In March of 2021, theatres around the world were just beginning to come back to life. Having been forced to close their doors for over a year, many were facing significant losses in revenue, general uncertainty among audience members, and the unprecedented hurdle of producing intimate gatherings of people while maintaining social distance. 

Despite these challenges, there was a renewed sense of optimism in the industry. A year of major disruption had forced a very traditional industry to discover new ways to connect with audiences and generate revenue, from digital productions to outdoor performances. Many theatres had created new ways to collaborate and work together, forging partnerships and sharing resources to help each other through challenging times. Theatres and theatre professionals across the globe had begun to look at the pandemic as an opportunity to reimagine what theatre could be, and to explore new ways to connect with audiences and to tell stories that are relevant and impactful. On a stoop in Harlem, the idea for Marquee Digital was born. 

A QR-code activated digital program seemed like a simple solution to a contemporary problem theatres were facing–how to eliminate touch points between patrons and theatre staff. And yet, as the co-founders of Marquee Digital began unwinding the knot of this idea, they discovered a host of untapped opportunities that had been previously unaddressed: