Tyler Joseph Ellis had the misfortune of graduating from the University of Southern California in the spring of 2020. Ah well, he thought, so much for that newly minted theater degree and that marketing minor and that instant success in the real world.
Stuck at home, Ellis says he began writing jokes and filming himself “acting silly.” He posted videos until it was no longer a hobby. “It really became a craft,” he says. “Now, content creation has become a huge part of what I do. It feeds into every single facet of my life.”
That’s no exaggeration. Thanks to his sharp wit—and, oh, yes, his infectious #theatrekid spirit—Ellis has become a bona fide social media personality. (He says that the theater community pooh-poohs the word “influencer.”) His comedy monologues and sketches, which often lovingly spoof the Broadway world, have led to nearly 400,000 followers on TikTok and 67,000 on Instagram, as of publication. (He proudly notes that Lin-Manuel Miranda is one of them.)
He’s parlayed his popularity into acting gigs on HBO Max’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls” and Netflix’s “That ’90s Show,” and he’s conducted red-carpet interviews at various events, including the Tony Awards. He also performed his first solo show, “Tyler’s Quarter-Life Crisis,” in NYC in July 2023.
An Expert's Social Media Checklist for Establishing Your Online PresenceThough the Bay Area native has eased off on posting daily clips to TikTok and admits to still negotiating his relationship with the apps, he knows that his social media presence has opened up plenty of stage doors. “I wouldn’t be talking to you without it,” he says. “I still consider myself a performer first. But now I also consider myself a writer and comedian—and that’s all because of content creation.”
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What’s your definition of a true theater kid?
A lot of people assume [it’s] someone who grew up doing theater since they were really young. But I didn’t start doing theater until high school, and it was a love-at-first-sight situation. So I think it’s innately a huge part of someone’s personality. Theater kids really let you know that they’re theater kids in a way that I think an outsider would think is obnoxious—which is fair.
How do you spot a theater kid?
They spot themselves for you. If you ask someone about their favorite movie and they say a movie musical, you’re in the money. Or if you ask someone [to name] their favorite musical and they say something really esoteric to get a rise out of you, that’s a theater kid. Like, “Oh, my favorite musical is Sondheim’s ‘Road Show’!” Maybe theater kids need attention. I’m a middle child, so it comes from that!
Were you always tech-savvy?
Yes, I was. I made silly videos on [Apple’s] iMovie 08 when I was in middle school and got very comfortable with the editing process. I also taught myself Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator—so I’ve always loved creating things on my computer and creating fun edits of my face.... When it came to navigating the TikTok app, which was foreign to me until March 2020, I found myself being able to learn the language and the tricks of the trade pretty quickly. I’m so glad I wasn’t scared about it!
When did you first realize your content was connecting?
I used to have a direct-to-camera character called “That Theater Bitch,” which was a heightened version of that awful theater person that you grew up with. So I would put this character in a bunch of different scenarios. It did really well, and I realized, Oh, I could just do this over and over and over and over again, and make it a series. I tell aspiring content creators all the time that if you can find something you love doing and it’s something repeatable, you have the secret sauce.
How do you come up with your ideas now?
I’m here in New York City and see a lot of shows. I don’t necessarily always have to pay for them, which has been the best perk of all time. When you see so much stuff, you begin to see patterns and tropes and other silly things that make good content—because theater is so silly. I mean, it’s like one of the oldest art forms, but it’s so silly. All of us pretend in front of each other. I like poking fun at it because it’s my favorite thing.
How did you learn to write dialogue?
I started in college. But I think I was even more intimidated to think of myself as a writer after graduation, because in school, I had studied the greatest playwrights in history.
I started with casually dipping my toe into writing with TikTok. Then it became not so casual. In the past four years, I’ve really honed my writing and do it almost every day. But I still have a bit of imposter syndrome.
PQ: “I tell aspiring content creators all the time that if you can find something you love doing and it’s something repeatable, you have the secret sauce.”
What’s your advice for actors looking to expand their social media reach?
If there was a perfect answer, everyone would have an audience. But I always say, “You have to first love what you’re making.” And think to yourself: Would I enjoy watching this? Do I think this is worth my time? If it can make you laugh for 15 seconds, it’s perfect.
Even if it doesn’t do well, you can still hang your hat on the fact that you thought it was good. It’s when you start pandering and start thinking about what other people want to see, and then try to make stuff to [cater to them], is when it gets tricky. There are a lot of growing pains.
How to Improve Your Social Media PresenceWhat are the benefits of having a strong online presence?
I have some friends who are very successful actors and don’t really subscribe to social media, and that’s fine. But if you know you have something to share and something that inspires you to put yourself out there, I think it’s awesome and can only help. Just make sure it’s rooted in kindness and passion!
This interview has been condensed and edited for length and clarity.
Tyler Joseph Ellis graduated from the University of Southern California with a major in theater and a minor in marketing. He currently splits his time between New York and Los Angeles, balancing a life of comedy content creation, writing, and acting for both stage and screen.