Today, we’d like to introduce you to Bekah Walsh.
Hi Bekah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m a lifelong theatre enthusiast and social media lover. I ran a personal blog for several years, and in 2022, I decided it was time to overcome my fear of video content. I started creating on TikTok mostly to ease my discomfort with speaking on camera.
I talked about the shows I saw on Broadway and on the tour, thinking the shows I saw in my own community would be too niche to reach an audience. After a few months, I surveyed my audience on what they’d like to see from me, and several said, “I’m like you! I travel to NYC frequently but live elsewhere. I want to know what I can see locally.” I made space for the amazing theatrical productions in my community and noticed a change immediately.
It allowed me to meet many creatives in DC and Maryland and learn about performing organizations I’d never heard of. In 2023, I launched the #POTUSTrail, a project dedicated to local and regional theatres nationwide to show audiences the wealth of theatres available beyond Broadway.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Yes and no. The number one thing I tell other content creators is, “Your community needs you.” Social media is full of creators talking about the show they saw on Broadway, but rarely in any other city. One video highlight or review can mean the world to them and potentially reveal additional opportunities.
The theatre industry faces a lot of unique challenges including navigating the still-new content creation landscape and how to communicate best. I have had several instances where a staff member doing their job stopped me from doing mine because the lines remained blurry. I am in the early stages of a book on how creative organizations can leverage content creators as a resource to help both parties.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Ultimately, I want our theatres to succeed, which means I want to educate people about what is available.
I make it clear to theatres and audiences alike that I am not a theatre critic but a theatre cheerleader. I believe in constructive feedback; I don’t believe my opinion of a piece gives me the right to dictate whether another person should or shouldn’t see it. My goal is to share facts and who may or may not appreciate a piece to let audiences make their own informed decisions.
I feel proud every time someone asks me for theatre happenings and suggestions. It means they thought of me as a resource and trusted my word.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
Engagement matters. Every like, comment, and share on social media boosts my post, meaning someone who didn’t know about a production now has the opportunity to hear about it. I’m always open to collaborating with creative organizations – just reach out!
If you have the resources to do so, donate to your favorite area arts organization. Or, if you want to support me directly, I have a GoFundMe dedicated to the POTUS Trail and a Patreon community with exclusive behind-the-scenes content access.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/broadwaybekahchica
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/broadwaybekahchica
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@broadwaybekahchica
