Backstage Pass - Virtual Party

A Holiday Party Straight to Your Living Room

This production involved the carefully planned use of pre-recorded and live elements to create a unique and interesting way to bring all 10,000+ employees of Canada and Chile under one platform to celebrate their hard work and achievements in 2020.

With employees joining from different locations, the virtual format created one shared celebration while still giving guests plenty to explore throughout the experience. Rather than relying on a single stream of entertainment, the event offered different spaces, activities and performances that guests could experience throughout the celebration.

Starting in the Virtual Lobby

The lobby featured a U.S.-based virtual photo booth where over 2,990 pictures were taken. Guests would scan the QR code to unlock the custom branded backdrop and take a selfie using their computer camera. The images were then emailed directly to them.

The photo booth gave guests an interactive way to participate from home while creating their own keepsake from the event. With thousands of photos taken throughout the celebration, it became another way for employees to feel part of the larger experience, even while attending virtually.

Entertainment On Demand

Guests could explore numerous pre-recorded on-demand activities in the Family & Entertainment room, including a magic show performed by Atsushi Ono, a Mad Science family science demonstration, and TikTok dancers teaching a custom routine.

The variety of programming gave guests the opportunity to choose how they wanted to participate. From magic and science to learning choreography, the Family & Entertainment room brought multiple forms of entertainment together under one virtual roof.

Six Regions, One Celebration

Guests were called to one of the six Regional rooms, full of interactive elements, a regional presentation and featured performances by a Cirque act live from Vancouver, Gregory Charles live from Montréal, and an interactive photography lesson pre-recorded in Calgary.

Combining regional programming with entertainment helped create a layered experience that could move between local moments and the larger company-wide celebration. Live and pre-recorded elements also made it possible to bring performers and programming from multiple cities directly to employees wherever they were watching.

A Grand Finale Across Canada

The grand finale in the virtual theatre was hosted by Arisa Cox, live from a Toronto studio. Featured amongst company spotlight moments across Canada & Chile and other performances were pre-recorded and live performances by Paul Brandt in Calgary, Charlotte Cardin in Montreal and Daniel Caesar in Toronto.

The finale brought the different pieces of the celebration together in one virtual theatre, connecting company moments with performances taking place across the country. From Vancouver to Montréal, Calgary and Toronto, entertainment from across North American stages could reach each individual guest directly.