Broadway:Shows

History of the "Great White Way"!

Broadway shows are very exciting to see. There is the cast, the story line, and the live music. People all over the world come to New York City to engage themselves in the excitement! Why don't you come and join the magic, too?

Broadway extends from Manhattan Island North to 262 Street in the Bronx, and goes around Times Square, or 42nd Street.The theater district runs on Broadway from 42nd Street up to 59th, and from 6th Avenue to 10th Ave. Broadway, the street, was originally founded by the Dutch. It was the most important street in New Amsterdam. Lastly, the north stretch was originally called Bloomingdale Road.

The theater district is actually called the "Great White Way" because it is all lit up by thousands of lights. It all began in 1891 when the first billboard was lit up! However, musicals actually started a bit earlier, back in 1866 with a show called "The Black Crook". As the story goes, a French ballet group got stranded in New York City after a fire destroyed their original venue. So another producer took on the ballet company, added their talents to his production, and there became the first musical!

In the early times of Broadway musicals, shows were often called revues. They were filled with happy songs, lavish costumes, and lots of dancing women. There were many acts in these revues, called Vaudeville, one of the most famous revues was called the Zigfield Follies, that played from 1907 to 1931. The Zigfield Follies started the careers of many famous people from way back when, including Will Rogers, W.C. Fields, and Fanny Brice (played by Barbra Streisand in the famous movie and Broadway show, Funny Girl).

Some famous musical talents came from early Broadway. Composers such as George M Cohan, Oscar Hammerstein, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and the Gershwin Brothers (Ira and George), wrote some of the most memorable music ever produced! Shows like Oklahoma, Annie Get Your Gun, Anything Goes, The King and I, and South Pacific are just a few very popular musicals.

Later on during the 1950s-1970s, others followed in the footsteps of the great producers, actors and choreographers. Jerome Robbins and Bob Fosse both directors and choreographers developed famous plays such as West Side Story, Cabaret, Pippin, and Chicago! Other plays to come along were A Chorus Line, The King and I and Jesus Christ, Superstar. By the 1980s, Broadway was the home to so many famous musical careers. A boy named Savion Glover, an amazing tap dancer, starred in Bring in the Noise, Bring in the Funk, and started a whole new type of show, using items other than instruments to make Broadway music!

Then came the "mega-hits"!! Les Miserables, which has a run of 16 years is actually coming back to Broadway in October, 2006, for a limited engagement. Phantom of the Opera is still playing now. Cats began in 1981, Beauty and the Beast opened in 1994 and the Lion King has just a year to go to make the 10 year mark!!

Broadway has something for everyone. Drama, comedy, and musical all find a home in the middle of Manhattan. What better place to display all that talent than in the middle of the city that encompasses all that?


	History of the "Great White Way"! Broadway shows are very exciting to see. There is the cast, the story line, and the live music. People all over the world come to New York City to engage themselves in the excitement! Why don't you come and join the magic, too? Broadway extends from Manhattan Island North to 262 Street in the Bronx, and goes around Times Square, or 42nd Street.The theater district runs on Broadway from 42nd Street up to 59th, and from 6th Avenue to 10th Ave. Broadway, the street, was originally founded by the Dutch. It was the most important street in New Amsterdam. Lastly, the north stretch was originally called Bloomingdale Road. The theater district is actually called the "Great White Way" because it is all lit up by thousands of lights. It all began in 1891 when the first billboard was lit up! However, musicals actually started a bit earlier, back in 1866 with a show called "The Black Crook". As the story goes, a French ballet group got stranded in New York City after a fire destroyed their original venue. So another producer took on the ballet company, added their talents to his production, and there became the first musical! In the early times of Broadway musicals, shows were often called revues. They were filled with happy songs, lavish costumes, and lots of dancing women. There were many acts in these revues, called Vaudeville, one of the most famous revues was called the Zigfield Follies, that played from 1907 to 1931. The Zigfield Follies started the careers of many famous people from way back when, including Will Rogers, W.C. Fields, and Fanny Brice (played by Barbra Streisand in the famous movie and Broadway show, Funny Girl). Some famous musical talents came from early Broadway. Composers such as George M Cohan, Oscar Hammerstein, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and the Gershwin Brothers (Ira and George), wrote some of the most memorable music ever produced! Shows like Oklahoma, Annie Get Your Gun, Anything Goes, The King and I, and South Pacific are just a few very popular musicals. Later on during the 1950s-1970s, others followed in the footsteps of the great producers, actors and choreographers. Jerome Robbins and Bob Fosse both directors and choreographers developed famous plays such as West Side Story, Cabaret, Pippin, and Chicago! Other plays to come along were A Chorus Line, The King and I and Jesus Christ, Superstar. By the 1980s, Broadway was the home to so many famous musical careers. A boy named Savion Glover, an amazing tap dancer, starred in Bring in the Noise, Bring in the Funk, and started a whole new type of show, using items other than instruments to make Broadway music! Then came the "mega-hits"!! Les Miserables, which has a run of 16 years is actually coming back to Broadway in October, 2006, for a limited engagement. Phantom of the Opera is still playing now. Cats began in 1981, Beauty and the Beast opened in 1994 and the Lion King has just a year to go to make the 10 year mark!! Broadway has something for everyone. Drama, comedy, and musical all find a home in the middle of Manhattan. What better place to display all that talent than in the middle of the city that encompasses all that?