The adage about giving being better than receiving is true. If you have a Broadway lover in your life and want to thrill them with the perfect theater-themed gift, look no further than this list. Below find the best places online to find Broadway merchandise, from an inexpensive sticker of your favorite lyric to a splurge backstage meet-and-greet at a hit show.
Playbill Store
Well known to most fans of the stage, Playbill offers the line of merchandising from all of the current shows on the boards and many from recent years. Here you can find a Pride Month playbill for Fun Home, a Mary Poppins umbrella (right on brand), apparel, posters, and even ornaments from a wide variety of Broadway shows. If it is officially licensed, it can be found here.
Broadway Cares
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is an industry leader in fundraising to help combat the AIDS epidemic, which has historically hit the acting community particularly hard. BCEFA has been a stalwart part of New York City theater for decades, making their gear practically synonymous with Broadway. They have tote bags, snow globes, ornaments, jewelry, posters, and pins. In addition, you can find stellar recordings on their website, such as Home for the Holidays (a personal favorite) or a signed Kristin Chenoweth The Art of Elegance album. And the best part is, the proceeds go to a fantastic charity.
CharityBuzz
Speaking of charity, for those with deeper pockets, check out CharityBuzz.com. Under “Entertainment” click on “Broadway & Theatre” and you will be brought into a world beyond the curtain that dreams are made of. Here you can bid on such items as tickets and a backstage tour with original George Washington actor Chris Jackson at Hamilton: An American Musical, opening night tickets to Spongebob Squarepants, or impossible to score orchestra seats to see Springsteen on Broadway. The proceeds go to the designated charity and this concierge website will help to coordinate your prize experience. Fun seekers can check back frequently, since the available packages are constantly changing. If you have the funds to bid competitively, you can make your (or your loved one’s) Broadway dreams come true!
Etsy
This hub for hand-crafted goods is also a go-to site for those hard-to-find Broadway items. Here you can get a keychain with your favorite quote from your favorite musical, a pillow with Hamilton lyrics, or my personal favorite, Broadway-themed coloring pages (by Coloring Broadway). Some merchants will even customize pieces, so you can personalize an item with that obscure musical theater reference that you only you and your friends will appreciate.
TeeRico
This apparel brand was the vision of Hamilton writer and star, Lin Manuel Miranda. Of course, great Hamilton gear is featured, as well as clothing and other items from his first show, In the Heights and his immensely quotable pro-LGBT sonnet (e.g. “Love is love is love is love”). The company has taken their tone from the man himself, so customer service is truly a sunshiny experience and part of the proceeds go to worthy causes, such as hurricane relief for Puerto Rico.
Drama Book Shop
This famed theater district landmark is heaven for lovers of the stage, mostly because of the vast library of theater-related books. Here you can find manifestos on acting techniques, song books for baritones, and full librettos of every Sondheim musical in the canon. If you can’t get to the store in person, you can browse and purchase on their website from the comfort of your own couch.
Happy Giving!
Best,
Dr. Drama