Broadway vs. Off-Broadway

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 11:43am

What are the specific differences between the two? How does one show get classified OB and the other Broadway? I'm very interested in this.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 11:45am

If a show plays in a Broadway theatre it is ON Broadway.

If a show plays in an Off Broadway theatre it is OFF Broadway.

It all depends upon the size and location of the theatre.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 11:47am

I thought that within New York City, it was only dependent on the size of the house.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 11:48am

You may be right Emcee...I don't think location maybe the big factor. I think it's the size.

[almostxfamous]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 11:48am

I was led to believe that if a theater has less than 500 seats, it's considered Off-Broadway. I think the lovely Altar Boyz forum taught me that.

I don't know if it's correct though.

heart.
mel

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 11:49am

That's right, almostxfamous. I'm not sure of the number for off-off Broadway... I want to say 100, but I'm not certain.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 11:52am

So anyone or any show can be on Broadway as long as they, what, buy the right theatre? How do you obtain a theatre for yourself? I don't know if I'm making myself clear, but hopefully, someone can get through the muddled words.

[Forester]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 11:54am

Unless you have major financial resource (Disney), you rent the theatre. How do you do it? Find a theatere that currently doesn't have a tenant and rent it.

[Madame X]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 11:55am

The difference between a Broadway production and an Off-Broadway
production has to do with the number of seats in a theater. Broadway theaters must have 500 or more seats. An Off-Broadway theater must have 100 to 499 seats. An Off-Off-Broadway theater has 99 seats or less. Broadway is actually a street in New York City that cuts through the heart of the theater district. Currently all Broadway theaters are located between 41st Street and 65th Street."



link.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 11:58am

A perfect example of how off-broadway and broadway shows are determined in Lincoln Center Theaters. Light in the Piazza at The Vivian Beaumont Theater is considered Broadway while the theater(can't remember the name) where Dessa Rose was playing was considered Off-broadway. Under the same roof, different seating capacity= distinguishing on and off- broadway.

[One Song Glory]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 11:59am

Well that cleared up a question for me.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 12:01pm

"So anyone or any show can be on Broadway as long as they, what, buy the right theatre? How do you obtain a theatre for yourself?"

There are a lot of conditions about renting a Broadway house. Also, some of the houses are more in demand than others. And of course, there is a long list of pre-requisites for the rental. So it's not just walking up to the property manager and plunking down the money.

[Forester]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 12:05pm

What's the general condition one needs to fulfil before they can rent out a Broadway theatre?

[Thenardier]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 12:19pm

They need money.

Renting a theatre is like renting an apartment. Well, obviously, it's a little more expensive, etc.

Shows that are usually written for a specific group of people end up Off-Broadway...whcih was created for shows that couldn't fill a large theatre and many non-equity actors got their start there.

Consider Rent - which is very controversial and may not appeal to a large populus. It's probably best off in a smaller house.

However, if the show receives a lot of attention and gets a lot of hype, it may move to a bigger (Broadway) house.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 3:15pm

The designation of "Broadway" is actually just a determination of the League of American Theatres -- a tiny little exclusive club of the people who own the current Broadway houses and co-produce the Tonys every year. While, yes, all Broadway houses have at least 500 seats, it's not as if every theatrical venue in New York city with over 500 seats is a Broadway house. Look at the Delacorte -- it has 1900 seats and is dedicated solely to the production of professional legitimate theatre ...... but it's ONLY not considered a Broadway house because the League says it's not a Broadway house (and they principally don't include the Delacorte because it's purely not-for-profit and subsidized by the state and corporate donors -- the only people who get to be in their club are those who take the same sorts of finanicial risks that they do) .

THEY decide who gets to join their club and who doesn't, based on their own whims. 20 years ago, Porgy and Bess played at Radio City. Because it was an expensive for-profit venture (and some of their producer buddies were co-producing it), guess what? Radio City Music Hall became a Broadway, Tony-eligible house for that production (and that production only). The League does whatever they want and makes all the rules and decisions which are in their best interest -- basically they can designate any theatre in NYC a Broadway house if they want to ...... as long as the owner (and the producers of the shows playing there) are willing to pay the price.

Certain specific contracts are negotiated with each Broadway theatre by each union (Equity, Local One, Local 802 etc.....).

Off-Broadway is sort of the default category for all those theatres that aren't deemed Broadway theatres. Most have 100 to 499 seats, but then BAM has two theatres (each with 1000+ seats), which are also considered off-Broadway. These theatres all also have contracts with the major theatrical unions, with minimums determined by the number of seats.

Off-Off-Broadway denotes theatres with fewer than 100 seats (there are hundreds of them in town). They generally have no specific contracts with the major unions (though Equity showcase rules do apply)

Updated On: 7/2/05 at 03:15 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 3:30pm

MC, while I agree with most everything you say, I have to take exception to the Delacorte. The exclusive club mentality also rules the Delacorte. The Public pretty much controls that theater and it is difficult if not impossible for another group to use it.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 3:37pm

Well, it's impossible for another group to use the Beaumont other than Lincoln Center and it's a Broadway house. Same with MTC's Biltmore and Roundabout's AA and Studio 54, yet they're all Broadway houses. Why is the Public different? It was Papp who got it built in the first place so why shouldn't his theatre have exclusive control of it?

And besides, unless they were to put a dome or tent over it or something, the Delacorte is pretty much a summer only theatre anyway. With Shakespeare in the Park running from June through September, I'm not sure when or how another group could mount a production there. Not to mention, given how expensive it is to use, I'm not sure a lot of producers would be clamoring to use it for a just few weeks in April or October, anyway.

[cturtle]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 8:41pm

what's the difference between b'way and off b'way? about 50 bucks a ticket.

[ProducersFan]

Posted: 7/1/05 at 10:05pm

I always find it amusing that only two of the "Broadway" theatres are actually ON Broadway. Maybe that's just me... The street actually runs the entire length of the island, but yet the word has over time become synonomous with theatre - I love it!

~Jessica

[Unmasked05]

Posted: 7/2/05 at 12:50am

So dose Andrew Lloyd Webber still "rent" the Majestic for POTO or does he own it?

[mandy2loveRB]

Posted: 7/2/05 at 2:56am

...and Broadway runs through The Bronx...