Chapter 1
The birth of the Great White Way
Chapter 2
The golden age of musicals
Chapter 3
The rise of the megamusical
Chapter 4
Modern stage revolutions
YOUR GOAL
Master of The story of Broadway
Ch 1 · The birth of the Great White Way
schopenhauer The Great White Way
The colored bulbs burned out too fast, So they hung white lights built to last!
schopenhauer A displaced ballet troupe and a melodrama combined to create the first book musical.
schopenhauer Electric marquees turned Broadway into one of the brightest streets on Earth.
BETA
schopenhauer Test your knowledge of theater history with this 1919 Broadway playbook game. Explore landmark agreements, historic shows, and theater trivia.
Fun Fact
Broadway's red steps: The iconic red steps in Times Square are made of structural glass and are entirely heated to melt winter snow.
Glossary
marquee (noun)
A canopy projecting over the entrance to a theater, hotel, or other building. In the late 1890s, New York theaters covered these canopies with electric lights, creating a brilliant display.
A canopy projecting over the entrance to a theater, hotel, or other building. In the late 1890s, New York theaters covered these canopies with electric lights, creating a brilliant display.
Quiz
What is the physical requirement for a theater to be officially considered a 'Broadway' theater?
Quiz
What was Times Square called before it was renamed in 1904 after the New York Times moved there?
Quiz
Who was the famous producer behind the lavish variety revues that began in 1907?
Quiz
Which legendary Broadway performer got their big break in the Ziegfeld Follies and was later portrayed in the movie 'Funny Girl'?
Quiz
What was the original Native American name for the trail that eventually became Broadway?