What is Broadway?
Broadway refers to the 41 large professional theaters in New York City's Theater District, around Times Square. It is famous worldwide for musicals and plays.
Broadway is actually the name of a long avenue that runs the length of Manhattan. The theater area grew up around Times Square in the early 1900s. To count as a Broadway theater, a venue must have 500 or more seats. Smaller theaters are known as Off-Broadway or Off-Off-Broadway.
Broadway shows include long-running musicals, new plays and revivals of classics. Famous productions include The Lion King, Wicked, Hamilton, Chicago and Les Misérables. Each season brings new shows, and many close within months, while hits can run for decades and spin off touring productions around the world.
The Tony Awards
The Tony Awards, held every June, honor the best Broadway productions and performers of the season. Broadway attracts more than 12 million tickets sold in a typical season, many to tourists. London's West End is often seen as its main rival for English-language theater.
Did You Know?
Broadway is nicknamed the Great White Way because of the bright electric lights on its theater signs in the early 1900s.