How Broadway Unlocked revolutionized virtual theatre with Hopin

About Broadway Unlocked

Broadway Unlocked is redefining what theatre looks like in a digital era. By combining their community of theatre lovers and tech evangelists, Broadway Unlocked creates a purposeful way for people to experience the world of theatre, without ever stepping into a lobby.

Broadway Unlocked has partnered with some of the biggest musical stars in the world, including Kirsti Maldonado (Pentatonix), Tituss Burgess (Kimmi Schmidt), Keala Settle (Greatest Showman) and more. And, their #Giveback Concerts have raised almost $1.5 million.

Challenge

During live theatre, audience members’ heartbeats actually sync up.

Broadway Unlocked felt that the typical virtual event didn’t connect people in the same way. When audience members viewed theatre from behind a screen, it wasn’t as real, imaginative, or immediate.

Their goal has always been to push the boundaries of theatre. And so, they wanted to revolutionize virtual theatre by recreating the deep connection of an in-person show online.

Solution

The Hopin platform allowed us to create a 360 digital experience that brings together the interactive spaces and the main broadcast into one big show that feels real, immediate, and more like an in-person show. It revolutionized our ability to create a meaningful digital stop for live theatre.

Jessica Ryan

CEO, and Co-founder of Broadway Unlocked

Broadway Unlocked required an online events platform that could flow between multiple stages, live interactions, and pre-recorded videos.

Hopin offered the features Broadway Unlocked wanted to host charity events, live auctions, galas, musical events, and much more.

Ryan and her event team used the following Hopin features at their event:

Main stage for live performances, such as an opening night streaming premiere party for The Hippodrome, an awards night for kids from extraordinary circumstances who are being sent to college for free, and a 600 person virtual gala for Cancer Support Community
Expo for showcasing auction items
Sessions for a virtual dance floor for Broadway’s biggest industry dance party, S.N.O.B. (Sunday Night on Broadway).

Result

With Hopin, Broadway Unlocked produced premiere parties, dance parties, award nights, virtual galas, fireside chats, musical series, and more. They’ve even raised over $300,000 during a live broadcast of a virtual gala that included a combination of a live auction, live donor acknowledgments, and text to donate dynamic screens. Broadway Unlocked was even able to switch between live to previously recorded performances using Hopin.

With their virtual theatre hosted on Hopin, Broadway Unlocked doubled attendees and saw average viewer participation of 80%.

We're already six shows into our next batch, and really it's just an iteration for us. We're always flexing how the [Hopin platform] can be designed around our shows!

Jessica Ryan

CEO, and Co-founder of Broadway Unlocked