DSM and Social Networking

Are you curious about this increasingly ever-present catch phrase called "Social Networking"?

...About Facebook, Twitter, Myspace & Yelp, to name a few of the more than 1000+ and growing networks online?

Think of all the ways you network in real life--jobs, friends, family, etc... Social networking sites are simply a way to contact and connect people more quickly online; like a giant interactive phone book! Here is a quick 1:48 long video entitled "Social Networking in Plain English" that may also help to illustrate this type of networking.

How does DSM use Social Networking?

Like most any technology and marketing, there are nearly unlimited ways to use Social Networking.

DSM uses it to carry on conversations with our patrons: Advance special announcments, alerts, customer care questions, and also simply for performing arts enthusiasts to have another way to interact with one another.

We primarily use Facebook, Twitter, Yelp & Myspace as a way to bring information to where people are. We know life is very busy and you may not always have an opporunity to get to our website. And we also know that millions of people are daily checking their "social sites" daily like email. As a convenience we have established a presence on the sites listed above, not to replace our site by any means, but to enhance the ease of our value patrons being able to quickly gain the information they are looking for.

Below, you'll find basic primers about the Social Networking sites we use:

FACEBOOK
From Wiki: Facebook is a popular, free-access social networking website that is operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. Users can join networks organized by city, workplace, school, and region to connect and interact with other people. People can also add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profile to notify friends about themselves. The website's name refers to the paper facebooks depicting members of a campus community that some US colleges and preparatory schools give to incoming students, faculty, and staff as a way to get to know other people on campus.

Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook while he was a student at Harvard University. Website membership was initially limited to Harvard students, but was expanded to other colleges in the Ivy League. It later expanded further to include any university student, then high school students, and, finally, to anyone aged 13 and over. The website currently has more than 140 million active users worldwide.

Facebook on Reuters Download 7 things to know about Facebook 7 more thing to know!

TWITTER
From Wiki: Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read other users' updates (otherwise known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length.

Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them. Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends (delivery to everyone being the default). Users can receive updates via the Twitter website, SMS, RSS, or email, or through applications such as Tweetie, Twinkle, TwitterFox, Twitterrific, Feedalizr, and Facebook. Four gateway numbers are currently available for SMS: short codes for the United States, Canada, and India, and a United Kingdom-based number for international use. Several third parties offer posting and receiving updates via email. Twitter had by one measure over 3 million accounts and, by another, well over 5 million visitors in September 2008, a fivefold increase in a month.

Twitter on Time.com Download 7 things to know about Twitter

YELP
From Yelp.com: Yelp is...

...the ultimate city guide that taps into the community's voice and reveals honest and current insights on local businesses and services on everything from martinis to mechanics.

...just real people, writing real reviews, and that's the real deal.

...a fun and engaging place for passionate and opinionated influencers to share the experiences they've had with local businesses and services.

...the definitive local guide in the Dallas, San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle... But really, we're everywhere in the U.S. and now Canada & the U.K.! From Austin to Edmonton and everywhere in between, reviews are coming in from all over!

...word of mouth marketing - amplified. Savvy local marketers now have a great channel to effectively target local consumers.

MYSPACE
Myspace is kind of grand-daddy of modern social networking sites.
From Wiki: MySpace is a free social networking website with an interactive, user-submitted network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music, and videos for teenagers and adults internationally. Its headquarters are in Beverly Hills, California, USA, where it shares an office building with its immediate owner, Fox Interactive Media; which is owned by News Corporation, which has its headquarters in New York City. In June 2006, MySpace was the most popular social networking site in the United States. According to comScore, MySpace was overtaken internationally by main competitor Facebook in April 2008, based on monthly unique visitors. The company employs 300 staff and does not disclose revenues or profits separately from News Corporation. The 100 millionth account was created on August 6, 2006 in the Netherlands and the site counted approximately 106 million accounts on September 8, 2006. MySpace.com attracts 230,000 new users per day.

Shortly after MySpace was sold to Rupert Murdoch, the owner of Fox news and 20th Century Fox, in 2005 they launched their own record label, MySpace Records, in an effort to discover unknown talent currently on MySpace Music. Regardless of the artist already being famous or still looking for a break into the industry, aspiring artists can upload their songs onto MySpace and have access to millions of people on a daily basis. Some well known singers such as Lilly Allen and Sean Kingston gained fame through MySpace.
The availability of music on this website continues to develop, largely driven by young talent. Over eight million artists have been discovered by MySpace and many more continue to be discovered daily.

FROST / NIXON: Movie vs. Stage Production

Happy New Year all,

Here is a re-post from the Minneapolis Post regarding the hit show that is coming to The Majestic Theatre. (Tickets are not yet on sale--stay tuned for the on sale date!)

Minneapolis Post
Review: ‘Frost/Nixon’ (the play) packs a lot of punchBy
Ed Huyck Published Wed, Jan 7 2009

You can take in the film version of "Frost/Nixon" at a lower price than the touring production inhabiting the State Theatre in Minneapolis, so why choose the play? I could go on about the connection between the performer and the audience, maybe even toss out fancy words like "gestalt,” but the answer is pretty simple: Stacy Keach (as Richard Nixon) and Alan Cox (as David Frost) fully inhabit their roles to the point that the verbal battles between the two at the show’s climax feel as intense as the real thing.

The film explores the aftermath of Nixon’s presidency via the famed TV interviews conducted by Frost in 1977. As one of the characters notes, the two spar like fighters. Playwright Peter Morgan has a knack for exploring the human toll of politics (past work includes "The Queen,” about Tony Blair, Queen Elizabeth II and the death of Princess Diana) and that’s in full effect here.

While it gets off to a slow start, "Frost/Nixon" finds its pace and drive once the two characters begin their on- and off-screen battles. Keach certainly gets the meatier role here, and takes full advantage of it, making his complex character come to life. Cox has a tougher role, as Frost buries his doubts beneath his playboy image. This comes into sharp focus in the play’s final quarter as the men share a late-night phone conversation. Frost asks Nixon the questions that everyone wants answered, and the disgraced former president obliges.

In the end, this smart and well-paced production scores with the intensity and immediacy of the two main performers -- and that’s something you can never get on the movie screen.

There have been a number of presentations that have graced both stage & screen--what is your preferred medium?

In a season marked by giving and glad tidings, it's better to give wisely.

Giving to worthy causes makes a huge impact on the community. It improves the lives of those who are giving and those who are receiving. Your 2008 year-end gift can significantly reduce your income taxes, while providing meaningful support to DSM.

Annual fund contributions close the gap between ticket sales and operating costs. In light of the challenging economic times, we hope that all who share our passion and vision for Dallas Summer Musicals will consider making a contribution to the full extent of their ability. Every donation large or small will help DSM gift a child with the magical experience of musical theatre and the community with the highest caliber of performing arts.

This season, we have made it even more rewarding for you to make a generous donation by giving additional special benefits in recognition of your gift. It's our way of saying thank you for your support. Visit our donation site to make your donation and for gift details. Of course you can also call the Year-end donation hotline at (214) 413-3957.

You may also support DSM by underwriting the upcoming Curtain Call Gala featuring Dionne Warwick on April 18, 2009.

http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/

A message from Mary Poppins!

Sing along to Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious in the annual Walt Disney World Christmas Parade. MARY POPPINS National Tour stars Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee will perform the classic tongue-twister on Main Street, U.S.A. along with hundreds of dancers.

Here are some interesting fun facts regarding our appearance:

• Ashley and Gavin will be joined by Neil McCaffrey (“Michael Banks”), Cassady Leonard (“Jane Banks”), 20 "cast members" who perform at the Walt Disney World Resort, AND 450 kids from dance groups representing 35 states—and even Canada.

• The group that traveled the furthest was from Washington state and they traveled over 3000 miles.

• They rehearsed separately for over two months and practiced together for over 15 hours onsite.

• It was not until the morning of the Christmas Show taping that all 465 performers (MP cast, WDW cast, and 450 Cheer kids) actually danced together for the first time!

• Our segment was the largest production ever staged in the 25 year history of the parade broadcast!

• The production filled the entire length of Main Street U.S.A.--360 feet!!

The Parade will also feature performances by Miley Cyrus ("Hannah Montana"), the Jonas Brothers and Corbin Bleu ("High School Musical").

Gather the family, and tune in to ABC on Thursday, December 25 at 10am EST/9am CST (check local listings).

With sugarplum thoughts and wishes...

THE MAJESTIC SERIES released for single ticket sales

After many inquiries and requests, we have just decided to release the THE MAJESTIC SERIES to go on "soft-sale" this Friday morning, Dec. 19 at 10am. So that will be only these shows:

BOB THE BUILDER
Feb. 21 - 22, 2009 @ The Majestic Theatre
Bob the Builder Show Page

RAT PACK LIVE AT THE SANDS (my pick for one of the best shows...)
March 3 - 8, 2009 @ The Majestic Theatre
The Rat Pack Live at the Sands Show Page

PAJAMA GAME
March 10 - 15, 2009 @ The Majestic Theatre
The Pajama Game Show Page

FROST/NIXON
April 28 - May 3, 2009 @ The Majestic Theatre
Frost / Nixon Show Page

Friday morning, 12/19 at 10am, you'll be able to purchase tickets at ticketmaster.com. This link is live now, but they are currently updating the page, switching the onsale dates from January 26th to December 19th, so don't let that throw you off.

The homepage on our website will also be reflecting this later today, so you'll be able to get details there: http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/. You can also email us at webinfo@dallassummermusicals.org if you have questions, or just to say hello!

Happy Holidays,
DSM

PS: If you haven't already, we'd LOVE to have you follow us on TWITTER.COM:

http://twitter.com/dsmusicals

Our twitter account is like a giant conversation of DSM announcements, facts, questions etc... and also one of the most consistent ways to hear of what's happening at DSM before anyone else!

MAMMA MIA! to replace TARZAN due to tour cancellation

Here is the official release from President and Managing Director, Michael Jenkins regarding TARZAN:

With deep regret Dallas Summer Musicals announces that Disney’s TARZAN will not be coming to Dallas this year. The touring production of TARZAN has been canceled due to circumstances beyond the control of Dallas Summer Musicals and the DSM team is just as disappointed as our patrons that it will not be on our stage this spring.

However, we are very pleased to announce that Dallas Summer Musicals will be able to bring MAMMA MIA! back to Dallas in August as a seventh show in our season package. One of our favorite musicals, MAMMA MIA! is the story of a mother, a daughter, 3 possible dads, and a trip down the aisle you'll never forget! Writer Catherine Johnson's sunny, funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings 3 men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, and every night everyone’s having the time of their lives! This summer you will join the over 30 million people all around the world who have fallen in love with the characters, the story, and the
music that make MAMMA MIA! the ultimate feel-good show when MAMMA MIA! comes to
the Music Hall at Fair Park, August 18-30, 2009.

Sincerely,
Michael Jenkins

If you have already placed a subscription order you will be receiving additional information about this change.

DSM BENEFIT AUCTION ON EBAY

Benefiting the DSM Academy of Performing Arts

$1500 value

Go to: http://bit.ly/LChS

Hey everyone, here's your chance to win the ULTIMATE BROADWAY PACKAGE!

One lucky winner will receive 2 Opening night tickets to:

-Happy Days
-Wizard of Oz
-Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
-A Chorus Line
-Legally Blonde
-Mamma Mia!
-Mary Poppins

They'll also receive VIP passes to each of the opening night cast parties, and dinner for 2 before each show at the newly renovated "Dining at the Music Hall" gourmet restaurant!

Go to: http://bit.ly/LChS