ACT of CT Livestream Guide

ACT of CT Livestreaming Guide

Thank you!

Thank you for purchasing a livestream ticket toThe Last FiveYears at ACT of CT! Use the table of contents on the next page to jump straight to the section you’re looking for, or start at the beginning and we will walk you through the options for livestreaming our performance.

Please log in 10-15 minutes prior to show time to set up and settle in so you don't miss a minute of The Last Five Years! If you log in earlier than that, you may need to refresh your browser at show time.

Helpful tips before you get started!

What exactly is livestreaming?

When you “livestream” something (sometimes referred to as "streaming"), that means we are sending the audio and video that is occurring on our stage at that very moment to your computer!

Basically, you are experiencing the live show that our in-person patrons are except you don’t have to leave your couch and you can bring your own wine!

ShowTix4U

ShowTix4U is our streaming partner. The Last Five Years will be played on their video player but ACT of CT will handle everything else!

The ShowTix4U Video Player Below, you’ll find a diagram of the important features on the ShowTix4U video player!

Common Terminology Internet Browser When we say Internet browser, we just mean whatever application you use to get on the Internet.

Common Internet browsers are Safari, Google Chrome, and Internet Explorer.

Port A port is the place where a cord gets plugged into, usually found on a phone, tablet, computer, or TV. SmartTV A SmartTV is any TV that has the ability to connect to the Internet. Some TVs have the ability to connect built in to the TV. Some TVs need a separate device (like a fire stick or an Apple TV box) to give them that ability. If you can access Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime on your TV, you most likely have a smart TV! App An app, or application, is a program designed to be used on a phone or tablet. Generally speaking, they're a "mobile version" of a website!

Table of Contents Page Number

Content

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I want to stream on a computer!

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I want to stream on a TV using an HDMI cord!

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I want to stream on a TV using a Smart TV device!

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How do I stream on an Apple TV?

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How do I stream on a Google Chromecast?

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How do I stream on a Roku device?

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How do I stream on an Amazon Fire device?

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Stream on your computer!

1. Click on the link in the email you received from boxoffice@actofct.org the day before your livestream performance date. It should look something like this: Click here to stream!

OR 1. Type www.ShowTix4U.com/stream into your internet browser.

2. When prompted, enter the 6 digit access code that is in the email you received from boxoffice@actofct.org the day before your livestream performance date.

3. Be sure that your sound is on and your volume is up!

4. At showtime, click this icon in the bottom right corner of the video player to view the performance in full screen mode:

5. Still need help? Click the “Chat with Us� bar in the lower left hand corner of the ShowTix4U.com/stream screen to speak with a ShowTix4U.com technical support specialist! You can also call the ACT of CT Box office at (475) 215-5497.

Reminder: The performance will run 75 minutes in length and is streaming live. It cannot be paused or rewound so make sure you have all your show snacks with you ahead of time!

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Stream on your TV using an HDMI cord!

The easiest and fastest way to connect your laptop to your TV is by using an HDMI cord. These cords are often used with cable boxes, video game consoles, DVD players, and most other devices used with TVs. An HDMI cord looks like this:

Most TVs and laptops have HDMI ports so you can plug your laptop directly into your TV! How to stream: 1. Click the link in your email sent by the box office. It should look something like this: Click here to stream!

OR 1. Type www.ShowTix4U.com/stream into your Internet browser.

2. When prompted, enter the 6 digit access code that is in the email you received from boxoffice@actofct.org the day before your livestream performance date.

3. Be sure that your sound is on and your volume is up!

4. At showtime, click this icon in the bottom right corner of the video player to view the performance in full screen mode:

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3. Plug one end of your HDMI cord into the HDMI port in your computer. An HDMI port looks like this:

4.Plug the other end of the HDMI cord into your TV. You may have multiple HDMI ports in your TV. You can plug your HDMI cord into any port, however make note of any label or number on your HDMI port.

5.Change the channel (input) to the HDMI channel you’re plugged into (i.e. if you plug into HDMI 2, turn the channel to HDMI2).

6. Your laptop screen should be displayed on your TV! Still need help? Click the “Chat with Us” bar in the lower left hand corner of the ShowTix4U.com/ stream screen to speak with a technical support specialist at ShowTix4U.com! You can also call the ACT of CT Box office at (475) 215-5497.

If your laptop does not have an HDMI port or this method is not working, you can send the performance to your TV from your computer over WiFi. This method is a bit more complicated, and is explained on the next few pages of the guide.

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Stream on your TV! 1. Determine what kind of smart TV device you have.

If you already know what kind of TV you have, great! If you don’t, that’s ok too! Most Smart TVs are one of 4 different types: Apple

Chromecast

This device also comes in black.

Roku

Amazon Fire TV

Your remote will most likely say “Roku” on the bottom.

Your remote may say “Amazon” or have the Amazon smile logo on the bottom.

Still unsure what kind of smart TV you have?

Go to https://www.showtix4u.com/stream and click the “Chat with Us” bar on in the lower right corner of your screen for help!

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Stream on an Apple TV! Stream video from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch 1. Connect your device to the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV. 2. Click the streaming link in your email from the ACT of CT box office or go to showtix4U.com/stream on your iPhone, iPad, or computer and enter your access code.

3. Tap in the upper right hand corner of your device’s screen OR the quick menu.

4. Select your TV from the drop down menu.

5. Still need help? Click the “Chat with Us” bar in the lower left hand corner of the ShowTix4U.com/stream screen to speak with a technical support specialist at ShowTix4U.com! You can also call the ACT of CT Box office at (475) 215-5497.

Stream video from your Mac (Apple Desktop Computer) Connect your Mac to the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV. 1. On your Mac, click the streaming link in your email from the ACT of CT box office or go to showtix4u.com/stream and enter your access code. .

2. In the video playback controls in your settings menu, click 3. Select your Apple TV or smart TV. 4. Still need help? Click the “Chat with Us” bar in the lower left hand corner of the ShowTix4U.com/stream screen to speak with a technical support specialist at ShowTix4U.com! You can also call the ACT of CT Box office at (475) 215-5497.

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Stream on a Google Chromecast!

Before you begin casting...

1. Connect your mobile device, tablet, or computer to the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast device.

Cast from your device to your TV 1. Open Google Chrome (your internet browser.)

2. Click the streaming link in your email from the ACT of CT box office or go to showtix4u.com/stream on your laptop or computer and enter your access code.

3. Right click anywhere on the page and select “Cast” from the dropdown menu.

4. If your computer screen doesn’t automatically appear on your TV, click the arrow next to “Cast to…” at the top of your screen and select your Chromecast or Smart TV. 5. Still need help? Click the “Chat with Us” bar in the lower left hand corner of the ShowTix4U.com/stream screen to speak with a technical support specialist at ShowTix4U.com! You can also call the ACT of CT Box office at (475) 215-5497.

Click here for an additional comprehensive streaming guide specifically for Google Chromecast!

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Stream on a Roku* TV! *Roku TVs are not compatible with Apple devices without purchasing a 3rd party app.

1. Open the action center on your Windows device. Refer to this

Microsoft article if you need help locating the action center.

2. Select Connect.** **You may need to expand the action center to see the Connect option.

3. After a moment, you will see a list of wireless display and audio

devices.

4. Select your Roku device and follow the on-screen instructions.

5. Click the streaming link in your email from the ACT of CT box office or go to http://showtix4u.com/stream on your computer and enter your access code.

6. Still need help? Click the “Chat with Us� bar in the lower left hand corner of the ShowTix4U.com/stream screen to speak with a technical support specialist at ShowTix4U.com! You can also call the ACT of CT Box office at (475) 215-5497.

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Stream on an Amazon Fire TV*! *Amazon Fire TVs are not compatible with Apple devices without purchasing a 3rd party app.

1. Hold the Home button on your Amazon Fire remote for a few seconds.

This brings up a menu with options to sleep, change settings, or mirror.

Click the mirroring option in the center and Fire TV will start looking for a device to connect to.

2. On your Windows 8 or Windows 10 computer (Windows 7 isn’t supported without additional third party hardware), look in the lower right corner of the screen to find the notification icon. It should look like a small text message box (it may or may not be an empty outline). Click the notifications icon to open the Windows action center, then click Connect.

3. You should now see Fire TV listed in the Connect screen on your computer. Click your Fire device on the list and Windows will initiate the mirroring/casting process.

4. Still need help? Click the “Chat with Us” bar in the lower left hand corner of the ShowTix4U.com/stream screen to speak with a technical support specialist at ShowTix4U.com!

**You may notice the screen stream is small or difficult to see. You can fix this by changing the resolution on your Windows device. Right click on your desktop and choose Graphics Properties. In the menu that opens, choose Display, scroll to Resolution and select 1280×720. If this resolution does not work, select others until you find one that does. The screen may flicker and mirroring may temporarily disable, but once the setup recovers, you’ll be streaming once again.

Enjoy the performance!

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