If you love searching the web for theatre news across the globe like myself, then you may be interested in these few sites. Keep in mind, this is just Part 1 in a series of posts on great theatre websites on the Internet.
The New York Times Well, the New York Times is not only the biggest newspaper in the world, but it also has the most comprehensive theatre section of any online newspaper. Hell, just the fact that it has a theatre section is a wonderful thing! Understandably, information is Broadway-centric, with intellectual theatre reviews, image slideshows, interviews with theatre practitioners from directors to actors and more, industry buzz (what’s hot and what’s not) and videos. Target demographic: the adult theatre connoisseur.
Playbill.com Yep, that company that produces your theatre programs and other merchandise has been around since 1884 and on the web since the early days of 1994. The Playbill website is jam-packed with industry news focusing on Broadway, but also with sections for regional US and International theatre. You can get the latest theatre listings, Broadway box office grosses, industry casting information, interviews with actors, celebrities and playwrights. You can also purchase Broadway theatre tickets at Playbill, check out multimedia galleries or purchase from arguably the largest theatre merchandise store on the web … now open for non-US visitors as well. You’ll find everything from key rings and t-shirts to coffee mugs and posters available at the Playbill store for a wide range of Broadway musicals and plays.
Guardian.co.uk The Guardian’s online culture section is a rich source of information for UK theatre, from large West End productions to small Edinburgh Fringe monologues. What I love about this site is the prominence of multimedia, with plenty of image galleries and videos of theatre news stories and interviews. You can find hundreds of theatre reviews, industry buzz, behind the scenes news and a comprehensive back-catalogue of theatre-related articles at the Guardian.
Part 2 coming soon….