BroadwaySpace is one of the first social networking sites that deals solely with theatre. Whereas groups like MySpace

MySpace

Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....

 and Facebook

Facebook

Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...

 have groups devoted to any topic the user chooses, BroadwaySpace is limited to a constituency that deals with the topic of theatre and performance. This is part of a notable shift in networking sites from basic social networking to niche social networking in order to provide a more personal experience for the online user. Users can create an account on the site and then say what types of interests in theatre they have. They can list the shows they've done, upload videos, promote new shows they are performing in, and send messages to like-minded individuals. The site itself has received press from the NY Times, and Variety and has a current membership of 17,000 members. It includes forums where members can discuss the stars of Broadway

Broadway theatre

Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...

 and Off-Broadway

Off-Broadway

Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...

 shows. Many of the sites members are Broadway performers and members often engage in a dialogue with these performers. The fans have created groups dealing with every show from Avenue Q

Avenue Q

Avenue Q is a musical in two acts, conceived by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who wrote the music and lyrics. The book was written by Jeff Whitty and the show was directed by Jason Moore and produced by Kevin McCollum, Robyn Goodman, and Jeffrey Seller...

 to Xanadu

Xanadu

-Description of Xanadu by Toghon Temur :The lament of Toghon Temur Khan , concerning the loss of Daidu and Heibun Shanduu in 1368, is recorded in many Mongolian historical chronicles...

. There is no cost to join the site or create a page and users can upload photos as well as video. For those who are having difficulty navigating the site, there is a comprehensive FAQ provided. One new feature includes a service where users can get text messages about discounts to their favorite Broadway shows. BroadwaySpace.com already has a significant following in the online community as can be seen in the comments of numerous blogs and forums. Broadway Space was created by Broadway and Off-Broadway Producer, Ken Davenport

Ken Davenport

Ken Davenport, born Kenneth A. Hasija is a New York-based Broadway and Off-Broadway theatre producer.-Shows:Davenport has produced several Broadway and Off-Broadway plays including the current Broadway revival of Godspell, Chinglish, Oleanna, Speed the Plow, You're Welcome America, Blithe Spirit,...

 (Altar Boyz

Altar Boyz

Altar Boyz is a musical comedy with music and lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker and book by Kevin Del Aguila . Centering on a fictitious Christian boy band from Ohio, the show satirizes, among other things, the phenomenon of boy bands and the popularity of Christian-themed music in...

, The Awesome 80s Prom, My First Time (play)

My First Time (play)

My First Time is an off-Broadway play that opened on July 12, 2007 and is currently playing every Friday night at New World Stages. The show is based on a website that grew in popularity in 1998 "that allowed people to anonymously share their own true stories about their First Times" and "features...

, etc.) who also founded the other theater affiliate websites, DidHeLikeIt.com

Ben Brantley

Benjamin D. "Ben" Brantley is an American journalist and the chief theater critic of The New York Times.-Life and career:...

and BestofOffBroadway.com.

References

BroadwaySpace.com