ABSTRACT
Fan engagement with musical theater has taken many forms, especially with the proliferation of online platforms that enable the sharing of information and personal experiences, interaction with other fans, and the creation of fan fiction and audiovisual media based on storylines, characters, and existing video material. Often, the start of a superfan’s attachment to a particular musical is a matter of chance, or at least of an unexpected attraction. Superfans often have difficulty explaining their rationale for repeat attendance, and those rationales can vary widely. For some superfans, it is the story that continues to captivate; for others, it’s the score. One of the significant variables within the superfan experience of musical theater is whether they attend a show alone or share the experience with others. For some fans, attendance is regarded as a highly personal activity; for others, it’s more of a communal undertaking.
