7 Truths That Go Behind Broadway's Curtains

You can’t have a conversation about musicals without someone mentioning Broadway. While the name may reference a street in New York City, the term Broadway has become synonymous with the concept of musical theater itself. From spooky encounters to record-breaking shows, join us as we count down seven fascinating facts you probably didn’t know about Broadway.

1. A Lot of Broadway Theaters Skip Row I

Whether you’re watching a show about crime, cats, or a chandelier-crashing angel of music, there’s a slim chance you’ll be sitting in Row I. Many theaters don’t have one. Like buildings that skip the 13th floor, theaters go straight from Row H to Row J to avoid confusion. The letter I can easily be mistaken for the number 1, which can cause mix-ups when selling tickets or directing people to their seats. It can also cause disappointment, at least, when an audience member finds out they’re in the ninth row, not the first.

Broadway theaters on West 45th Street in New York City. From right to left: the Golden Theater, the Jacobs Theater, the Schoenfeld Theatre, and the Booth Theater. Photo courtesy of UpstateNYer under CC BY-SA 3.0.

2. The Qualifications to Be ‘On Broadway’ Are Rigorous

There are 41 Broadway theaters in New York eligible for Tony Awards^®, but only four are actually located on Broadway Street: The Winter Garden, The Roundabout, The Marquis, and The Broadway Theatre. To be eligible for Tony Awards, a production must be “on Broadway,” meaning the theater must have at least 500 seats and be located between 40th and 54th Streets and from the west of 6th Avenue to the east of 8th Avenue, including Times Square. Theaters with 99 to 499 seats are called Off-Broadway.

3. The New Amsterdam Theatre Is Said to Be Haunted

In the early 1920s, people reported seeing the ghost of performer Olive Thomas at Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre, where she had previously starred in the show “Midnight Frolic.” Thomas had died in 1920 after an overdose of mercury bichloride, a common syphilis treatment at the time. The circumstances of her death remain mysterious, with some suspecting her husband Jack poisoned her, while others believe she overdosed intentionally after discovering Jack had given her syphilis.

4. ‘Phantom of the Opera’ Is the Longest-Running Broadway Show

“The Phantom of the Opera” opened in 1988 and is now in its fourth decade of performances. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2018, the show has staged over 12,500 performances for 18 million people. You can catch Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterpiece at The Majestic Theatre.

5. Broadway Was Once Known as the ‘Great White Way’

In the 1890s, the Theatre District was one of the first streets in New York to be fully illuminated by white electric bulbs, earning it the nickname “The Great White Way.” Since 1910, Broadway signage has been lit with incandescent bulbs, as architects recognized the advertising potential of dazzling lights.

6. ‘The Lion King’ Is the Highest-Grossing Broadway Production of All Time

“The Lion King,” which debuted in 1997, has grossed $1.68 billion, making it the highest-grossing Broadway show ever. Its success has far surpassed other popular productions, cementing its place in Broadway history.

7. Tony Awards Were Once Pocket-Sized

The Tony Awards, the theater equivalent of the Oscars^®, were first held in 1947. For the first two years, winners received pocket-sized awards along with scrolls. Men were given cigarette lighters, and women received makeup compacts instead of the statues we recognize today.

From its early days as The Great White Way to becoming the pinnacle of achievement in musical theater, Broadway’s history is rich and fascinating. Whether it’s the ghostly tales of the New Amsterdam Theatre or the pocket-sized prizes once called Tony Awards, Broadway continues to captivate and inspire audiences from around the world.

References: 18 facts about Broadway you probably didn’t already know | 22 Fascinating Facts About Broadway