Gift Guide for West End and Broadway Fans

This gift guide for West End and Broadway fans is to help everyone who hears them singing the same show tunes but still aren’t sure what to get them. It’s not like you can simply step into any store and be dazzled with a center spotlight and an opening number. Luckily, there are more than a few hints that theatre fans leave lying around about what they want for the holiday season. As long as you aren’t completely deafened by the sparkle jolly twinkle jingly of holiday carols, you’ll already know theatre fans love this time of year.

With everything in bright colours, people everywhere singing, and of course all the decorations being hung, it’s not hard to wonder why theatre fans feel like they are in their own holiday special of a musical. Still, for those who didn’t prepare the tree in pink to have a Wicked themed holiday party, buying gifts can be stressful. This gift guide for West End and Broadway fans should help everyone who needs the last-minute hustle to the theatre district.

Show Tickets

Let’s be honest, this is the obvious choice and probably at the top of that main character’s wish list. If you are gifting tickets to a West End or Broadway show, you can reach out to the theatre directly and ask if they can do personalised embellishments for eloquence. You can personalise them with the recipient’s name, show, date, and other information. If you can afford it, treat yourself with this as well and get two tickets to see the show with them. Overall this would be a great gift and if you’re in a town for a national or international tour, you wouldn’t have to travel too far to see the show! It’s a memory that will last a lifetime.

Some Wicked Inspiration

The blockbuster-hit, Broadway sensation, and West End destination, this is the biggest musical movie that everyone has been anticipating since the announcement of Hamilton on streaming services. Grab a pair of tickets to see the show, or stop in at your local cinema to see part one (Act one) starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Fans everywhere have loved how the actresses have kept as close to the original show as possible while also paying tribute to earlier renditions of the story. While seeing the show, it’s easy to become popular (just not quite as popular as the stars) with all the merchandise – from clothing and toys, to accessories and cosmetics. Merchandise is often found in the main lobby of any theatre.

Show Merchandise

Speaking of merchandise, theatre shows always offer ways to bring the magic of performances into the home. From comfy hoodies for the winter holidays to individual pins for collectors, there’s something for every theatre fan at the merch table. Merchandise offers a way to support shows that are touring to help cover costs, so this not only helps show off your favourite shows but also helps keep them on the road for coming to more venues.

If you can’t make it to the merch table, no worries! Broadway and West End shows have their merchandise listed on their websites and are available for shipping directly to you.

Original Cast Albums

Original cast albums (or vinyls for those who are music collectors) allow fans to sing along to the musicals you love while having a more vintage feel. The quality of hard copies of original cast albums is also far superior to that of digital. These recordings capture the magical moments of live theater while being able to listen to it in your own home as you prepare to be the star of the show. These unforgettable scores and timeless classics come in a wide range of genres, from the golden age of musicals to contemporary performances. An original cast album offers a chance for a cherished gift that will continue to be played on repeat.

Playbills

Stepping into the theatre and being handed a playbill is always special for first time audiences. Playbills are more than just pieces of information on paper, they’re memorabilia of theater history and moments of waiting outside the stage doors for cast members to get their autographs. Playbills have long inspired future theater performers, and serve as a wonderful reminder of a first show and final show for some cast members. You can find them at the Playbill Store.

Book Nerds Meet Broadway Bookstore.

Being in New York has its perks. The Drama Book Shop has been around since 1917 and been serving theatre fans of all ages. Currently located on West 39th Street in midtown Manhattan, they hold events, sales, have a cafe to drink coffee with your latest purchase, and have signed copies of some of their books! They ship all across the United States and for those living in Canada or Mexico, you can call the shop during their business hours to process the purchase and shipping over the phone. Helping support this Broadway landmark during the holidays is extremely important for the local New York theatre scene. Under the new owners Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, Jeffrey Seller, and James L Nederlander fans get a chance to support their local theatre community and possibly run into some Broadway legends.

All photos from iStock Photo.

Drew Janine

Live Sound Engineer -EUROPE

Janine has always been a part of music and performing. The first show that inspired her to go into theatre was the Velveteen Rabbit which she saw as a child, and Drew works to keep that magic alive as working behind the scenes in theatre as a live sound engineer. When Drew was accepted into an internship program for audio engineering at a recording studio, she jumped at the opportunity. That was at the start of 2020 and so much has happened since then, both in her career and in the world. Since then, Drew has taken several opportunities to work at recording studios, concerts, festivals, and even large theatres while spending time on tour across the North American continent and Europe. Drew’s favourite by far though has been the chance to work on Broadway and West End shows, as this was a dream come true. Drew is honoured to get to share these experiences from being inside the entertainment industry and hopes to inspire others to continue working in theatre.