Broadway theatre

Broadway theatre, often simply called Broadway, refers to the big, professional theaters in New York City where lots of people come to watch plays and musicals. There are 41 of these theaters, each with at least 500 seats, located in an area called the Theater District and another place named Lincoln Center along Broadway in Midtown Manhattan. These theaters are some of the most famous in the world, and together with theaters in London's West End, they are considered the top level of live theater in places where people speak English.

Most shows on Broadway are musicals, which are plays with lots of singing and dancing. These musicals have had a big influence on American culture and helped make New York City a major center for the arts. Each year, the Tony Awards are given out to honor the best performances and productions on Broadway. The awards are like the Emmy Awards for television, the Grammy Awards for music, and the Academy Awards for film.

The Theater District is a popular spot for visitors to New York City. In recent seasons, about 12.3 million people have gone to see Broadway shows each year, showing just how much people love these performances.

History

Early theatre in New York

New York City's first important theatre began around 1750, when actors Walter Murray and Thomas Kean started a theatre company at the Theatre on Nassau Street in Lower Manhattan. They performed plays by William Shakespeare and special musical shows.

During the Revolutionary War, theatre stopped in New York City. After the war, theatre started again in 1798 with the building of Park Theatre. More theatres opened over the years, like the Bowery Theatre in 1826.

By the 1840s, many entertainment places were in Lower Manhattan. Niblo's Garden opened in 1829 at Broadway and Prince Street, becoming a popular spot. Other theatres like Palmo's Opera House and the Astor Opera House also opened.

The plays of William Shakespeare were often performed, especially by famous actors like Edwin Booth.

Birth of the musical and post-Civil War

Theatre moved from Downtown to Midtown Manhattan around 1850. The area now known as the Theater District was mostly farms then.

Broadway's first long-running musical was The Elves in 1857. The first show that felt like a modern musical was The Black Crook, which started in 1866 and ran for many performances.

Theatres grew with better transportation and safer streets. More people could attend shows, leading to longer runs and better productions.

Early 20th century

In the early 1900s, new types of shows appeared. The "Princess Theatre" shows in the 1910s mixed music, stories, and dance in new ways.

Victor Herbert created famous musical plays like Babes in Toyland and Naughty Marietta.

Electric signs were added to theatres, giving Broadway its nickname, "The Great White Way."

Competing with motion pictures

Movies became popular in the 1920s, but theatre survived. Musicals continued with big dance numbers and famous songs by composers like George Gershwin and Cole Porter.

Between the wars

Show Boat started in 1927, mixing music and story in a new way. It ran for many years.

Famous playwrights like Eugene O'Neill wrote serious dramas for Broadway. Classical plays like Hamlet and Richard III were also popular.

Postwar era

After tough times during the Great Depression, Broadway had a golden age starting with Oklahoma! in 1943. Many successful musicals followed, and public interest in theatre grew.

Decline in late 1960s

The late 1960s were hard for Broadway. Fewer people attended shows, and many productions struggled. The Theatre Development Fund was created to help important shows by offering reduced-price tickets.

Resurgence in early 1980s

In the early 1980s, efforts began to save Broadway theatres from being torn down. Campaigns led by Joe Papp helped protect the Theatre District.

2020s: COVID-19 and aftermath

Broadway theatres closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Performances resumed in June 2021 with safety rules like vaccination proof and face masks. Some theatres were renamed to honor important Black performers. While some musicals succeeded after the pandemic, many new shows have struggled with higher costs and competition.

Description

Schedule

Broadway shows usually have evening performances from Tuesday to Saturday at 7:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. Matinee performances happen at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and at 3:00 p.m. on Sundays. This creates an eight-performance week, with shows typically dark on Mondays. Some shows have moved Tuesday performances to 7:00 p.m. to better suit local audiences. Disney often changes schedules to fit seasons and audiences.

Producers and theatre owners

Most Broadway producers and theatre owners belong to The Broadway League, which promotes Broadway and handles contracts. Four non-profit theatre companies also operate on Broadway, each with separate union contracts. Major theatre owners include the Shubert Organization, the Nederlander Organization, and ATG Entertainment.

Personnel

Broadway shows often feature well-known actors to attract larger audiences. Actors from film and television frequently appear in revivals or replacements. Some performers focus mainly on stage work. The size of the orchestra is set by agreements between unions and The Broadway League.

Runs

Most Broadway shows aim to make a profit and run as long as they are popular and sell tickets. Some shows are produced by non-profit groups, while others have limited runs that can sometimes be extended if they become successful. Musicals often run longer than plays.

Audience

Visiting Broadway shows is popular with tourists in New York. The TKTS booths sell discounted tickets for many shows. Broadway attendance numbers have changed over the years, with more local residents attending in recent seasons.

Off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway

Off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway shows often feature more experimental and intimate performances. Some successful Off-Broadway shows later move to Broadway.

Broadway national tours

After a successful run in New York, shows often tour major cities across the country with new casts. These tours can be large-scale productions or smaller versions depending on the city. The Touring Broadway Awards honor excellence in touring Broadway.

Awards

Broadway productions and artists are honored by the Tony Awards, first presented in 1947. Other awards include the Drama Desk Award, the New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards, and the Outer Critics Circle Award.

Broadway theaters and current productions

Main article: List of Broadway theaters

This section shows the theaters and shows on Broadway today. Some shows have an asterisk (*) next to their opening date, meaning they are planned but haven’t started yet. Others have an asterisk next to their closing date, meaning another show will come after them. If the next show isn’t known yet, those details are left blank. The number of seats listed is from the Internet Broadway Database.

Upcoming productions

These are shows that will come to Broadway soon. We don’t yet know which theater they will be in, or some theaters are still showing other plays.