Off-broadway venues are 499 seats or smaller and they are not confined to midtown like broadway theatres. Quite a few of them are downtown. As far as production values go, obviously, they are not as elaborate as Broadway productions since budget won't allow, but they tend to be just as good -- broadway caliber talent on and off stage. Also, the shows sometimes are better than what you would see on a Broadway stage since they don't have the concerns of appealing to as large a market as Broadway -- they can take more chances.
a lot of the time i like off-broadway better. don't get me wrong broadway shows are great but there tend to be better shows off. the talent in off-broadway shows also tends to be better. i definitely recommend you go and see an off-broadway show...forbidden broadway is very good.
One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art-Oscar Wilde
I second that. I'd suggest Forbidden Broadway too. Lot's of Forbidden Broadway's former cast members turn up on Broadway, The Producers Brad Oscar being just one that comes to mind.