Remember Ratatouille, the TikTok musical? It was an unexpected yet memorable highlight of 2020. It was a light-hearted distraction from the COVID-19 pandemic, and it made history as the first successful musical to premier on TikTok as well as a social media platform. 

“In a turn of events that was unpredictable even in a year as full of surprises as 2020, Disney’s 2007 film Ratatouille is getting the (virtual) Broadway treatment—thanks to TikTok.” 

Writer Bethany Rickwald stated in a Playbill article. “What started in the fall with a few users posting songs they’d written for a hypothetical musical version of the animated movie escalated in a matter of weeks to a filmed concert presentation of Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical presented by Seaview Productions, complete with its very own Playbill.”

Even though Ratatouille, the TikTok musical, was a tremendous success, the existence of this production could potentially, in the long run, be a blessing and a curse. In one way, this could quickly revolutionize a new platform for musical theater content. On the other hand, could the rise of TikTok musicals potentially run the musical theater industry out of business? Let’s find out.

First, it’s essential to acknowledge the immediate success that came after the Ratatouille musical and the benefits that come with TikTok musicals. When Ratatouille the musical streamed on New Year’s Day in 2021, it came almost the same time that the TV series Bridgerton premiered on Netflix. 

Then rising popstar Abigail Barlow asked a question on TikTok, “What if Bridgerton was a Musical” and on January 10th, Abigail debuted the songs for the production titled Daphne’s Song and later Ocean’s Away. Next thing people knew, Bridgerton the Musical exploded into becoming another hit sensation right before our eyes. 

“The world was listening, and now #Bridgertonmusical is #trending. Barlow teamed up with Emily Bear (@emilythebear), and together, they became Barlow and Bear, the next musical theatre creation duo. Speaking of duos, the duet features enabled people to take Barlow’s idea and run with it.

“Oceans Away” became a duet with Simon, then it transformed into an opening number with verses from all the major players from the show.” Blogger Laura Wheatman Hill stated in a blog on her website. “TikTok user @Elchoreography, a sister duo, did gorgeous choreography for several of the Barlow and Bear numbers, while other users designed sets, made playbills, and wrote additional numbers.”

The sudden rise of Bridgerton the Musical proved that TikTok musicals have the potential to be a marketing blessing for the New York job market and the digital platform. “Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical, which audiences will be able to stream through TodayTix on Jan. 1 for anywhere from $5 to $50 to benefit the Actors Fund, represents a merger between two stratified creative spheres: The New York establishment and digital upstarts.” 

Correspondent Eliana Dockterman stated in an article for Time Magazine. “As theaters closed around the world this spring due to COVID-19, professionals and theater kids alike turned to TikTok as a creative outlet. The Gen Z-centric social media platform, which lets users create one-minute videos, proved a more accessible arena than the Great White Way.”

Based on this information, it’s easy to assume that TikTok musicals could be the new medium that takes over the Broadway industry and puts many actors and creative participants out of work. Especiallywhen the actors are everyday people who would most likely not have to audition for anything due to them being their own individual agents, directors, producers, designers, and everything else. However, could this realistically happen wherein the Broadway industry is out of business due to the success of TikTok musicals?

This answer is most likely not possible. TikTok may have its creative aspects with its platform effects and designs, but it’s realistically not enough to take the place of the professional creative elements that you’ll see in a stage musical. 

TikTok is only designed to be a creative platform that would most likely inspire created art, not take the place of in-person venues that display created art. Secondly, it’s important to remember that not everything on TikTok is designed to be a stage musical. 

This comes from the reality of what’s likely to be a profitable product and what’s meant to be a fun concept on paper. Ratatouille the musical was a silly, cute, and fun little distraction from COVID-19, but it most likely wouldn’t be seen as something that could go far onstage. “Here’s the thing.

Ratatouille the TikTok Musical was cute. It was fun and a little silly to see Kimmy Schmitt’s Burgess pretend to be a rat.” Laura stated. “The recorded staging was well done, but it’s hard to imagine it being an actual Broadway success.”

On the other hand, Bridgerton’s electric music and presence gives it strong potential to surpass TikTok and even go the distance to become (potentially) the next Hamilton onstage. “…the Bridgerton musical is goooooood. Like, better than a lot of current Broadway good (sorry Tina Fey, I love you, but looking at you, Mean Girls).” Laura stated. “It’s poppy and sexy and, from a physics perspective, possible. Can you imagine watching those beautiful costumes move live on stage in all those ballroom scenes?” 

Finally, I think Gen-Zers would know more than anyone that just because something’s on TikTok doesn’t mean it’s likely to go viral. So, even if you were to create a musical theater-based industry on TikTok, how would that work if the material isn’t quality worthy of going viral? How would you make money if you don’t have the followers/viewers to support your work? How much would you charge people to view your TikTok production? The list goes on and on.

Ratatouille, the TikTok musical, was a pleasant moment that came during a dark time in our lives in 2020. However, don’t expect TikTok Musicals to replace Broadway New York anytime soon.