Broadway stars are taking a stand and encouraging fans to participate in the electoral process through a new social media campaign. Recently, a music video featuring the song “Carrying the Message” has emerged, drawing inspiration from the 1990s musical Newsies, which tells the story of disenfranchised newsboys. Esteemed creators of Newsies, including composer Alan Menken and director Kenny Ortega, have collaborated with a variety of Broadway talents for this initiative aimed at motivating audiences to vote in the upcoming 2024 election.
Catherine Markowitz, co-founder and director of the nonprofit Broadway Votes, explained that, owing to the commercial nature of Broadway, there is minimal partisan activity. She saw this campaign as a unique opportunity to harness the skills of theater professionals to inspire voter turnout across the nation.
Broadway Votes has been active in engaging audiences through various initiatives. They have incorporated announcements during curtain calls at popular shows like Once Upon A Mattress, Hadestown, and Little Shop of Horrors, emphasizing the significance of voting. Additionally, they hosted a concert in Times Square and released a music video featuring Tony Award winner Alex Newell and the Broadway Inspirational Voices, performing a reimagined version of “Keep Marching” from Suffs. Online engagement efforts include giveaways and an exciting costume contest judged by Broadway celebrities, with the winner to be revealed on election day.
According to data shared by the arts-focused voter registration nonprofit Headcount, these efforts have successfully led to thousands of new voter registrations. The campaign has also inspired some theater professionals, like performer Tommy Bracco, to become politically active. Bracco, who straddles the line between a largely conservative family and a liberal theater community, mentioned that Broadway Votes motivated him to express his political views for the first time, uniting people from different perspectives.
This campaign not only showcases the power of the arts in fostering civic engagement but also highlights a collective effort to bridge societal divides through the shared goal of participation in democracy. The Broadway community’s commitment to encouraging voter turnout is a hopeful reminder of how creativity can ignite passion for social causes and inspire positive change.
In summary, Broadway Votes is making significant strides toward boosting voter registration and encouraging political involvement among theatergoers and performers, demonstrating the vital role that artistic platforms can play in driving civic participation.