subject: Broadway Shows In New York City [print this page] By definition, Broadway are the theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 large professional theatres with 500 seats or more located in the Theatre District, New York and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan, New York City. Along with London's West End theatre, Broadway theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English-speaking world.
Well, Broadway shows started during the year 1750. It was when Walter Murray (actor-manager) and Thomas Kean established a resident theater company which held about 280 people. The first show was inspired by Shakespeares plays and ballad operas. It was called The Beggars Opera. It is a ballad opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay.
By the year 1870, the heart of Broadway reached Union Square till it hit Time Square during the early years of 1900s. As we remember, it was the actor-managers Walter Murray and Thomas Kean who brought the presence theatre presence in New York. Then, it was supported by William Hallam by sending a company of twelve actors from Britain to the colonies where they moved to New York in summer of 1753.
After the Revolutionary War suspension a Park Theatre was built in 1798. It can hold 2 000 people inside. Another theatre was opened in 1826 named Bowery theater. Until, there cam Nibos Garden opened and became one of the New Yorks premier nightspots. The 3,000-seat theater presented all sorts of musical and non-musical entertainments.
It was the plays of William Shakespeare were usually performed on the Broadway stage on that time. There was also the Our American Cousin which was the performance when Abraham Lincoln was killed. There was also The Black Crook which was opened in New York in September 12, 1866.
In 1891, A Trip to Chinatown became the first longest running stage performances; for 657 performances. The first musical comedy entirely produced and performed by African Americans in a Broadway theatre. Then there came Irene in 1919 that beats it. Then more and more successful shows were produce later on. It came from comedy to drama.
In our current Broadway shows is a little similar to the previous shows that covers comedy and drama themes. Well, that makes the viewers happy all the time. Among of these Broadway shows in New York are: The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, Les Miserables, Wicked, Hairspray, Mamma Mia, Mary Poppins and many more in New York.
Broadway shows in New York would never be as successful as today without its founder. The people behind Broadway shows keep on improving every now and then. It is therefore makes New York a worth visiting city in the whole world.
