The History of Broadway

Without a clear insight into the history of Broadway, you’d only know the modern day Broadway as the epicentre of theatrical performances and Time Square area of the city. The street is full of bright lights and has an almost tangible buzz about it which attracts people from around the world to experience the excitement of this world-famous area of New York. However, it hasn’t always been this way though.

History of Broadway, NYC

One of the main reasons that led to the popularity of Broadway among the early settlers was that there was such a diverse range of nature and wildlife there, something that you would probably find hard to believe given the concrete jungle that it has evolved into.

Stepping back from the history of Broadway street in New York and back to the present – the nature has now disappeared but the diversity remains in different forms, something that stems from the various influences on the area.

The Dutch were amongst the first people to settle in the area; and history has it that they used Broadway as the main route across the island.

This Dutch influence hence created the early template for the island-long influence that the famous NYC street now possesses.

Modern Broadway began to really evolve in the early twentieth century, when famous people mingled with the large number of gangsters occupying and frequenting the area. This helped to give the area the glamorous image that it now possesses.

Broadway developed a reputation as being a late night location which partied on into the night, something which resulted in the evolution of the bars, clubs, restaurants and theatres for which the area is famous. And thus goes an overview of the history of Broadway street which has come a long way…

3 Shows you must visit on Broadway

There are so many things to see and do in New York, but the city’s theatre district is famed for its numerous shows, plays and comedy stand-up. If you are in the Big Apple and fancy seeing one of the many shows playing, here are three suggestions for an evening that will be worth the rather high prices! *Of course, Broadway regularly changes its shows, but here are some of the biggest, that are almost always playing.

Broadway NYC

1. The Lion King – Based on Disney’s smash hit movie The Lion King, the show is based on the story of young cub Simba, who goes on a journey across the Pride Lands of Africa when his father, the king of Pride Rock is killed. The show has won six Tony Awards including Best Musical, and is famous for its catchy songs from Oscar winning composers Elton John and Tim Rice including “Circle of Life” and “Can You Feel The Love Tonight?”. The show’s jaw-dropping puppetry and spectacle has to be seen to be believed.

 2. The Phantom of the Opera – One of the longest running shows ever to be shown on Broadway, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous show is also the most financially successful show to be shown in New York. Telling the tale of a Parisian opera house, haunted by a Phantom, the show is famous for its songs including “Music of the Night” and “Think of Me”. The show has also been made in to a movie, shown in almost every country around the world and is currently in residence at the New York’s Majestic Theater.

3. Chicago – Enjoying a recent revival with the success of the Oscar-winning film, Chicago is another of the longest running shows to be shown on Broadway. The show was first produced in 1926, and was written by a journalist who had based it on real-life criminals. It was turned into a musical in 1975, and has enjoyed solid success, until its revival in 1996 when it went stratospheric.