Broadway

Broadway Theater is on 1681 Broadway and 53rd street in New York City. Since Broadway is in the heart of the bustling city New York, undoubtedly it is a major attraction to both residents and tourists alike. Rich with history, the Broadway theater is quite appealing. Plus, the diversity in musicals and plays makes for excellent entertainment.

The Broadway Theater is one of the most popular theaters in the world. It is important to realize however that the term theater has come to cover well over 39 theaters in New York. Thus, if someone says something is playing on Broadway, that means it may be playing in anyone of the 39 nine theaters and not necessarily in the Broadway Theater itself.

Getting a play or musical on Broadway is synonymous with success just as landing a part in a play that is being performed on Broadway equates to making it in the business. Ultimately, because Broadway is such an attraction it means that the play or musical, the actors, and the actresses will get a great deal of good exposure. Exposure is extremely important in the theatrical world. It equates to money and recognition for later creations and performances. Thus, the Broadway Theater has been the stepping stone for many playwrite and acting careers.

The Broadway theater first opened on Christmas in 1924. The original name of the Broadway theater was the B.S. Moss’s Colony Theatre and it was also originally created as a movie house. The original architecture of the Broadway Theatre is the incredible handiwork of Eugene DeRosa, and the building holds well over 1700 seats. In fact, the amount of seating available in the Broadway Theater makes the theater one of the biggest theaters of its kind. Further, due to its large capacity, the Broadway Theater became the perfect location for live performances and gatherings.

The B.S. Moss Colony Theater saw its name changed to Broadway in 1930. The first ad for Broadway as is now known was posted in the “Playbill”: an advertisement that noted the aesthetic aspects of the architecture and the idealistic setting for theatrical performances. Indeed, the Broadway Theater is incredibly beautiful and inviting to all of the visitors that stop in each and every year.

Without a doubt, the Broadway Theater has remained an attraction decades after its doors first opened. The Broadway Theater offers an array of year round performances and actors and actresses alike often work toward establishing a presence on Broadway. Thus, Broadway has become synonymous with success in the world of theatrical productions and acting.

The Broadway Theater was build with amazing performances in mind. Every measure has been used to ensure that the Theater offers the maximum in entertainment. Yet, what makes the theater particularly appealing to the public is that is affordable to all people: it is not solely a place for elite people to gather for the purposes of entertainment.

The first show in the Broadway Theater as it is now known was “The New Yorkers” an ideal play, fitting to the city in which the theater is located. “The New Yorker” was a musical written by Herbert Fields and Cole Porter involving a New York woman from Park Avenue played by Hope Williams. The show was an immediate success and it became incredibly popular, despite its high priced tickets in the 1930’s. Of course, the time period in which this show opened needs to be considered: the stock market had just crashed in 1929 and the depression ultimately had a baneful affect on the sale of tickets. Unfortunately, the show ran for a short period: six weeks in all.

The second show to appear on Broadway in 1932 was the “Earl Carroll Vanities”. The cast included a young Milton Berle, Helen Broderick, and Harriet Hoctor. The second show faired better than the first, running for a full eleven weeks and receiving rave reviews. The “Earl Carroll Vanities” was followed by “The O’Flynn” in 1934.

The Broadway Theater often staged plays that paralleled the times. In 1942, while involved in World War I, the show “This Is the Army.” What’s more, the proceeds from the showing of this popular play went toward relief for the soldiers involved in the war. Irving Berlin’s musical drew huge crowds and a great deal of money was raised for war relief.

Hundreds of plays and musicals have been staged on Broadway since the doors opened in 1924. The Broadway Theatre stage has seen many acting greats establish their career including Eddie Bracken, Ethyl Merman, Florence Henderson, Jose Ferrer, Tessie O’Shea, Peter Sallis, Jason Robards Jr., Anne Bancroft and more. Further, many well named musicals have been recognized on the stage of Broadway: “Hair,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Candide,” “Zorba,” and “Les Miserables” have all been acted out on the Broadway stage.

In 1924 there is no way the success of the Broadway theater could have been predetermined. Nevertheless, the theater remains an attraction to the public until this very day. Musicals and plays are performed every month in the theater and the public will often find that booking tickets in advance are to their benefit.

The Broadway Theater is well known for its musicals. Musicals both old and new can be seen at the Broadway theater. Some musicals have a comical story behind them while others may be more serious. Previous musicals staged at the theater include musicals like “Hair” and “Les Miserables” as well as many others.

The Broadway Theater also shows plays that are adaptations of popular films. Most recently, The Color Purple has been run on the Broadway Theater’s stage. Plays and musicals are the primary entertainment that the theatre offers. For an upcoming list of events, you can view the event calendar online or you can call the theater and get show information.

Bear in mind that the theater is not appropriate for children of all ages and young children are not allowed in the auditorium area of the theater. Young children have difficulty focusing on long shows and may become disruptive. To avoid disruption, it is not recommended that individuals bring children under the age of 8 to the theater for any production, no matter how age appropriate the production is.

There are a number of important facts that people should know if they plan on going to the Broadway Theater and/or purchasing tickets. Tickets go quickly for the shows on Broadway and some tickets are easier to get. Thus, the availability of Broadway tickets varies. Since most people go out on the weekends it is clear that getting tickets during the week for weeknight showings is far easier than getting weekend tickets. If one wants to purchase weekend Broadway tickets they should do so in as far advance as possible.

Some people new to the Broadway theater may wonder if certain shows are age appropriate for their children. It is not recommended that people bring children under the age of eight to any shows at Broadway. While the musical or play may be age appropriate, it is important to realize that not all children can sit quietly for two hours to view a musical or play. In fact, children under the age of 4 are not allowed in the Broadway theater. It is therefore better to hire a sitter to avoid distracting other viewers trying to enjoy the show.

There is no smoking permitted within the Broadway Theater. Guests that want to smoke will have to wait until there is an intermission so that they can smoke outside the building. Meanwhile, during intermission, guests can get food and drinks at the concessions stands that are available. However, no food or snacks are allowed inside the theater auditorium. As a final point, the Broadway theater does not permit cameras in the auditorium. Visitors cannot video tape or photograph performances.

Again, getting Broadway tickets in advance is highly recommended, especially if you want to get good seats on the night or nights of your preference. Shows run approximately 2 1/2 hours and the intermissions are approximately 15 minutes long. Typically, there is one intermission per show.

Many people like to arrive to the theater early. The Broadway Theater opens 45 minutes before the showing, but most people tend to arrive within 15 minutes before the show. If you don’t want to wait in a long line, it is highly advisable that you arrive a bit early for the show.

Broadway tickets are sold year round and the theatre offers a regular calendar of events. If you are considering purchasing Broadway tickets as a gift for someone in advance or to celebrate an important occasion, you can view the event schedule and pick up the tickets early.

The cost of Broadway tickets vary depending on the seating one has chosen. The price for Broadway tickets can vary from roughly 50 dollars to nearly 200 dollars depending on the show and the seating selected. Broadway tickets can be purchased online with almost anytime of credit card, and PayPal services.

There are several different seating areas in the Broadway Theater. Each seating area has a different price range associated with it. Those that are wheelchair bound can be seated in the Orchestra area.

There are three sections in front of the stage, four seating sections in the front Mezzanine, six seating sections in the rear Mezzanine, and one left and right box available for seating in the theater. The Mezzanine area is the second floor and is not wheelchair accessible.

There are restrooms available in the Broadway Theater and they are wheelchair accessible: at least those that are located on the lobby level. Additional restrooms can be found downstairs in the theater.

Do realize that the closer your seats are to the stage, the more likely they will cost you more. The better view you have of the stage the more you will be paying for your tickets. For example, the orchestra seats can range near 200 dollars while seats in the Mezzanine can fall in the price range of about 50 to 60 dollars. Essentially, the closer you sit to all of the staged action, the more you will pay for your tickets.

While the Broadway Theater is handicapped accessible, it is not entirely handicapped accessible. Seating for people in wheelchairs is available in the orchestra area only. This means that people with disabilities unfortunately pay more for their tickets. While this may seem unfair, it is important to note that much of the seating in the theater requires stair climbing, and that the overhanging Mezzanine is not accessible to those in wheel chairs.

The restrooms in the lobby are wheelchair accessible and easy to enter. Additional restrooms are downstairs for those that do not have a disability.

People that have difficulty hearing can still enjoy Broadway shows. There are special devices for those that are hard of hearing. Such devices are free of charge and they can be picked up in the lobby so that the visitor can hear the show clearly.

If you are looking for a nice place to dine before attending the theater, you can find a location a mere ten minutes away from the Broadway Theater. “21” located on 21 West 52nd street is a ten minute walk from the Broadway Theater. The speakeasy offers a pre-theater special, conveniently priced at a little over 35 dollars per person. What’s more, if you are driving to the theater, you can get six hours of free parking if you visit “21” and dine.

The “21” serves three course meals, offers a bar, and an upstairs dining location. It is the perfect dining location whether you are walking or driving to the Broadway Theater. Within minutes of finishing a meal you can be off to see your favorite show! Even better, you won’t have to worry about your vehicle while you dine or you view the show.

It is imperative that people make ticket purchases as early as possible. It is not uncommon for popular shows to sell out quickly and for months at a time. If you want to see a particular show the only guarantee you will have in getting tickets is to do so as soon as it is possible to do so.

Seating can be costly—remember the closer you sit to the stage the more it will cost. If you get seating that is very far back in the theater you may want to purchase binoculars so that you can see the stage better. Also, bear in mind that there is no food allowed in any of the above mentioned theaters and that you should dine before you attend the showing. Shows run over two hours and it is quite possible you will grow hungry during that time. No one will enjoy a show when they are too busy thinking about the dinner they are missing out on.

Children are allowed in the theaters if they are over eight years old. Be courteous to others and consider whether or not the atmosphere of the theater is appropriate for your child before you bring them along. Children tend to grow bored quickly and neither the child nor those sitting nearby will enjoy the show if the child becomes disruptive.