Sunday, February 21, 2010
Viral videos of 'Xanadu' musical are still a hit on YouTube
Post Gazette: "The legacy of 'Xanadu's' Broadway run is the touring show coming to the Benedum Center Tuesday and the Tony campaign videos that became a viral sensation."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I just went and watched these videos, and they pretty much encapsulate the spirit of the show they're supporting: very cheesy, rather over the top, and yet catchy and hilarious. The jokes are rather raunchy and take some stabs at Xanadu and the industry ("You're the producers, huh? Who are the Jews? *hands raise* And the gays? *hands raise* ... well, I guess you are the producers, then.") and contains a hilarious segment where Kerry Butler faces a schmoozing obstacle course where she has to decide whether to hug, shake hands or "make eye contact and smile" at various producers (this last category reserved for "non-profits"). I wish this series had been publicized more - I would have loved to see it in the 2008 Tony run!
I think that Xanadu has done a great job, if only by accident, of using the internet and youtube to promote their show. The fact that a video can go viral like that is a good way to increase revenue and get audience members in seats. The very transferable nature of the video makes it so that if one person likes the clip they can just send the link to a friend and then, together, they can go to the show. It bring Xanadu to a previously untapped pool of theater goers.
Post a Comment