So you just discovered how wonderful, super-fantastic musical theatre is. Or maybe you’ve always liked musicals but you haven’t loved them until now. We’ve all been there. You’re starting the journey of becoming a Musical Theatre Fangirl or Fanboy. But where do you start? How can you take in all of the glorious musical theatre that the internet has to offer? Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s everything you need to find your way to musical theatre fandom.

1. A Youtube Subscription to FamousInNY

This Youtube channel is a must if you’re interested in Jeremy Jordan singing Celine Dion or the Taylor Swift Love Story cabaret in its entirety. Famous In NY (Shoshana Feinstein and Karen Marshall) “provides high quality filming services for concerts and cabarets in NYC.” With hundreds of uploads featuring 54 Below events, Joe’s Pub performances, and a sprinkle of benefit concerts from around the city, there’s a video for everyone, even non-theatre fans. Where else are you going to come across Heidi Blickenstaff singing from Flora the Red Menace and then head on over to watch five Broadway Loves the Spice Girls performances in a row? You’ll be surprised to see what your favorite singers have been doing off the Broadway stage.

2. A Twitter Account

If you’re not on twitter, you’re missing out. Big time. These are a few of my favorite tweets:

I’m very proud to announce my new film “Jurassic Snark”. It’s just two and a half hours of me talking shit about things that annoy me.

— Laura Benanti (@LauraBenanti) June 30, 2015

.@WesTayTay pushed me into the trash on the side of the street tonight.

— Jennifer Damiano (@jenndamiano) August 8, 2015

ily

— allison case (@allisoncase) January 5, 2015

If you could live INSIDE one cast album, what would it be? Mine would be Bridges of Madison County, obviously. I’ve listened to it 2x today.

— Gideon Glick (@gidglick) June 29, 2015

Great honor meeting legends @DannyDeVito & @RheaPerlman tonight! Thank you for taking the time to say hi!! @funhomemusical

— Sydney Lucas (@SydneyLucasNYC) July 29, 2015

*Lady rolls down her car window at 181st street* “congrats on HAMLET!” Me: “I WISH I wrote Hamlet!” Lady: “Yay HAMLET!” *drives away* #myday

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) February 19, 2015

3. A Credit Card for Sh-K-Boom

All great theatre fans know that Sh-K-Boom Records, started by Broadway’s own Sherie Rene Scott and Kurt Deutsch, is a cast recording safe haven. Where else will you be put on the waiting list for the long-awaited Hunchback of Notre Dame (American Premiere Studio Recording)? Want an autographed copy of Judy Kuhn’s solo album, Serious Playground? Or how about a shirt that says “Shiksa Goddess”? The store covers all your bases- Broadway, Off-Broadway, solo albums, benefits, and film soundtracks. Sure, you could buy some of these things on iTunes, but supporting Sh-K-Boom will ensure more Christian Borle music videos, Bridges of Madison County commentary, and things of the like coming from their youtube channel.

4. Stamps

Do you frequently go to Broadway shows and see Playbills strewn across the house floor at the end of the performance only to then run for those free, left-behind mementos? If this perfectly describes you, you are blessed. You have the luxury of proximal theatre. For the rest of us, I bring you good tidings of great joy – you can mail Playbill requests to Broadway shows and get a (sometimes signed) Playbill sent right to your door! Go to the post office and buy several stamps, a couple of 6” x 9” envelopes, and a handful of 8” x 11” envelopes while you’re at it too. Send the theatre all the fan mail you can crank out along with a self-addressed stamped envelope and wait outside your mailbox for a few weeks. Voila! So even if you can’t make the performance, you can still own a nice, framed piece of the production.

What other essentials does every new theatre fan need?

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