toy Soldier Street Team for the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio city Rockettes consistently stations a handful of Brand Ambassadors within view of Radio City Music Hall – a tactic that exponentially increases day-of and walk up ticket sales. 

Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Drawn To Life’ Street Team performer promoting the show at Disney Springs in Orlando, FL.

Brand Ambassadors for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular outside Radio City Music Hall.

5. Flexibility is Paramount

Alegria by Cirque du Soleil-inspired Activation with Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte and Villa Maria Wine.

Experiential Marketing campaigns are accompanied by many different variables, so the ability to be flexible and pivot on the spot is of the utmost importance. Location scouting is a way to cut down on the uncertainties that uncontrollable variables (like weather) can bring. By knowing an area and understanding how to optimize an activation – even if you have to pivot to plan b, c or d , you will create the circumstances for a successful campaign no matter what gets thrown your way.

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MAMA LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR CIRQUE DU SOLEIL’S ‘DRAWN TO LIFE’

Watching a drawing go from 2D on paper to 3D in person is pure magic, whether viewing it under the big top in 'Drawn To Life,' or following along with the costume design process of one of our experiential marketing campaigns.

Emily Beets, theatreMAMA Manger and head of costume/wardrobe, with Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Drawn To Life’ cast members at a press event for the show.

theatreMAMA recently launched our newest living media campaign for ‘Drawn To Life’ by Cirque du Soleil & Disney at Disney Springs in Orlando, FL. ‘Drawn To Life’ marks our 15th experiential marketing partnership with Cirque du Soleil! Creating campaigns for Cirque du Soleil’s enchanting productions is a dream come true, and generating our newest campaign for ‘Drawn To Life’ inspired us to design an entirely new character for our latest Street Team Activation.

’Drawn to Life’ features Walt Disney Animation's art brought to life through the magic of Cirque. theatreMAMA’s newest Street Team is tasked with recreating the magic of this dynamic duo’s production outside the big top. We achieve this by hitting the streets of Disney Springs with costumed performers dressed as a ‘Drawn To Life’ inspired character. Our Street Team performers utilize their immersive theater, improvisation and performance backgrounds to engage guests in fun and compelling ways that both increase awareness around the show and generate positive attitudes associated with Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Drawn To Life.’ We are thrilled to bring the joy and spectacle of Cirque to Disney Springs!

A Look Inside Our Costume Design Process

A major component of creating captivating experiential media campaigns is costuming. At theatreMAMA, we design our costumes to be eye-catching, engaging and innovative. No detail is too small and we encourage our creative team to think outside the box. When cultivating costumes to evoke the animated artwork brought to life in ‘Drawn To Life,’ our costume design team drew inspiration from characters featured in the show to bring an entirely new character to fruition. The idea was “to encompass everything into one costume — to make it different but relatable to the show,” said Emily Beets, lead designer, adding that the design process took a fair amount of time because many costume pieces were made by hand.

theatreMAMA is no stranger to intricate costume pieces and elaborate designs. Designing costumes for ‘Drawn To Life’ led us to reminisce over our long history of producing the unique costumes that make our experiential and immersive campaigns pop! Similar to the animation brought to life in Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Drawn To Life,’our costume design process begins with a sketch that is then actualized in our living media campaigns. Watching a drawing go from 2D on paper to 3D in person is pure magic, whether viewing it under the big top in ‘Drawn To Life,’ or following along with the costume design process of one of our experiential marketing campaigns. 

Experience that magic with us by taking a look at our campaigns that have literally been “drawn to life” over the years!

"Wintuk" by Cirque du Soleil Mobile Marketing Tour

Chicago Dance Mob Street Team for Chicago the Musical, NYC

Rock of Ages the Musical Street Team, NYC

Elf The Musical Street Team, NYC

Cinderella on Broadway Street Team, NYC

New York Spring Spectacular Street Team, NYC

Radio City Christmas Spectacular Toy Soldier Street Team, NYC

What an honor it has been to have worked with so many incredible designers to create our experiential campaigns, and what an honor it is to be working with Cirque du Soleil again,  “drawing to life” a joyful living media experience for guests visiting Disney Springs!

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KOOZA by Cirque du Soleil takes over New York City with theatreMAMA

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theatreMAMA Turns 18!

theatreMAMA is offically an adult! April 9, 2023 marks MAMA's 18th birthday and 18 years of joyful, creative, innovative, connecting Experiential Marketing campaigns. The last 18 years have been an incredible journey, so we thought it would be fun to celebrate this year's birthday by taking a look back at monumental MAMA milestones. Navigate through our interactive '18 Years of MAMA' timeline below to discover some of our favorite moments in MAMA history.

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. 

A Look at theatreMAMA’s Experiential Marketing Campaigns

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Chicago 25th Anniversary Dance Mob

Jinkx Monsoon and Kristin Chenoweth: Two Queens, One Killer Performance

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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Chicago The Musical Dance Mob NYC Best Street Team

Sugar, Butter, Farewell! As Waitress Takes Its Final Bow on Broadway, theatreMAMA Closes Up Shop On This Promotion

Combine equal parts theatreMAMA and Waitress the Musical, add one brilliant soundtrack(by the incredibly talented Sara Bareilles), sprinkle with sweet-as-pie Ambassadors, top it all off with an EPIC pie hat...and you’ve got a recipe that’s baked to perfection! Waitress is near and dear to our hearts, especially since we’ve been in partnership with the musical since the very beginning! We started this promotion at the Brooks Atkinson box office over three years ago when Waitress opened on Broadway and have enjoyed every sugar-filled second of promoting this wonderful show!

Waitress the Musical has taught us that “Everything Changes,” so even though we’ll be hanging up our aprons and putting away our pie hats, marketing this special show will remain in our hearts forever. theatreMAMA is grateful for every second we spent working with Waitress and what better way to show how much this musical matters to us than in the form of a love letter?

Dear Waitress,

Thank you for all the beautiful, magical, pie-filled memories! From launching our Waitress street team in Times Square on Day 1,

To handing out delicious Pies-In-A-Jar at the Box Office when you opened,

To catching the attention of patrons in Times Square with our FABULOUS pie hats and custom designed costumes,

To pushing day of sales by interacting with Broadway-lovers waiting in line at TKTS,

To surprising those same TKTS patrons with a free Pie,

To the millions of people who couldn’t help but sing the soundtrack along with us (Did you know over 330,000 people come through Times Square every day?! That’s 50 million visitors annually, who all got a chance to see our amazing team!),

To the seeing-impaired 12 year-old Waitress super-fan who cried tears of joy when she got to feel one of our Ambassador’s pie hats before heading to the matinee, (there’s no picture of this unforgettable memory, but it will live in our hearts forever!)

To all the lives changed, made better, and made sweeter because of this incredible show!

We love you, Waitress!! This has been one extraordinary (and delicious!) journey that will remain baked in our hearts forever!

Love,

MAMA

 Related Links:

Waitress the Musical on Broadway Street Team with theatreMAMA

theatreMAMA's Candy Cane Greeters at Radio City

Radio City Christmas Spectacular Street Team Brand Ambassadors

theatreMAMA’s Year In Review 2019

theatreMAMA Takes A Walk Down Memory Lane Through 2019!

The start of a new year means saying goodbye and saying hello! It’s the lyrics to a Beatles song and also the perfect time to reflect on all the wonderful memories that have formed the beautifully intricate mosaic of this past year. theatreMAMA has had an exciting, adventure-filled year full of wonderful experiences and so much joy! So, on the final day of 2019, we are saying goodbye, hello, and THANK YOU! Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for every amazing opportunity we’ve encountered during this epic year!

Throughout 2019, theatreMAMA was lucky enough to be BUSY! And I’m not just talking everyday, “hustle and bustle” kind of busy, I’m talking events in 10 different states and all across Canada kind of busy! During this year, we reached thousands of patrons through our creative, experiential marketing campaigns, handed out over a million pieces of various promotional collateral , staged numerous activations, launched multiple new promotions, and used our theatrical marketing skills to bring the incredible shows, brands, and companies we’ve partnered with to LIFE!! 

So what exactly did we do in 2019? Presenting (Insert celebratory drum roll here!!!)

A Year In The Life Of theatreMAMA: 2019 Edition

This year we…

 Brought our Killer Fosse moves to Times Square promoting Chicago the Musical

Looked sweet as pie serving up discounts for Waitress the Musical!

Felt ALL THAT JAZZ and more when we did a  special NYC activation for the premiere of the Emmy Award-Winning show Fosse/Verdon on FX!

Explored NYC as Pip’s Island Adventurers! We were delighted to tap into our playful side when we started promoting Pip’s Island this year!  Pip’s Island is a live experiential theatre show for kids-what better way to promote experiential theatre than with experiential marketing?

Brought a little Havana to Times Square when we promoted the delicious restaurant Havana Central!

Got in touch with our sporty side and cheered on the NY KNICKS by shooting patrons great discounts for the games!

Traveled on down to Ranger town, rockin’ those rad Rangers threads and giving patrons 20% off discounts to see their favorite hockey team!

Then, spring arrived and we decided to get out of Times Square and run away to the Circus...Cirque du Soleil that is! While our fabulous NYC teams were killing it in TSQ, we provided special activations for many of Cirque du Soleil’s shows all across North America!

theatreMAMA created a team of Fish Dancers and Fiesta Ambassadors for Cirque du Soleil LUZIA ! We began this year’s LUZIA adventures in Orlando, FL and eventually made our way up the coast to NYC! The NY LUZIA events took place all over the NY Metro Area and our Fiesta Fishies even got to play house at an IKEA in Brooklyn! After that, our LUZIA team swam over to Connecticut to promote the show during its run there!

Then, our Fishie Dancers swam across the continent for events in Canada! We started at the Calgary Stampede and then made our way over to Vancouver where we got to take part in Pride Week-one of the biggest LGBTQ+ events worldwide!

But our circus fun didn’t stop with LUZIA...we produced special activations for Cirque du Soleil VOLTA in Washington D.C., for OVO in Fort Worth, TX and for Amaluna in Los Angeles and Costa Mesa, California.

theatreMAMA has been honored to partner with Cirque du Soleil for many years now! We have so much fun bringing the essence of each unique show to life and this year, we took that one step further! We brought the VIP Experiences to life! Ever wonder what the human embodiment of the smooth, elegant cognac that is Hennessy Black looks like? Well look no further! theatreMAMA created the Hennessy Black Ravens! The Ravens were a part of the Hennessy Black VIP experience tent for many Cirque du Soleil shows throughout 2019, with campaigns in NYC, Washington D.C., Atlanta, GA, Chicago,  and Miami, FL. Our Hennessy Black Ravens elevated the VIP experience at Cirque du Soleil through offering a one-of-a-kind sampling program of craft cocktails while educating guests about the cognac.

But why stop at cognac? Cirque du Soleil’s other corporate sponsors include Villa Maria Winery and Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte. How do you bring New Zealand Wine and French bubbly to life? We figured that one out too!

We’ve had the best time working with all three of these enticing beverage companies in partnership with Cirque du Soleil and can’t wait to create more intriguing ways to combine the enchantment of Cirque with the elegance of these libations.

While  all of these campaigns were happening simultaneously with our regular NYC Street Teams, we also got the opportunity to put on one-day only events! We were thrilled to promote the glorious opening day of the Metropolitan Opera House 2019-2020 season and had a blast introducing Cleo, a widely popular (and sassy) financial app in the UK, to NYC with a scavenger hunt!

You’d think everything we’ve talked about so far would be plenty to fill a year, but not at theatreMAMA! As fall brought crisp air and pumpkin spice lattes  to NYC, we got ready to spread holiday cheer! We brought our SPECTACULAR Toy Soldier Street Team (back for its fifth year!) to promote the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes AND partnered with Radio City to launch a brand new initiative-the Candy Cane Greeters!  The Candy Cane Greeters look like they’ve just stepped off the Polar Express and were a source of information( and holiday magic!) for guests attending the Christmas Spectacular!

And since our Cirque fun is never done, we created a festive new  gift wrapping activation in San Francisco to promote Cirque du Soleil Amaluna! What happens when Santa’s elves run away to join the circus? This awesome activation!!

It wouldn’t be theatreMAMA if we didn’t end the year with a bang! We are producing four New Year’s Eve events in three different states! In partnership with Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte, we will be ringing in the New Year with this fabulous bubbly, Champagne dresses, contortionists, and jugglers galore! What a way to ring in the New Year!

We’ve enjoyed every second of this wonderful, busy, creative, AWESOME year! Cheers to a new decade, new adventures, and to 2020! We are truly grateful for every person we’ve worked with, every experience we’ve had, and all the memories we’ve made! So now all that’s left to say is-THANK YOU!!!

Related Links:

Chicago The Musical Dance Mob NYC Best Street Team

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