Broadway

Broadway is the destination for every aspiring stage actor, and it has been the destination of aspiring actors and actresses for more than a century. When you've played Broadway, you are on your way to a successful career even if the part is small. There have been more dreams brought to Broadway and more hearts broken on Broadway in New York City than on any other street anywhere in the world.

American theater began to develop in the late nineteenth century, and from the very beginning New York provided the heartbeat that gave live theater life.

Broadway is often called "The Great White Way" because of all of the flashing marquees that dominate the street. It hasn't always been true; the first electric marquee lit up on Broadway in 1891. The theater was located on Madison Square at the corner of Broadway and Fifth Avenue. It took less than a decade for the entire street to be ablaze with electric marquees, and every theater announced its shows and stars in white lights. It really was "The Great White Way" even way back then.

In those early years, Broadway creativity was somewhat stymied by the prevailing puritan values of the age. Of course, like all such creativity stymieing beliefs they were soon cast aside and creativity, originality and imagination ruled. They still rule!

Thanks to Broadway, America has been given some of the greatest songs and music in the world. "Give My Regards to Broadway," "Ole Man River," "I'm Gonna Wash that Man Right Out of My Hair," "Some Enchanted Evening" — I can't even begin to scratch the surface of great music and songs that have been born on Broadway.

Just after America had survived the Great Depression, Broadway really lit up and became the entertainment capital not only of the United States, but of the entire civilized world.