BroadwayHD’s Bonnie Comley: A Remarkable Honoree at the 2023 Power Women of the East End

The founder of BroadwayHD, Bonnie Comley, entered the spotlight as the happy recipient of Victoria Schneps’ 2023 Power Women of the East End Award. Additionally, she received a New York State Citation Award from Assembly Member Rebecca A. Seawright. This esteemed award, presented as a part of Schneps Media’s Power Women of the East End program, honors the daring and talented women who have made significant contributions to the development of New York’s Long Island.

Bonnie Comley, the driving force and CEO of BroadwayHD, has revolutionized the entertainment industry through her award-winning subscription streaming service, which grants members access to full-length Broadway shows and theatrical productions. Her illustrious career has seen her claim three Tony Awards, an Olivier Award, and two Drama Desk Awards for her exceptional contributions to the stage. Bonnie’s involvement in the theater world extends beyond her digital innovation, as she is an esteemed member of The Broadway League, serves as President of the Board of The Drama League, and holds a prestigious voting membership within The Recording Academy. In recognition of her outstanding achievements, Bonnie was honored with The Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2022, a testament to her enduring impact.

Image Credit: Schneps Media

Comley’s influence is felt well beyond the theater world. She was named a Top Silicon Valley Entrepreneur to Watch in 2021. With more than 50 films in her stellar resume, she has won nine Telly Awards and one W3 Award. Notably, Comley and BroadwayHD broke the record for the first live stream of a Broadway show in 2016 and thus made history. BroadwayHD received the 2020 Global Business Excellence Award for Outstanding Innovation and Outstanding Product/Service, adding to the long list of honors. Comley received the Keys to the City from New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell in 2022 in honor of her outstanding efforts to preserve and promote live theater with BroadwayHD.

Comley has received honors outside of her career as well. She was hand-selected for the Cynopsis Women in Media Class of 2020 as an Industry Leader. The Woman of Achievement Award from the WP Theatre was presented to her in 2019 by Charlotte St. Martin, president of The Broadway League.

Her charitable activities within the Broadway theater community have likewise made a lasting impression. The Drama League Special Contribution to the Theater Award, The Paul Newman Award from Arts Horizons, and The Theater Museum Distinguished Service Award are among the honors bestowed upon Comley. She has received accolades in the academic sphere, including membership in the business honor society Beta Gamma Sigma and the Distinguished Alumni Awards from Emerson College and the University of Massachusetts. The Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley Stage, located within the Booth Arts Complex in Boston, the Musical Theatre Society Room at Emerson College, the Comley-Lane Theatre at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and the Music Theatre Program at Boston University, which bears her name, are all examples of how her legacy is carried on.

The Power Women of the East End Awards are presented annually by Victoria Schneps and Schneps Media, with Ms. Schneps serving as the inspiration for this prestigious honor. Her journey began in 1985 with the publication of The Queens Courier, which later developed into Schneps Media, a conglomerate that now consists of over 91 local publications, including newspapers, magazines, news websites, community websites, and social media channels, serving a variety of geographic areas, including New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Philadelphia, and Palm Beach.