Broadway

Broadway

Broadway is the the longest street in New York City.It begins in downtown Manhattan and runs through town and across the Broadway Bridge, connecting Manhattan with the Bronx, and through the Bronx. When one refers to the "Great White Way", one is referring to the 36 theaters located between West 41st and 53rd Streets and 6th and 8th Avenues in New York. This small area in the center of the hub of Manhattan has been host to some of the most famous stage productions in the world.Broadway is where some of todays most talented actors and actress’ started their careers. As of today there are 39 shows playing on Broadway.
The hottest plays showing today on Broadway are The Phantom of the Opera; this is one of Broadways longest shows playing to date.The Phantom of the Opera first was introduced to Broadway in 1988 and is still playing today.It’s a story based on the 1910 horror novel from Gaston Leroux has become a breath taking play with its both scary and romantic plot. It is a story about seduction and despair. The play is set at a Paris Opera house where a disfigured musical genius becomes obsessed with a beautiful soprano.This play has won seven Tony Awards. The play is directed by Hal Prince and is composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The stars of this spectaular play are John Cudi, Patricia Phillips, Ryan Silverman, Jennifer Hope Wills, George Lee Andrews, David Cryer, Heather McFadden, and Evan Harrington.
Wicked is a different spin on the 1939 film the Wizard of Oz. This Tony Award winnging play imainly focuses on Elphaba or as we know her as the Wicked Witch of the West from birth to college through the life experiences which labeled her as the Wicked Witch. It is a touching play and its engaging characters make this play a must see. The play is directed by Joe Mantello and the music and lyrics were composed by Stephen Schwartz. This play stars Katie Rose Clarke, Andy Karl, Rondi Reed, P.J. Benjamin, Alex Brightman, Timothy Britten Parker, Jenny Fellner, and Mandy Gonzalez.
Chicago is a total must see with its tale of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery. This Tony Award winning play will have you out of your seat. The story is set during the time of the roaring 20’s when jazz was big in Chicago. The play tells the story of a nightclub star Velma Kelly and a driven chorus girl Roxie Hart rivals in the Cook County Jail both serving time for murder. The famous lawyer Billy Flynn turned Velma Kelly’s case into a murder of the week media frenzy which makes her famous even in jail but when Roxy gets there she has some tricks up her sleeve to get Velma knocked of the map and her name be the next big thing in lights. Chicago is directed by Walter Bobbie, and is composed by John Kander. The play stars the famous Destiny Child singer Michelle Williams, also Terra C. MacLeod, Brent Barrett, Raymond Bokhour, Roz Ryan, R. Lowe.
The 1994 Academy Award-winning movie The Lion King is a major hit that man, woman, and child would love. The store is about a young lion cub Simba who is born into a royal family who is suddenly struck with the unthinkable tragedy of his uncle Scar taking his father Mufasa’s life. Luckily Simba makes two unlikely friends who raise him and later on he faces his Uncle Scar to take back the thrown and become king of the pride. The play won six Tony Award in 1998. The play is directed by Julie Taymor and the music is composed by the award winning artist Elton John.
These are some of the thirty-nine that are currently playing today. I choose these four because they are plays that first caught my eye and that I personally would love to see. Due to our current economie Broadway shows are not seen as often. In November of 2008 U.S Today posted a article called Economy acting out on Broadway attendance. According to the Broadway League data analyzed by U.S TODAY says that attendance to Broadway show slipped about 30,000 from mid-October to the beginning of November in 2008. Due to the recession show like Spamalot, Hairspray and Spring Awakening all closed. We as Americans are what keep Broadway thriving and without us and a change in out economy it might not be the same for future generations.