Chapter 13
Introduction to Broadway in New York City
- Broadway refers to the plays, musicals, and special attractions presented
in any of the 40 designated playhouses in Manhattan's Theatre District, or
on tour to Broadway theaters across North America.
- Broadway theaters are determined by two criteria:
- Geographical location:
- Between 34th and 56th Streets, and 5th and 9th Avenues
- Between 56th and 72nd Streets, and 5th Avenue and Hudson River
- Size: Seating capacity exceeds 500 seats.
- Most shows run between 90 minutes and slightly under three hours.
- Broadway theaters offer large scale productions with professional actors
and sometimes big stars. Tickets often run in the $35 - $40 range, with orchestra
seats costing closer to $80 or $100.
- Broadway shows generate approximately 25 million paid admissions each year,
half in New York and half in 140 cities across North America.
Sources:
http://www.livebroadway.com
Actors' Equity Association, Ms. Louis Foisy, (212) 869-8530