The American musical has been lighting up Broadway for two centuries, and is a celebrated part of the history of the United States. According to Talkin' Broadway, it all started in the early 19th century.
History
Prior to 1800, Broadway was just another street in New York. Then the Park Theater was built in 1810, followed quickly after by "The Bowery" in 1821. After that, theaters began to pop up all over, spreading the art through the heart of New York.
Geography
The heart of the theater district is called "The Great White Way," and refers to the blocks on Broadway between 42nd and 53rd Streets. There are only four theaters on the actual Broadway street, with most of the theaters East and West of Broadway.
Development
Musicals evolved from the variety-type style of "saloon shows," which included dancing girls, comics, singers and circus acts. Eventually, these shows evolved into one coherent piece rather than many small acts. Throughout the decades, playwrights and composers have worked together to find new ways to produce musicals, constantly changing the standards of the modern musical.
Misconceptions
Some think that because a show is on Broadway, it is automatically a musical. This is not true. There are many "straight" plays, or plays that do not break into song, on Broadway.
Fun Fact
Broadway's longest running musical, "The Phantom of the Opera," by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is still running today. It has run more than 20 years as of 2009.
