Broadway theater facts for kids
Broadway theatre, or just Broadway, refers to the professional plays and musicals shown in New York City. There are 41 special buildings called theatres (or theaters) where these shows happen. Each of these theatres has 500 or more seats. They are mostly found in the Theater District and near the Lincoln Center in Midtown Manhattan. Only a few of them are actually on Broadway street itself. Most Broadway shows are musicals. Smaller theatres in New York, with fewer than 500 seats, are called Off-Broadway shows.
History of Broadway
How Theatre Started in New York
Theatre in New York began around 1750. The first theatre was on Nassau Street and could hold about 280 people. Early shows often performed plays by William Shakespeare. The American Revolutionary War stopped theatre for a while. But it started again in 1798 when the large 2,000-seat Park Theatre was built. More theatres, like the Bowery Theatre, opened in the years that followed.
In 1849, a big fight called the Astor Place Riot happened. It was because some people felt that fancy Opera houses were only for the rich. After this, entertainment in New York became divided. Operas were for wealthier people. Minstrel shows and melodramas were for the middle class. And Variety shows were for working-class people.
The Birth of Musicals
Around 1850, theatres started moving from downtown to midtown Manhattan. This was because land was cheaper there. Broadway's first popular musical was The Elves in 1857. It was performed 50 times, which was a lot back then!
The first show that combined dance and original music to tell a story was The Black Crook. It opened in New York on September 12, 1866. This show was a huge hit, running for 474 performances! Later, in 1881, Tony Pastor opened the first vaudeville theatre. Vaudeville shows had many different acts, like singers, dancers, and comedians.
In the late 1800s, it became easier and safer for people to travel at night. This meant more people could go to the theatre. The business of entertainment grew a lot. Popular and family-friendly shows like H.M.S. Pinafore came to New York. In 1898, A Trip to Coontown became the first musical comedy fully created and performed by African Americans on Broadway.
The Twentieth Century and Beyond
Broadway theatres started putting bright electric signs outside. Since colored lights often broke, they used white lights. This is why Broadway earned the nickname "The Great White Way."
However, new things like "silent motion pictures" and then movies with sound took away some of Broadway's audience. The Great Depression and two World Wars also made things harder for theatre. Broadway had some good times, but it slowly declined for a while. On March 12, 2020, Broadway theatres had to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. They have since reopened, but with new rules for actors and audience members.
What Broadway is Like Today
Broadway shows usually have eight performances each week. These are often evening shows from Tuesday to Saturday. There are also afternoon shows, called matinées, on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Most Broadway theatres are owned or managed by three main groups: the Shubert Organization, the Nederlander Organization, and Jujamcyn. Many Broadway producers and theatre owners are part of The Broadway League. This group helps set rules and deals with contracts for Broadway shows.
Both musicians and actors on Broadway follow rules set by the Broadway League and their unions. For example, they decide how many instruments will play during a musical. Broadway shows often feature "big-name" actors, sometimes from movies, to attract more people.
Most Broadway shows are made to earn money for the people who produce and invest in them. Investors usually decide how long a show will run. But if tickets sell very well, they might decide to keep the show going longer. Musicals on Broadway usually run for a longer time than plays without music.
Going to a Broadway show is a very popular activity for tourists visiting New York. The TKTS booths sell tickets for many Broadway and Off-Broadway shows at a discount. You can often get same-day tickets for 20% to 50% off. This service is run by the Theatre Development Fund.
To be considered for a Tony Award, a show must be in a theatre with at least 500 seats and be in the Theater District. These are the main rules that define a Broadway theatre. Very popular shows sometimes travel and perform in other parts of the country. This is called a "Broadway national tour." Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway shows also attract many people because they offer different kinds of plays and musicals.
Interesting Facts About Broadway Theatre
- Broadway has had many names over time, including "Wickquasgeck trail" and Brede Weg ("Broad Way").
- The number of theatres on Broadway grew from about 20 in 1900 to a high of 80 in 1925.
- The Lyceum Theatre was built in 1903 and is now the oldest theatre on Broadway.
- During World War I, the lights of Broadway were dimmed. But people wanted them back so much that the government had to give the city more coal to light them up again!
- People sometimes confused the letter "I" with the number "1." So, most Broadway theatres have rows A-H and then skip to J-Z.
- A Broadway theatre must have at least 500 seats. An Off-Broadway theatre has between 100 and 499 seats.
- The Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running Broadway show in history.
- The Lion King has earned the most money of any Broadway show.
- There are 41 Broadway Theatres in New York. But despite the name, only 4 of them are actually on Broadway Street: The Winter Garden, The Roundabout, The Marquis, and The Broadway Theatre.
See also
In Spanish: Circuito de Broadway para niños
