Broadway Play Facts
For theater buffs, Broadway is the pinnacle of plays. Located in New York City, Broadway's history is more 200 years old, making it almost as old as the United States itself. According to historian John Kenrick, the Park Theatre, built in 1798, was among the first Broadway theaters to enjoy popularity. Like its rich history, the plays of Broadway define its longtime purpose and charm.
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The Great White Way
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The glow of lights from 'The Great White Way' According to NYCTourist.com, Broadway is known as "The Great White Way," a moniker that has stuck since 1902 and was coined because of the plethora of lights from the marquees and billboards. The bright lights and atmosphere still are captivating theater-goers today.
Phantom of the Opera
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'Phantom of the Opera' mask Currently, the longest running Broadway play is Andrew Lloyd Webber's, "The Phantom of the Opera." NYCTourist.com states the play debuted on Broadway in 1988. The play was an adaption of the book, "Le Fantome de l'Opera," by Gaston Leroux.
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Controversy and Broadway
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Controversial works have been adapted for Broadway. Broadway's link to controversial literature was early and often. "Uncle Tom's Cabin," a socially divisive work, played in 1852 and was surprisingly well-received, according to Talkin' Broadway's Broadway 101. It further states that the controversial Alexandre Dumas' work, "Camille, or, the Fate of a Coquette," saw several adaptations performed on Broadway.
From 'A Doll's House' to 'The Lion King'
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Theater embellishments From Henrik Ibsen's classic "A Doll's House," to William Shakespeare's "Hamlet," Broadway has been host to some of the greatest classics and stage actors in theater history. Among its most recent offerings, Broadway boasts "West Side Story," "Wicked" and "The Lion King."
Broadway Musicals
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Musicals are a large part of Broadway's history. In a dynamic group of their own are the extravagant, high-energy Broadway musicals. Some of the most notable include "42nd Street," "Oklahoma," "Ain't Misbehavin'," Cole Porter's "Anything Goes," "Cabaret," "Cats" and "Les Miserables."
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit theatre image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com Lights image by Krzysztof Kiercul from Fotolia.com face mask image by peter Hires Images from Fotolia.com book image by Pali A from Fotolia.com Theatre Masks image by Timothy Edgerton from Fotolia.com music, abstract design with musical notes, numbers and letters image by Cristina Cazan from Fotolia.com
