Theatre History Overview - Part 103 - The Beginnings of Broadway

Broadway is now iconic as "the place" that people go to see professional plays and musicals. However, just like most things in the United State, it began with humble roots. Broadway was first called Wiechquaekeck Trail by the Algonquins who used it as a trade route. It was then called Heere Straat (High Street) by the Dutch. It was one of the two main streets that led north and liked New York Harbor with upstate New York.

The first significatant theatre in New York was founded in 1750 by Walter Murray and Thomas Keane. This was on Nassau Street and the theatrte held about 280 people. Most of the performances were usually either ballad operas or Shakespeare.

In 1775, theatre in New York was suspended because of the American Revolutionary war. However, it resumed in 1798. In the same year, a 2,000 seat theatre was built on Chatham Street (now Park Row) called Park theatre. Afterwards, many theatres started opening in New York. The first show to have a long run on Broadway was 1857;s The Elves.

Broadway's history then somewhat coinsided with the development of American Musical Theatre, Today, Broadway is not just one street. It is a group of 41 professional theatres in Midtown Manhattan's Theatre District. The theatres are mainly located from 42nd to 53rd street.

The major significance in Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off Broadway is the amout of seats in a theatre. Broadways means that there are 500 or more seats. If there are anywhere from 99 to 499 seats in the theatre, it is considered Off-Broadway. Theatres with 99 or less seats are considered Off-Off-Broadway. Sometimes the pay that actors get is a factored into considering the classification of the theatre.

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