Broadway Bootlegs Aren't Poison, They Are Opportunity

The internet has made musical the lifeblood of the entire theater industry.

This status was not always true; until 1866 there was never a show produced which met the modern criteria for being labeled as a musical. The Black Crook, by possessing fundamental qualities, would pave the way for the development of musical theater in the decades that followed, shaping Broadway culture into what is seen today.

Film should have killed the large-scale theater industry by now. Film is widespread and distributable while theater is localized and singular. Until the compact home camera was common among those who attended, there was no way for someone who had never been to New York City to see a Broadway show. These bootlegs have been heralded by those unable to attend and condemned by those profiting off ticket sales. It is a question of ethics that has split the community down the middle.

This bootleg culture, however, is most likely what has helped to maintain the popularity of live theater in the age of spectacular movies.

A significant portion of those who enjoy theater may never see the show they express interest in. Shows that have had more modern runs, such as Chicago, Next to Normal, Hamilton or Spring Awakening have both official and amateur footage which circulates in the form of gifs and screencaps. These, often paired only with soundtracks and non-contextual dialogue, will spark imaginative interpretations of what takes place in the show.

This wonder does not simply dissipate, and can leave those who never see a show during its run feeling left out and disappointed with the production instead of enthralled.
Musicals are more mainstream than ever before in a culture which demands immediate access to entertainment because of the internet. Bootlegs will continue to rise in demand, meaning an effort to provide the supply will surely follow.

Sharing these copies over the internet would be free, and if theater owners and directors wish to not be impacted, they need to make a change. Instead of being dominated by the bootleg industry, they need to dominate the bootleg industry themselves by providing official recordings to those without the means to travel and pay for a seat.

Musicals are breathing life into the executives’ pockets, but the Internet is what is pumping the air through.

Professional and amateur footage of Next to Normal on Tumblr