A Conversation with Zoe Ennis

We speak to content creator Zoe Ennis (@Basically_Broadway) about theatre, online community, and Sondheim

Zoe Ennis is a content creator, actor, podcaster, and business student. Using the handle @Basically_Broadway, she has more than 400,000 followers on Instagram, and thousands more on TikTok. I thought that it would be fascinating to speak to Zoe about building such a large online community centred on musical theatre, and about her own relationship with theatre—including, of course, Sondheim. Her perspective is such a valuable one, and our conversation begins below:

You’ve amassed such a phenomenal following online, and your enthusiasm for all things Broadway is so infectious. What was it that sparked your own love of theatre?

The beginnings of it really were instilled in me from a young age. My grandmother founded a dance studio when she was young, and my sister and I grew up there. I began dance at age two or three! It was like a second home with how much time we spent in that conservatory. For years, I performed with them in some really memorable venues in my hometown. From a young age, I really felt that magic you feel anytime you step into a theatrical space. The energy and electricity of it all.

When I reached age ten or so, I began to realize that dance wasn’t truly what I was passionate about. It was the storytelling. It was the aspect of sharing emotions with an audience.

And then one day my family stumbled upon The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary Concert at the Royal Albert Hall on Netflix. We had previously only seen one Broadway show before that, Mamma Mia, and I wasn’t entirely hooked on Broadway at that moment. The Phantom recording changed everything for me, truly. I was beyond captivated by it. It’s such a stellar production all around, and the story itself is so rich in complexity. That’s how Basically Broadway started! It was a Phantom fanpage I created when I was eleven, and it’s crazy what it’s become today.

I soon started acting lessons, both stage and screen training, and it honestly took off from there. I trained in classical, opera, and musical theatre vocal training and I really did so much theatre from middle school to high school. I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus during college as I’ve focused on rounding out my skills and other departments and building a strong foundation in business and theatre administration, but I definitely hope to return to the stage post-grad. I just want to do everything in theatre, and I want to make sure I have the skillset to make that happen which is what led to me pursuing a Bachelor of Science.

I’d love to ask about how you first came to know Sondheim’s work. Was there a particular moment or experience that switched you on to it, or was it more of a gradual process?

Thinking back, I believe the first time I was exposed to one of his musicals was when I was very young and saw the Disney adaptation of Into the Woods in cinemas. I recall going for my birthday with my mom and friends, and I had no idea it was even a musical at the time! My mom, sister, and I became obsessed with that musical album directly after that. As young as I was, I remember being so blown away by the dimensions of Into the Woods. Its ability to be both heartwarming and a tale of warning, its shock and horror contrasting with its beauty and silliness... It still blows my mind today. It’s so dynamic and there are just layers upon layers to unpack with it. It’s a brilliant, brilliant musical and I’m honestly very grateful that was my first introduction to Sondheim. It was certainly a lot to chew on for me as a kid!

There’s a line that I love in Follies: “Everything was possible and nothing made sense.” I wondered whether those words resonate with you when you think back to your first forays into content creation. When you were starting out, how did you navigate an online world which is full of seemingly limitless possibility, but which can also feel confusing & overwhelming too?

Oh, wow - it is definitely a lot. Especially in today’s world where so many are constantly online and focused on creating a digital image, it’s very overwhelming. My platform has changed and grown a lot since I started, but I still feel like I’m learning new things about social media management! It is a limitless tool and that is both exciting and scary.

I did start Instagram when I was very young, but I’m really thankful that I solely did it for the reasons of sharing what I loved and connecting with others who loved the same thing. I didn’t show my face until I was about fifteen or sixteen - I never really wanted to. The account has changed a lot, but the heart of it is still the same. It is still a platform to share love. I would never want it any other way. At the end of the day, if it makes someone out there smile, I believe it is a worthy endeavor.

With starting out, a piece of advice I would offer is just to try whatever you can. It’s truly a matter of trying out different styles, finding what you enjoy, and finding what resonates. The great thing about social media is that it is a free tool that anyone can harness. It takes time and energy, but it is a great outlet to have to let your creative freedom go. Connect with those in your community. Having the ability to connect with so many people from all over is truly such a beautiful thing.

And you’ve built such a beautiful, positive community: hundreds of thousands of people, all connected by a shared love of theatre. What do you think it is about musical theatre that continues to speak so powerfully to such a wide range of people?

My music instructor from high school once said we use music when words cannot do justice to what we are feeling. I think this is one of the main aspects of musical theatre that is so riveting to many. So many songs in musicals do truly express emotions far beyond any words and they do so in a way that just “get” us.

Music is such a powerful phenomenon. It stirs something so greatly within us. It makes us physically feel what it’s trying to say. Putting it with storytelling makes so much sense. It just heightens what we feel as we embark on our journeys with the characters onstage. The music elevates the storytelling and creates an experience for the senses.

This kind of empathy resonates with so many individuals of different ages, backgrounds, and circumstances. People just really see themselves in these stories. It brings forth such a catharsis that is so special to people. I think musical theatre will forever speak powerfully to people because of the way it makes them feel. Feeling is what makes us human, and musicals are a reminder of that. Their lessons and stories hold a lot of weight and we can see ourselves in them. Theatre is a reflection of society, after all.

What would you say to followers of yours who love musical theatre but might not know too much Sondheim? Where would you suggest that they begin that particular journey?

There are so many great works of his and many of them are so powerful to see live. The first thing I would suggest is to see any of his productions! At any community theaters, high school theaters, regional theaters, concerts - doesn’t have to be Broadway or the West End! Art is everywhere. His musicals have such rich stories and it can be really exhilarating seeing them live and in action. The popularity of his works is so high as well, so they really are playing everywhere.

If you can’t find one of his productions near you, I would suggest looking up brief summaries of some of his works, choosing one that resonates with you, and starting there. Just go through the entirety of the album, follow the story, and use your imagination. Just feel it, completely.

Are there particular Sondheim lyrics that you find yourself thinking back to a lot? I know it can be so difficult to choose favorites...

Oh, my. I feel like I have to go back to Into the Woods because those lyrics have changed so much for me as I’ve gotten older. Things just resonate differently when age and life experience come. I’m going to say, “Sometimes people leave you halfway through the wood. Do not let it grieve you, no one leaves for good.”

That one guts me. As heartbreaking as the line is, it does offer a lot of comfort. I have always struggled with the grieving process. As you get older, the sad realization does hit you that the path of life inevitably involves the loss of those around you. Sometimes you never know how much longer you have left with them, whether it be they pass on or leave you in another way. It’s all apart of the journey. What doesn’t leave you, however, is the love and the memories created. It’s hard having someone in your life become a memory, but the memory is something you can hold on tightly to.

As someone who first watched Into the Woods at a very young age and recently saw it as a twenty year old, the difference in viewing experience is so great. It isn’t just watching a fairytale, it is watching and grappling with life. It is connecting what you are seeing onstage to your life. Your love, your grief, your relationships, your hopes and wishes, all of it.

Finally, in Sunday in the Park with George, Dot famously says “Anything you do, let it come from you, then it will be new. Give us more to see...” That strikes me as great advice for any creative person. Would you add any words of wisdom for people looking to build a strong & meaningful online presence alongside their other creative pursuits?

Yes! This quote fits creating so well. “Let it come from you” directly relates to owning your passions and expressing who you are. When you are authentically yourself and sharing what you love, you will attract your kind of people who feel the same way. I always try to give that piece of advice because finding my people was truly the reason for the creation of this platform. Embrace what you love and why you love it. Don’t let anyone take that joy or spark away from you, ever.

Embrace your community and interact with as many individuals as you can. The connections I’ve made through speaking with some followers of the Basically Broadway community have been so meaningful. I am truly so grateful for it.

If you’d like to be part of Zoe’s wonderful Basically Broadway community, her handle on both Instagram and TikTok is simply @Basically_Broadway.

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