NYPL Labs: The Broadway Hackathon

New York Public Library and Masie Productions invite hackers, creative thinkers and Broadway fans to join us for the first New York City Broadway Hackathon at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts on May 11th and 12th.

Register now to reserve your spot and help shape the event!

We will provide meals, coffee, WiFi, and access to Broadway-related data from the archives of the library. Participants will be invited to design and develop apps and prototypes that will :

• Leverage the power of mobile technology to support the Broadway experience
• Make the library’s collections more usable
• Better connect actors, producers, creative teams, theatre makers and audiences
• Allow the public to have fun with library collections
• Connect public information about theater from around the world
• Explore the role of “apps” in the full theater experience from idea to script to Broadway

There are three ways you can be involved in the Broadway Hackathon:

• Hackers:  Use your skills in graphic design, web development, mobile development, or data architecture to create a prototype of an “app” that will rock.
• Idea Generators:  If you don’t have technical skills, help design sketches or flows (wireframes) of potential apps.
• Feedback:  We welcome Broadway fans who want to provide feedback, brainstorm, help with data and be a part of the first Broadway Hackathon

This event is sponsored by NYPL, Masie Productions (and other Broadway Producers), and the Division of Arts and Humanities, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University.

All work created at the hackathon will be released under an open license.

Register now to reserve your spot and help shape the event!

Event Hosts

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts houses one of the world's most extensive combinations of circulating, reference, and rare archival collections in its field. These materials are available free of charge, along with a wide range of special programs, including exhibitions, seminars, and performances. An essential resource for everyone with an interest in the arts—whether professional or amateur—the Library is known particularly for its prodigious collections of non-book materials such as historic recordings, videotapes, autograph manuscripts, correspondence, sheet music, stage designs, press clippings, programs, posters and photographs.

NYPL Labs is an interdisciplinary team working to reformat and reposition the Library's knowledge for the Internet age. Labs combines core digital library operations (digitization, metadata, permissions/reproductions, etc.) with a publicly engaged tech, design, and outreach team focused on enabling new uses of collections and data, collaborating with users on the creation of digital resources, and applying new technologies to library problem-solving.

MASIE Productions has organized a collection of Broadway Producers, Theater Owners and Actors to support the Broadway Hackathon.  We each believe that technology innovation can create a more connected and agile environment for the theater community.  Sponsors of The Broadway Hackathon include:  Elliott Masie – MASIE Productions (An American in Paris);  Ken Davenport - (Kinky Boots, Somewhere in Time), Lorenzo Thione – (Allegiance),  Jordan Roth - (Jujamcyn Theaters), KariLynn Hearn – (Clinton the Musical), Sara Beth Zivitz – (Shoulda Been You) and Actors Including:  Telly Leung (Rent, Allegiance)