These days, midtown Manhattan is synonymous with Broadway Theater, but the origins of theater in New York City start downtown. Theater has existed in the city since the 1700s. Until the 1850s, prostitution was common in the balconies. As downtown real estate became more coveted, theatrical producers moved further uptown, seeking cheaper rents. By the 1870s, Union Square at 14th Street was the heart of the theater district. It was at not long after this time that the predecessors of today's musicals began to appear in the form of vaudeville and revues. In the early 1900s, the first subway lines were constructed, and more people began attending shows. A central hub for the subway was created in Longacre Square, now known as Times Square (so named after the New York Times, which had just made the area its headquarters). During this time, the first Broadway houses were built in midtown to save the northern city residents the long trip to Union Square. From this point on the area became the focal point for Broadway theater in the city.
There are 39 Broadway theaters in the district and each plays host to a wide variety of styles. By far the most popular and lucrative is the musical. Both newly composed and old, familiar musicals draw tourists and residents in great numbers. Musicals on Broadway usually have elaborate set, sound and wardrobe budgets and productions are of a high caliber. Shows can be revues or book musicals and can be broken down further into dramatic, romantic or comedic. Plays, to a lesser extent, also are produced on Broadway but often run for a much shorter time. Tragedies, thrillers, comedies and dramas all make appearances. One person shows are also common, as are the occasional dance show or, rarely, opera.
Broadway houses are theaters of 500 seats or more. Seats less than this are known as Off Broadway theaters. Seats of less than 100 seats are called Off Off Broadway theaters. Also, all Broadway theaters are located in midtown Manhattan in the theater district. The one exception is the Vivian Beaumont Theater, which is located at Lincoln Center on 65th Street. Of all the theaters, only three can be found on Broadway itself; the rest are found close by on side streets. Shows on Broadway are considered the peak productions of the theater world and regularly hire top production designers, engineers and actors.
Though there are a few exceptions, most Broadway theaters run on a set schedule of eight shows per week. Shows run Tuesday through Sunday and Mondays are dark (theater jargon meaning the lights are off, therefore, no shows that day). Theaters open at 7:30 p.m. and the curtain is up at 8:00 p.m. On Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, there are also 3:00 p.m. matinees. Most shows run year round, even on holidays. The season generally commences in the spring, coinciding with the Tony Awards.
There is much that goes into the preparation of any theater production, especially on Broadway. In "Phantom of the Opera," each show uses over 14 costume dressers, 200 costumes, 20 scene changes, 10 smoke and fog machines and 250 kilograms of dry ice. Sound engineering is a big part of every show. Most performers are outfitted with a lavalier, a small lapel microphone that can be adjusted as needed by the sound engineer to enhance the overall sound design. Make up and prosthetics also play a large part in many shows. In "Beauty and the Beast," the Beast character utilizes three assistants to apply make up, prosthetics, hair and costumes.