Susan Stroman: Client Case Study
Library of a Living Legend
PROJECT OVERVIEW
We created an official website and comprehensive portfolio sharing a storyteller’s story—from birth to latest news.
While previous works were tucked away in separate corners of the web, an official YouTube channel and video playlists are now generating hundreds of hours of engagement.
As new works premiere and the digital landscape changes, we’re adding ongoing updates and improvements.
HEAR FROM THE CLIENT
“A true artist… my website is a masterpiece.”
“Tony Howell is an absolute marvel. He’s design savvy, keenly collaborative, quick, and always in tune with helping make your vision a reality — a true artist. From start to finish, Tony’s gracious and positive personality made the process fun, easy to understand, and a complete joy!
My website is a masterpiece, and different from anyone else’s.”
— SUSAN STROMAN
THE JOURNEY
Rewind to 2020. The entire world shut down and millions of people were dying.
While Susan Stroman continued working through press interviews and creative meetings on Zoom, the losses of beloved Broadway community members such as Nick Cordero, Ann Reinking, and Terrance McNally caused her to think about her own legacy:
Where will these interviews live?
What photos will be shared when she passes?
This was the catalyst for creating SusanStroman.com. Our goal was a comprehensive library that’s elegantly organized, easy to explore, and searchable. Building a website of this size presented some challenges.
CHALLENGE
SusanStroman.com was initially unavailable. It was purchased by a domain squatter in 2010 for 10 years in hopes of securing a nice ransom.
SOLUTION
We monitored the expiration date and were able to acquire SusanStroman.com for only $12!
CHALLENGE
When building a comprehensive portfolio, gathering all the content from various archives not only requires a lot of time and labor, but potential copyright issues.
SOLUTION
Susan Stroman and her team invested hours digitizing archives as well as finding exact details like opening dates and production/photographer credits.
We avoided copyright issues by pulling videos from existing YouTube channels and using production photographs (versus logos) as cover art.
We avoided theft issues by reducing high-res original images to protected web-size galleries. We individually captioned every photo for those visual impairments and linked each image to the artists, creatives, and photographers engaged.
CHALLENGE
Stro wanted the “best website” and we determined Webflow would be the best platform for the size and scope of this portfolio.
The problem? We’d never built a website on Webflow before!
SOLUTION
After researching comparable portfolio websites such as Alan Menken, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Music Theatre International, we presented initial designs as mockups.
After running into issues trying to build on Webflow ourselves, we needed to find a developer to bring the designs to life.
Nelson Abalos helped bring the vision to mobile-responsive reality and Mack Shirilla later came onboard for future enhancements.
On May 18, 2021, we quietly released SusanStroman.com. Decades in the making, the site was a 26-week project I’m honored and proud to share with you now.
This team effort not only generated a rich, immersive digital experience, but continually generates a steady stream of international guests.
With elegance and excellence, visitors can follow Stro’s path from Wilmington, Delaware to her latest projects, news, videos, and more.
SERVICES
Brand Identity, Logo Design & Animation
Website Design & Maintenance
Email Operations
YouTube Design
©Creative Social Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
RESULTS
Tens of thousands of visitors.
225 hours of video watched.
Automated monthly reports & ongoing updates.
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Digital Strategy & Design
TONY HOWELL & CO.Web Development
NELSON ABALOS JR.
MACK SHIRILLAResearch Assistants
TARA YOUNG
SCOTT BISHOP
JONATHAN FREELAND
KATHERINE McCLINTIC
GERTRUDE PILLENA
DANI LISTPersonal Photography
PAUL KOLNIK