Nicholas Mercer
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
As the province’s lockdown stretches into its sixth week, more and more people are sharing their musical talents on social media.
Whether it be a guitar or an accordion, people across the province have been recording themselves playing their favourite tunes in an attempt to break the monotony of isolation.
Now, Adventure Central is teaming up with the team from the mega-popular Broadway musical "Come From Away" to help spread those good vibes even farther.
The pairing are asking people of the province to upload a short — 30 seconds to a minute in length — video playing a traditional tune from this province, or something from the musical, to their Instagram account.
While doing so, they would tag the accounts for Adventure Central and "Come From Away," along with using hashtags comefromaway and songsfromaway.
Today, some of those videos will be showcased on the "Come From Away" Instagram feed.
“This is going to be some form of distraction for people during this time, “ said Adventure Central marketing co-ordinator Matt Molloy. “(We want to) get their toes tapping, maybe get them singing along, maybe dancing with their partner in their bedroom or their living room and have a nice distraction from this pandemic that we’re in.”
People who don’t have or are not familiar with Instagram, Molloy said, can contact him and they can work out a way to get their video noticed.
Saltwire Network contacted "Come From Away" for comment, but didn't receive a response prior to deadline.
Music hasn’t been the only thing being showcased on social media during these quarantine times.
People have also been showing off their best cooking and baking skills as a way to inspire others.
The Town of Dover has even regularly shown a "Cooking With the Mayor" segment on its social media channels.
With the kitchen also playing a large role these days, it should be no surprise that Adventure Central and "Come From Away" also have traditional Newfoundland recipes in their sights for a similar interaction in May.
Only this time, they will ask people to share videos of themselves cooking their favourite recipes, or a recipe they would have seen being put together in the musical.
“We’re just trying to keep things as positive as possible,” said Molloy.
Nicholas Mercer is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering Central Newfoundland for Saltwire Network.
