| Broadway is the longest street in New York | | | | "Something For the Boys" and newcomer Gene |
| starting in downtown Manhattan, running through | | | | Kelly playing "Pal Joey." |
| town across Broadway Bridge connecting | | | | When you walk down Broadway the theatres |
| Manhattan with the Bronx. It has come to | | | | may not look that impressive from the street, |
| symbolise the best in live theatre entertainment | | | | but once inside some of them you will discover |
| and musicals throughout the world. It is also often | | | | some fabulously dramatic Victorian art deco |
| referred to as the "Great White Way" with 36 | | | | designs with gilt everywhere. |
| theatres located between West 41st Street | | | | If you are planning to see a show on Broadway |
| where the Nederlander Theatre is located, up to | | | | and want good seats or a Saturday night |
| W 53rd Street's Broadway Theatre and between | | | | performance it is advisable to book as early as |
| 6th and 8th Avenues. | | | | you can. The long running musicals are always on, |
| Generally New York theatres are divided into | | | | but there can be quite a few changes with |
| Broadway, Off Broadway, and Off Off Broadway: | | | | productions closing and new ones opening, so the |
| A theatre is classed as a Broadway Theatre if it | | | | best thing is to book in advance for the shows |
| is geographically between 41st street and 54th | | | | you really want to see and then wait until a few |
| Street and between Sixth and Eighth Avenues, | | | | weeks before you are due to arrive to book the |
| and has a minimum of 499 seats (there are | | | | rest. Bear in mind that many Broadway theatres |
| exceptions). Broadway Theatres are also mainly | | | | showing musicals are dark on Monday nights |
| commercial. | | | | because they have Sunday matinees. |
| A theatre is classed as Off Broadway if it has | | | | If you buy Broadway tickets from the theatre |
| less than 499 seats and more than 99 seats and | | | | box office in person you can avoid service fees, |
| or is outside the geographical Broadway area. An | | | | which you would have to pay if you bought |
| Off Off Broadway theatre generally has less than | | | | Broadway tickets by telephone or online via the |
| 100 seats. Most Off Broadway theatres are also | | | | Internet. Box offices are normally open from 12 |
| non-profit | | | | noon to 20:00 |
| Only four theatres are actually physically located | | | | Buying Broadway tickets by telephone or on the |
| on Broadway: the Marquis at 46th Street, the | | | | internet will be subject to Service Fees of |
| Palace at 47th Street, the Winter Garden at 50th | | | | between $5-10 as most Broadway & Off |
| Street and the Broadway at 53rd. The other | | | | Broadway shows are handled by either |
| playhouses are east or west of this twelve block | | | | Telecharge or Ticketmaster. There are a number |
| stretch. | | | | of other ticket broker agencies that sell |
| This small area in the centre of Manhattan and | | | | Broadway theatre tickets, but they will charge a |
| has been host to some of the most famous | | | | much higher fee of anything from 40% upwards. |
| stage productions in the world, which is ironic as | | | | You can purchase cheap tickets at the TKTS |
| when this land was a Dutch frontier trading post | | | | booths in Times Square or the Lower Manhattan |
| stage performances were forbidden. | | | | Theatre Centre at South Street, Seaport. They |
| In the 1800's Broadway was New York's main | | | | are operated by the non-profit Theatre |
| street and the most likely place for theatre | | | | Development Fund and sells discounted tickets |
| producers to build their establishments. In 1866 | | | | (20-50% off normal price) for selected Broadway |
| William Wheatley, who managed the large 3200 | | | | and Off Broadway shows on the day of the |
| seater Niblo's Garden Auditorium, is credited with | | | | performance. Not all shows will be available as |
| being the originator of the Broadway musical. | | | | much depends on how well a particular show is |
| During the mid 19th Century Broadway burlesque | | | | doing. There is a $4 per ticket service charge and |
| productions were very popular and Gilbert and | | | | you have to pay in cash. |
| Sullivan did a lot to promote the modern stage | | | | You may also find "Twofers" at your hotel or |
| throughout the 20th Century. This was soon | | | | accommodation. They are ticket-sized pieces of |
| followed by classic productions including The | | | | paper that enable you to buy tickets for specific |
| Wizard of Oz and No Business Like Show | | | | shows at substantial discounts at the box office. |
| Business. | | | | This saves you having to wait on TKTS booth line |
| During World War II Irving Berlin was considered | | | | which can take hours. |
| America's most popular composer with | | | | If tickets for the show you want to see are sold |
| productions for the troops including "This is the | | | | out you could try lining up for returns and arrive |
| Army." Broadway played a big part in fund raising | | | | at the theatre several hours before the |
| during this time with Ethel Merman starring in | | | | performance. |