Broadway Theatre
Broadway Theatre, also known as simply Broadway, is a theatrical genre that encompasses professional stage performances held in 41 theaters with at least 500 seats, located in the Theater District and Lincoln Center along Broadway in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Broadway and London's West End are considered the highest commercial level of live theater in the English-speaking world.
History
New York City's first significant theatre was established in the mid-18th century. Over time, theatre in New York moved from Downtown to Midtown Manhattan, seeking cheaper real estate. In the 1850s, Oscar Hammerstein I built the iconic Victoria Theater on West 42nd Street, marking the beginning of Broadway's consolidation in the Times Square area.
The first Broadway musical that conforms to the modern concept of a musical, adding dance and original music to tell a story, is considered to be "The Black Crook" (1866). Vaudeville theatres proliferated in the late 19th century, and Off-Broadway was well established by its end.
In the early 20th century, Broadway shows installed electric signs, earning the area the nickname "The Great White Way." The 1920s saw the emergence of American playwrights like Eugene O'Neill, paving the way for serious drama on Broadway.
After a post-war golden age, Broadway faced decline in the late 1960s due to cultural upheaval and competition from television. However, it experienced a resurgence in the early 1980s with the "Save the Theatres" campaign, which led to the designation of the Theater District as a registered historic district.
Description
Shows and Schedules
Most Broadway shows have evening performances Tuesday through Saturday and matinee performances on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. They typically have open-ended runs, with their length dependent on critical response and ticket sales.
Producers and Theatre Owners
The majority of Broadway theatres are owned or managed by three organizations: the Shubert Organization, the Nederlander Organization, and ATG Entertainment.
Personnel
Broadway productions often rely on well-known performers to draw audiences. Most are stage actors who spend the majority of their time performing live.
Audience
Attending a Broadway show is a common tourist activity in New York City. Many theatres offer discounts for students and same-day tickets.
Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway
Smaller theaters in New York City are referred to as Off-Broadway, regardless of location. Off-Off-Broadway venues have fewer than 100 seats and often present experimental or avant-garde productions.
National Tours
After successful Broadway runs, producers often remount their productions for Broadway national tours, which travel to theatres in major cities across the country. Second-tier cities can attract "bus and truck" tours, which have scaled-down productions to accommodate smaller venues and budgets.
Awards
Broadway productions and artists are honored by the annual Tony Awards, presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League. Other awards include the Drama Desk Award, the New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards, and the Outer Critics Circle Award.