Off Broadway

There's a certain level of snobbishness associated with theater, and particularly Broadway theater. A high level of pride in the professionalism of theater productions on Broadway has been earned, and there's no doubt that Broadway is seen as the very center of life in the live theater universe.

However, Broadway is not the only place in the world where super professional live theater productions are staged. While Broadway is considered the "best", some of the "best" can be found in off-Broadway productions.

The term "Off Broadway" referred to a theater that was located on a street in Manhattan's theater district that intersected with Broadway in earlier times. Now the term, "Off Broadway" refers to a theater within the theater district of New York City whose seating capacity is less than 500.

"Off Broadway" implies that the production is smaller, plainer, and employs writers, choreographers, and actors who are less well known and, thus, not as talented as those who work on Broadway. That belief is not based on fact. It's based on perception.

Lots of very well-known Broadway plays and musicals have started life "Off Broadway" and, with success, moved to Broadway. Some such plays and musicals are: "A Chorus Line", "Godspell," "Avenue Q," "Rent," "Spring Awakening," "Hair," "Grey Gardens," "Little Shop of Horrors," and Stephen Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park with George," and the plays "Doubt," "I Am My Own Wife," and "Bridge & Tunnel."

The term, "Off Off Broadway" is a term that's often used to refer to a play or musical that's being performed somewhere near the theater district, but not in it. The term, "off off off Broadway" means that it's a play or musical that's being presented somewhere other than in New York City.